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Early Colonial Period
1754-1763 colonies grew accustomed to running thier own matters and affairs. -
Proclamation of 1763 Issued
The Proclamation drew a line from north to south of the Appalachian Mountains and declared that colonists could not settle west of the line without the permission of the British government. -
Sugar Act & Currency Act passed
The Sugar Act changed the tax rates imposed on raw sugar and other molasses imported from foreign colonies. It also placed new taxes on other goods. The act angered colonial farmers and artisans. -
Stamp Act Passed
The Stamp Act required stamps to be placed on most printed materials, it was the first direct tax Britain placed on the colonies. Colonists staged protests. -
Stamp Act Repealed
A Declaratory Act asserted that Parliament had the power to make laws for the colonies. -
Townshend Acts Passed
The Townshend Acts were a series of new regulations and Taxes. During 1768-1769 Colonists boycotted British imports to protest the Townshend Acts. -
Boston Massacre
In the fall of 1768, Britain dispatched roushly 1,000 troops to Boston to maintain order. On March 5th colonists began taunting and throwing snowballs at a British soldier. The troops began firing into the crowd. The shooting became known as the Boston Massacre. A few weeks later Britain repealed almost all of the Townsehend Acts. -
Tea Act Passed
Boston Tea Party was held in Protest. Colonists boarded ships in Boston harbor and threw the cargoes of tea into the water in protest at the imposition of a tax on tea by the British Parliament, in which the colonists had no representation. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Americans who backed Britain came to be known as Loyalists, those who believed the British had become tyrants were known as Patriots. On April 19th fighting began on Lexington Common. Eight Americans died and ten were wounded. At Concord's North Bridge, 14 casualties were inflicted on the British.
In retreat to Boston the British suffered over 250 casualties and the Americans about 95. -
George Washington
Three weeks after the battles at Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. On June 15, 1775, the Congress appointed George Washington as general and commander in cheif of the new army. -
Declaration of Independence Passed
On July 4th 1776 the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, declaring themselves the United States of America. The American Revolution had begun. -
United States signed the first of 2 treaties.
In the first treaty France became the first country to recognize the United States as an independent nation. The second was an alliance between the US and France. -
War of Independence Ended
War of Independence ended when General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. His retreat created an opportunity for the Americans and their French allies. -
Treaty of Paris Signed
British recognized America as a new nation. Britain gave Florida back to Spain. -
Last British Troops Left NY City
The Revolutionary War was over, and the creation of a new nation was on its way.
