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Treaty of Paris
The agreement between the French and British that settled the war and gave all French territory in North America to the British. -
Pontiac's Rebellion
Chief Pontiac leads many Natives against the settlers, especially along the frontier. They are mad because the British are settling in their land, and their rebellion eventually leads to the Proclamation Line of 1763. -
Proclamation of 1763
After Pontiac's Rebellion, King George the third passes the Proclamation Line of 1763 which limits the colonists east of the Appalachian mountains. -
Sugar Act
Since the Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733 was going to expire soon, they passed the Sugar Act of 1764. It taxed molasses, sugar, coffee, wines, sugar, etc. -
Stamp Act
The British aren't getting enough money to pay for the expenses of the war, so they pass the Stamp Act which taxed every piece of legal paper and playing cards, wills, letters, newpapers, etc. Everyone has to pay. -
Quartering Act
The British pass the Quartering Act to crack down on smuggling and suspicious activity happening in the colonies. This act said you had to house British soldiers and provide them with resources, and you covered all the costs. -
Writs of Assistance
The colonists were smuggling goods, so they wouldn't be taxed. The Writs of Assistance were basically search warrants given freely for the soldiers to search any property for looted goods. -
Declaratory Act
The King repeals the Sugar Act due to the rebellion, but passes the Declaration Act stating that the British still governed the colonies. The act was mostly ignored. -
Townshend Acts
The King's finance minister, Charles Townshend planned to still raise revenue in the colonies after the Declaratory act, so they passed the Townshend Acts. They taxed goods before they got into the colonies. The acts also forbid meetings to protest. -
Boston Massacre
Rising tension in the colonies between the British soldiers and colonists came to a climax the night of March 5, 1770. A single British soldier was guarding a building when a mob formed and started harassing him. He called for backup, and in the midst of the chaos, British soldiers opened fire and killed four people. A fifth person died a couple days later. -
Tea Act
Britain gave the East India Company a monopoly over tea in the colonies. The tea was cheaper, but the merchants in the colonies would make no profit from the tea trade anymore. The colonists were outraged and boycotted British tea. -
Boston Tea Party
3 ships filled with cargo, British tea, were allowed to dock in Massachussetts by the governor against the colonists' wishes. In conclusion that rational arguments did not seem to move the governor, the Sons of LIberty proceeded to dump all British tea aboard those ships into the harbor. No other cargo was harmed but the tea. -
Coercive Acts
Also called the "Intolerable Acts" by the colonists, the Coercive acts were put in place as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. They said that no ship could enter or leave the harbor. Massuchussetts colonists could not hold town meetings more than once a year without the governor's permission. Officers and officials would be tried in Britain rather than Massachussetts. Colonists had to house British soldiers in their houses and provide resources for them(food,water, etc.). -
First Continental Congress
The first meeting takes place in 1774. Each colony has one representative at the meeting except Georgia who says they still support. At the first meeting, they vote to boycott trade with the British, build a militia for the colonies called the minutemen, and bring up the purpose to uphold colonial rights. -
Battle at Lexington and Concord
The British head to Lexington and Concord to arrest the leaders of the Sons of Liberty and to confiscate weapons held in Concord. The colonists were warned, and on April 19th, 1775, 700 British troops reach Lexington and 70 minutemen are waiting. No one knows who shot first, but it is the first fight of the war. The British win, but it's not over. At Concord, they destory military supplies without much resistance from the colonies. However, on the way home 4,000 minutemen ambush along the way. -
Second Constitutional Congress
The Second Constitutional Congress was held about a month after the first fight. At this meeting, the colonies agreed to make an official army led by George Washington and authorize printing of money to pay soldiers. -
Battle at Bunker Hill
After Lexington and Concord, the mintuemen settle a hill outside of Boston. The British had about 2,200 soldiers, and the Colonists had little ammunition. After charging 3 times, the British manage to take the hill but suffer great loss, with 1000 dead British soldiers. This battle gave hope for the colonists that they could win. -
Olive Branch Petition
After Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, some still thought of themselves as subjects under the King. They wanted to avoid war but still hated the mistreatment. Then, the Continental Congress sends the Olive Branch Petiton as a last effort of peace between the colonists and the King. The King rejects it. -
Common Sense
Most colonists wanted to avoid war with England. However, Thomas Paine, released a pamphlet called "Common Sense". It outlined the reasons to leave England and brought "Common Sense" to the colonists. It was important to the start of the idea of independence. -
Declaration of Independence
After Richard Henry Lee proposes that the colonies be "free and independent states", the Continental Congress agrees to wait to vote. A committe is nominatd to create a draft of the Declaration of Independence. On July 2nd, the Congress votes in favor of it. On July 4th, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed. This is important because if America loses, the people who signed would be the first to be hanged for treason. -
Battle of Trenton
After many retreats and surrendering, Washington knows his soldiers need a win. He leads his soldiers across the Delaware River late on Christmas Day. The Hessians who were up late celebrating are sleeping and are completely taken by surprise. This is a major win for the colonists, -
Battle at Saratoga
As British troops head to Albany. New York, they encounter American troops near Saratoga. The American troops had settle and made forts there, so the British would have to breal through to get to Albany. Several days of fighting later, the British were surrounded, and eventually the Americans win. This is the biggest win for the Americans and signifies a huge turning point. -
Winter at Valley Forge
After the Battle at Saratoga, they had the French as an ally, but first they had to suffer through the winter. The British had forced Washington and his army to retreat from Philadelphia, so they were left exposed to the elements. 25 percent of soldiers died from starving and disease. However, many troops stayed, and Washington hd time to train them for the next summer. -
Battle of Yorktown
The French navy surrounds Cornwallis in Yorktown from the Chesapeake Bay, and the Americans surround by land. After about a 3 week seige from the Americans, the British are forced to surrender. -
Treaty of Paris
In 1783, the Treaty of Paris of 1783 is signed, so the British are kicked out of the colonies. The treaty ends the American revolution. The United States are free from England. The United States' boundaries are British Canada, Mississippi River, Atlantic Ocean, and Spanish Florida.