-
Stamp Act
Passed by British Parliament to help pay for military protection of the colonies. The act required a stamp tax to be paid for printed items. First tax directly placed on the colonists. -
Protest of the Stamp Act
Colonist protested taxation without representation. Protests included speeches against the tax, formal petitions sent to Parliament, refusals to pay the tax, boycott of British goods, property damage and attack of stamp distributors. -
The Gaspee Affair
The Gaspee ship’s job was to patrol the waters off Narraganset Bay and to collect taxes and inspect cargo. It would often confiscate cargoes . On June 9 1772 a ship baited the Gaspee into shallow waters and the Gaspee ran aground. The following evening, a party of 55 men led by John Brown people attacked the ship and the Gaspee was burned and looted. -
Committees of Correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were started to communicate with the other colonies regarding the British activities. Many were formed by the legislatures of the respective colonies, or by groups such as the Sons of Liberty. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonist dumped East Indian Company tea into Boston Harbor to protest the British Tea Act. This protest lead to the British taking away the Townshend duties. -
Coercive Acts
In order to restore order in Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party, British passed four new laws which included shutting Boston Port until the city paid for the tea it destroyed and required colonists to provide lodging to British soldiers in private houses if necessary. It also moved trials of British soldiers and officials to Britain for fairness, required all government officials in Massachusetts to be appointed by the governor and banned town meetings. -
Quebec Act
The act stated that the governor and council appointed by the British King would run Quebec. It also extended the boundaries of Quebec further south to the Ohio river and west to the Mississippi river. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from the colonies met in Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia to vote on whether America should go to war with England. They also created the pact for non-importation of English goods. -
Paul Revere's Ride
Paul Revere rode to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Sam Adams that the British were coming to arrest them. In case Paul Revere was caught, he had the Church sexton put up one lantern in Old North Church to indicate that the British were coming by sea and two lanterns to indicate they were coming by land. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The night of April 18th, Paul Revere rode through Concord and Lexington to warn everyone of the British attack. Knowing this the minute men were waiting to attack the British at Lexington. This was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
Made George Washington Commander in Chief of the new Continental Army. To finance the war, Congress attempted to make war bonds and borrow money which remained a problem during the entire war. They decided to send different diplomats to France to raise money and support for their war against Britain. They also wrote the Declaration of Independence. -
George Washington Appointed General
Congress took control of the army encamped outside of Boston and John Adams convinced his fellow Northerners to appoint George Washington as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British planned to control the hills above Boston. The colonists found out and started building a fort on Breed’s Hill near Bunker Hill. British sent 2,300 troops to take control of the hill. The colonists turned back two British attacks and only retreated when they ran out of ammunition and supplies. Even though they lost control of the hills, they only suffered 400 to 600 casualties compared to the British who had more than 1,000 casualties. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Continental Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition, which was written by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania. The petition stated that the colonies were still loyal to the King and asked the British to work toward a reconciliation between the colonies and the British. -
Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition
The American forces attacked the British forces in Quebec, so King George III issued this proclamation declaring that the colonists were enemies of Britain. -
British Pull Troops out of Virginia
Patriot troops defeat Governor Dunmore of Virginia at Great Bridge outside Norfolk. British then pull their soldiers out of Virginia. -
Common Sense Published
A document published by Thomas Paine that challenged the authority of the British King. It said that the British Parliament did nothing without the King’s support. It used plain language and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. -
British Evacuate Boston
George Washington and the continentals begin occupation of Dorchester Heights which overlooks Boston Harbor. General Howe decides that the city is indefensible and evacuates the British forces from Boston. -
The Writting of the Decloration of Independence
Congress appointed a committee of Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Livingston, and Sherman to make a document that would put together the ideas and guidelines to create a new country and break away from the Mother land. -
The Decloration of Independence
Congress appointed a committee of Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Livingston, and Sherman to make a document that would put together the ideas and guidelines to create a new country and break away from the Mother land. The document was adapted by the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776.
