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New Colonies Established
Both Delaware (1701) and Georgia (1732) were established as colonies. -
Slave Code
Virginia House of Burgesses created the slave code which greatly restricted the rights of slaves -
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The Great Awakening
The religious revival called the Great Awakening swept through the colonies causing renewed emphasis on religion -
The Stono Rebellion
A slave uprising occurred in North Carolina that killed 25 colonists and upwards of 50 Africans. -
Benjamin Franklin invents the lightning rod
Benjamin Franklin invents a device called a lightning rod that is still used today to prevent lightning damage in buildings. -
Parliament and Paper money
Parliament passed a bill prohibiting anyone in the colonies from accepting paper money that was printed in the New England Colonies. -
Boston Massacre
Five colonists died as British troops fired into a crowd. Protests were sparked in the colonies and this event was one in a long line of events that created a division between the Crown and the colonies. -
Birth of William Clark
William Clark is born. He played a major role in exploring the unknown regions in western America. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists dressed as Native Americans boarded three British ships and threw over 300 crates of tea overboard. This was an attempt to protest the increased taxes on the colonists, especially the taxes on tea. -
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American Revolution
The American colonies fought for independence from the rule of the Crown in England. -
France enters the war
King Louis XVI of France declares war on France and becomes an ally of the American cause for independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence. -
The Stars and Stripes
Congress adopts the first official flag of the United States. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation become the country's first constitution. -
The Battle of Chesapeake Bay
The French naval fleet manages to drive British naval force from the Chesapeake Bay, cutting off British forces on land from naval support. -
Yorktown
British General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington. This would be the final major victory needed for the Colonies to gain independence. -
Shay's Rebellion
Protestors led by Daniel Shays rebelled by attacking government properties in Massachusetts. They were fighting against economic policies that negatively affected farmers. -
Washington Elected President
George Washington is unanimously elected to be the first President of the United States of America. -
Bill of Rights
The first ten Amendments to the Constitution are ratified. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin drastically increases the demand for slaves in the South. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty made the British a primary trading partner with the United States. In return, Britain agreed to abandon strategic military positions.