-
Period: to
The Enlightenment and Great Awakening Shapes Colonists' Ways of Thinking
During this time period, philosopher John Locke published ideas about education and Reverand George Whitfield preached sermons based on emotions, both of which had a large impact on how many Americans thought (Ambuske, 2018). -
Period: to
The Seven Years' War
Also known as the French and Indian War or the Pomeranian War or the Third Silesian War, the Seven Years' War stemmed from the Austrian War of Succession and involved Great Britain, France, Austria, Saxony, Sweden, Russia, Prussia, Hanover, and the American Colonies ("Seven Years' War," 2018). The taxes Britain implemented on the colonies afterward were a major cause of the American Revolution (Ambuske, 2018). -
The Royal Proclamation of 1763
To attempt to avoid further conflicts with Native Americans in the west, Great Britain forbid colonists from settling west of the Appalachians (Ambuske, 2018; King George III of England, 1763). Colonists, who had just fought a war and were now paying taxes for that very reason, moved there regardless (Ambuske, 2018; King George III of England, 1763). -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act required that every legal document or important piece of paper have an official stamp and was different from earlier acts (like the Sugar and Currency Acts) because it "created a new..tax" (Ambuske, 2018). It was hated by the colonists, and the organization of their protests to it and other similar acts (like the Boston Tea Party against the Tea Act, for instance) proved vital during the Revolution (Bradford, 1765; "Stamp Act," 2017). -
Lexington and Concord
It was the start of the revolution, as the song goes. The first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired in Lexington, where local militia defended their weapons and ammunition from seizure; troops continued the fighting in Concord and on to Boston (Ambuske, 2018; Dorough, 2002). -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War lasted from when fighting broke out in Massachusetts in 1775 to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. -
The Declaration of Independence Signed
Congress approved the document that would eventually see the creation of a new nation in July of 1776 (Illman Brothers & Trumbull, J, 1876). -
Washington Crossing the Delaware
On a cold and snowy Christmas night, Washington led the American troops on flat-bottom barges across the Deleware river. They attacked and defeated the unprepared Hessians, German troops hired by the British, winning a victory that greatly increased both troop and colonial morale (Ambuske, 2018; Leutze, 1851). -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was arguably the most important battle of the American Revolutionary War. The British forces, led by General Cornwallis, were trapped in Yorktown, Virginia by George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette and by the French Navy ("Battle of Yorktown," 2018). After this battle, the war was basically over, although the Treaty of Paris was not signed until 1783 ("Battle of Yorktown," 2018; Currier, 1852). -
The Treaty of Paris
The treaty officially ending the Revolutionary war was signed a few years after most of the fighting had finished (McMurray & Scot, 1784). -
The Constitutional Convention
Twelve states sent delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation, but at James Madison and others' urging, they instead wrote a new form of government, combining the interests of small and large states alike to form a three branch government (Basile, 2018). The Constitution was later ratified by the states and defended by Alexander Hamilton, Jamis Madison, and John Jay in the Federalist Papers (Christy, 1960). -
George Washington Becomes President
On this April day, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the newly formed United States of America (Coleman, n.d.). He set many traditions during his time in office, including serving two terms and adding to the Presidental oath: "so help me God." (Stuart, 1828) -
The Charter for The Bank of the United States Approved
As part of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton's financial plan, a Bank of the United States was established in 1791 to handle currency and inflation, encourage industry, and get private businessmen invested in the government (Balise, 2018; “The First Bank of the United States,” 2018; "Bank of the United States," 1828). -
John Adams Becomes President
John Adams, Washington's Vice President, became President himself. He became widely unpopular with the Alien and Sedition Acts, had a falling out with his political party (the Federalists), and only served one term (Basile, 2018; Stuart, 1828; Coleman, n.d.). -
References (Part 1)
Battle of Yorktown begins. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-yorktown-
begins
Bradford, W. (1765) This Is the Place to Affix the Stamp. United
States, 1765. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of
Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2004672606/. -
References (Part 2)
Christy, H. C. (ca. 1960) Scene at signing of the Constitution of
the United States. , ca. 1960. [Photograph] Retrieved from the
Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/98501334/.
Coleman, D. U.S. Presidential Inauguration Dates, Washington to
Obama. Retrieved from https://historyinpieces.com/research/
presidential-inauguration-dates
Dorough, B. et al., American Broadcasting Company., Buena Vista
Home Entertainment (Firm). (2002). Schoolhouse rock!. -
References (Part 3)
History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, “The First
Bank of the United States,” https://history.house.gov/Historical
Highlight/Detail (November 26, 2018)
Marco Basile et al., “A New Nation,” Tara Strauch, ed., in The
American Yawp, eds. Joseph Locke and Ben Wright (Stanford,
CA: Stanford University Press, 2018). -
References (Part 4)
McMurray, W. & Scot, R. (1784) The United States according to
the definitive treaty of peace signed at Paris Sept. 3d. [N.P]
[Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress,
https://www.loc.gov/item/gm71005423/. -
References (Part 6)
Stuart, G. (1828). John Adams, second President of the United
States. lithograph, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.
Stuart, G. (1828). George Washington, first President of the
United States. Lithograph, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. -
References (Part 7)
Illman Brothers & Trumbull, J. (1876) The Declaration of
Independence / painted by John Trumbull ; engraved & printed
by Illman Brothers. , 1876. [Philadelphia, PA: Engraved &
printed by Illman Brothers] [Photograph] Retrieved from the
Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2018645792/.
James Ambuske et al., “The American Revolution,” Michael
Hattem, ed., in The American Yawp, eds. Joseph Locke and
Ben Wright (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2018). -
References (Part 8)
King George III of England, “Royal Proclamation, 1763,” Exhibits,
accessed November 26, 2018, https://exhibits.library.utoronto.
ca/items/show/2470.
Leutze, E. (1851). Washington Crossing the Delaware [Oil on
Canvas]. New York City: The Metropolitian Museum of Art.
(ca. 1828) Bank of the United States. , ca. 1828. [Photograph]
Retrieved from the Library of Congress,
https://www.loc.gov/item/2018654849/. -
References (Part 5)
N. Currier. (ca. 1852) Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown
Va. Oct. 19th. United States Virginia Yorktown, ca. 1852. New
York: Published by N. Currier. [Photograph] Retrieved from the
Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2002695775/.
Seven Years’ War. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/event/Seven-Years-War#ref332242
Stamp Act. (2017). Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/event/Stamp-Act-Great-Britain-1765
