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Timeline Project
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The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a renewed and partially modified version of the Sugar and Molasses act. This cut the original six cents per gallon of molasses down to three cents but was now more heavily reinforced. Along with sugar and molasses, certain wines, cloth, coffee, tropical foods, and silk also had importations taxes placed on them -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act so that printed items such as papers, currency, articles, and other things had to be printed on stamped paper to pay for the revenue to support the British troops stationed in the colonies. However the colonists were infuriated because they believed they were being taxed without representation as they didn't want the soldiers there but Great Britain had placed them there. -
Townshend Acts
These acts passed by Parliament posed taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. Tax collectors were then given authority to search for smuggled goods. Colonists retaliated immediately with boycott. -
Boston Massacre
Before the massacre, British soldiers were originally sent into Boston to enforce the Townshend acts. Tension grew between the soldiers and colonists. As a big mob formed to protest the townshend acts, British soldiers stepped in and in turn were harassed with snowballs, projectiles, clubs, and other blunt objects. There is still controversy whether Captain Preston told his troops to fire or whether it was the taunt of the colonists that caused this. In the end five colonists died. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act allowed the East India Company to sell their tea to the colonies without having to pay exportation taxes on the tea, however due to the Townshend Acts, colonists had to pay taxes when buying this tea. Since India made their tea much cheaper, they had a monopoly on the taxed tea which angered colonists. -
The Boston Tea Party
As a result of the tea act and the tax on tea, the Sons of Liberty enraged, dress up as Indians and throw the tea off of the British ships dumping it into the harbor. This later led to the Intolerable Acts. -
The Intolerable Acts
Called the Coercive Acts by the British and renamed the Intolerable Acts by the colonists, these acts were truly interolerable. They stated that
1. The Boston Port was closed until all dumped tea was repaid for.
2. The Massachussetts government was replaced with handpicked officials of the king.
3. Governor could let accused royal officials be tried in another colony or Great Britain.
4. Colonists were required to house British soldiers.
5. Quebec act enlarged Quebec and loosened religion laws. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress took place at Carpenter's Hall in Philedelphia, PA. It was suggested one year in advance by Benjamin Franklin but was not given much thought until the Intolerable Acts were moved into play. Twelve states sent delegates, with the exception of Georgia, totaling 56 delegates. One important thing they're known for is adopting the Declaration of Rights.
*Refer to Declaration of Rights for more info -
The Declaration of Rights
On this date the final draft was written and passed. The Declaration of Rights was a document stating to the king the rights that colonists believed they should have. There are many things such as "all men are entitled to life, liberty, and property" but at the end are the three things colonists will do:
1. End all trade with Great Britain.
2. Inform the citizens of Great Britain of their struggles.
3. Inform the king of Great Britain of their concerns. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
British soldiers hearing news of firearms being stashed at Lexington and Concord marched to confiscate the weapons. The rebels catching word of the British coming, thanks to the famous Paul Revere and his midnight ride, prepare for battle. As the British come the Patriots are hiding in bushes, treetops, and behind walls and slowly but surely drive the British back to Boston firing on them as they retreated there.
*This is often referred to as the first battle of the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The colonists settled in and fortified Breed's Hill to prepare for artillery fire for the siege on Boston. While doing this, they are discovered by the British who now wish to stop them. As the British troops stood in nice neat columns marching uphil, they marched up the hill making easy targets for the colonials who had the higher field advantage and more fortification. The British won this area but at a cost a little over 1,000 casualties whereas the colonists only suffer about 450. -
The Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was basically a last ditch effort by the colonists to reason with the king before war erupted. While most people wanted to work for peace, John Adams and a small group of people aimed for war because they knew it was unavoidable. The king immediately threw this letter away without reading it and this sparked the rage in many colonists. Misc: An Olive Branch is a symbol of peace. -
The Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston ends on this date while starting on April 19th, 1775. The siege of Boston would not have been possible perhaps if Colonel Henry Knox did not get the artillery from Fort Ticonderoga and transport it to Dorchester Heights. As Commander Howe sees the danger, he calls for an evacuation on March 10th but does not evacuate everyone until the 17th. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence a document, written mainly by Thomas Jefferson, stating the thirteen colonies decision sever all ties from Great Britain. This was the main cause of the Revolutionary War -
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton occurred after Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas day. Due to the time being Christmas, the Patriot forces caught the Hessians off guard killing and wounding 100 soldiers and taking 900 soldiers as prisoners of war whereas Washington only lost two troops and those were from exposure to the extreme cold, not enemy fire. This battle acted as a major morale booster and reinsured the colonists and Continental Congress. -
The Capture of Philadelphia
Hower was looking to capture the heart of the revolution, Philadelphia AKA the rebel's capital. Although Washington tried to prevent Howe from reaching Philadelphia at the Battle of Brandywine, he could not prevent it in the end. However, Washington did evacuate his forces from Philadelphia along with the Continental Congress. Therefore, Howe took Philadelphia without opposition and "without firing a shot." Meanwhile, colonial forces were headed for Valley Forge where 2/12k die from conditio -
The Battle of Saratoga
There were two battles in which the colonists lost the first one but won the second one. The Battle of Saratoga earned General Horatio Gates his fame. Ultimately the second battle was the significant one because not only did General Burgoyne surrender his troops but news of this major victory reached France and persuaded King Louis XVI to begin negotiations to ally with the colonists. -
The Siege of Charleston
Starting on March 29 and ending on this date, the Siege of Charleston was started as part of the Southern campaign by the British. This was due to the thought of "why have we not won the war in the North yet?" The British were also hoping to gain strong loyalist support from the South. Both sides in a way were handicapped. On the British side, they were in fear of destroying the buildings due to loss of loyalist support so a surrender sooner was better.The colonists were majorly outnumbered. -
Battle of Yorktown
The endgame of the Revolutionary war, in the Battle of Yorktown, Franco-American forces placed a siege on the British controlled city of Yorktown. The British were basically trapped inside Yorktown as there were ground troops to the land and French ships to the sea. General Cornwallis repeatedly asked for reinforcements from General Clinton but Clinton put Cornwallis off until the last minute which by then it was too late. -
Treaty of Paris
On this date, the treaty of Paris was ratified by the second and final party being the king of England. There were ten articles making clear ten main points in this treaty. They were:
1. The British King acknowledges the freedom of the United States.
2. Established boundaries of land.
3. Colonists kept fishing rights to areas such as the Grand Banks, Newfoundland, the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence River, Nova Scotia, etc.
4. Any debts owed by either side (US or GB) must be paid off. -
Treaty of Paris part 2
The treaty was ratified by the King of Great Britain on this day.
Continuing on
5. The Continental Congress would address the problems of land claims over where loyalists resided in capture colonist towns.
6. Number 5 will be the only time loyalists will have "their" land taken.
7. POW's and property are to be returned (slaves included)
8. GB and the US share the Mississippi River
9. Captured places by Americans before the treaty will be returned without cost.
10. Ratify within 6 months
