-
Period: to
French and Indian War
The French and Indian war was named after the two enemies of the British colonies. The began over a territory dispute between the French and British colonies. The war ended when the Treaty of Paris of 1763 was signed. -
Declaration of Rights and Grievances
From Oct. 7 to 25, 1765 the representatives of nine of the British Colonies met in the Stamp Act Congress in New York City. The congress was organized in response to the Stamp Act, a tax imposed on paper products in the colonies. The congress passed the Declaration of Rights and Grievances on Oct. 10. It stated that while the colonies were still loyal to the crown, they could not be taxed without representation, among several other grievances. -
Boston Massacre
With tensions already high, a mob formed around a British sentry stationed in Boston. The sentry was reinforced by 8 more soldiers. The soldiers were attacked verbally and physically, being hit with clubs stones, and snowballs. The soldiers ended up firing into the crowd without orders, killing 3 and wounding more. 2 people later died of their wounds. The 9 soldiers were arrested for murder, but all but 2 were acquitted. The remaining 2 faced reduced sentences for manslaughter. -
Boston Tea Party
On May 10, 1773 the Tea Act was passed to bail out the British East India Company. It gave the company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies and undercut smuggled tea. In protest the Sons of Liberty, some dressed as Indians, boarded the company's ships in Boston harbor and threw the tea shipments into the water. In response the British government passed the Intolerable Acts. -
Period: to
American Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War started with the Battles of Lexington and Concorde between British soldiers from Boston and colonial militia, known as Minutemen. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris of 1783, recognizing the colonies as free independent states. -
Common Sense published
Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine and published anonymously. The pamphlet was written to encourage commoners to oppose the British Government. It used both political and moral "common sense" arguments. -
Declaration of Independence signed
The Declaration of Independence ratified by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Declaration stated that the colonies would no longer consider themselves under British rule, serving as an explanation of why the congress voted for independence. It was signed by representatives from all of the 13 colonies. -
U.S. Constitution ratified
Replaced the Articles of Confederation. Ratified by Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Georgia on Dec. 7. Reached compromise to be ratified by last 4 required states where amendments (the Bill of Rights) were promised to be immediately proposed after the Constitution was ratified. Led to Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina ratifying. Then New Hampshire ratified on 6/21/1788. Government under the Constitution would begin on 3/4/1789. -
Cotton gin patented
In 1793 Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine used to quickly separate cotton fibers from seeds. The cotton gin was patented by Whitney in 1794. The cotton gin allowed U.S. cotton production to massively increase.
