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New Jersey
Royal Colony of New Jersey established by Queen Anne from separate provinces of East New Jersey and West New Jersey. -
News Paper
The first regular newspaper publishes its initial edition in Boston, the News-Letter. It was begun by John Campbell, the postmaster. -
Calendar swap
Britain and the British colonies switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar -
French And Indian War 1754-1763
Final conflict in the ongoing struggle between the British and French for control of eastern North America. The British win a decisive victory over the French on the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec. -
Treaty of Paris
The British formally gain control of Canada and all the French possessions east of the Mississippi. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fire into a mob, killing five men and leading to intense public protests. -
Tea Party
Group of colonial patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians board three ships in Boston harbor and dump more than 300 crates of tea overboard as a protest against the British tea tax. -
First Congress
First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, with 56 delegates representing every colony except Georgia. Delegates include Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Samuel Adams. -
The Revolution
American Revolution: War of independence fought between Great Britain and the 13 British colonies on the eastern seaboard of North America. Battles of Lexington and Concord, Mass., between the British Army and colonial minutemen, mark the beginning of the war. -
Adoption of the Decleration
Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. -
First Flag
Continental Congress approves the first official flag of the United States. -
Articles of Confederation
Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, the first U.S. constitution. -
Valley Forage
Battle-weary and destitute Continental army spends brutally cold winter and following spring at Valley Forge, Pa. -
Victory at Yorktown
British general Charles Cornwallis surrenders to Gen. George Washington at Yorktown, Va. -
American Independence
Great Britain formally acknowledges American independence in the Treaty of Paris, which officially brings the war to a close. -
Shays's Rebellion
Shays's Rebellion erupts; farmers from New Hampshire to South Carolina take up arms to protest high state taxes and stiff penalties for failure to pay. -
Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention, made up of delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies, meets in Philadelphia to draft the U.S. Constitution. -
President Washington
George Washington is unanimously elected president of the United States in a vote by state electors -
Bill of Rights
First ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, are ratified. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin greatly increases the demand for slave labor. -
John Adams
John Adams is inaugurated as the second president in Philadelphia.
