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French and Indian War
Conflict between the French and Britain. The French built Fort Dunquesne in the region despite the fact that the Virgina government had already granted 200,000 acres of land in the Ohio coutry to a group of wealthy planters. In response, Virgina sent militia to evict the French. After the British defeated the French, the war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris (1763). -
Proclamation of 1763
To avoid further costly conflicts with Native Americans, the British government prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. This established a Proclamation Line along the Appalachian's which the colonists were not allowed to cross. -
Sugar Act
George Grenville prompted Parliament to enact a law called the Sugar Act. It halved the duty on foreign-made molasses in the hopes that colonists would pay a lower tax rather than risk arrest by smuggling. It placed duties on certain imports that had not been taxed before. It also provided that colonists accused of violating the act would be tried in a vice-admiralty court rather than a colonial court. There, each case would be decided by a single judge. -
Stamp Act
Imposed a tax on documents and printed items such as wills, newspapers, and playing cards. A stamp would be placed on the items to prove that the tax had been paid. It levied on goods and services. -
Sons of Liberty is formed
Secret resistance group to protest the Stamp Act. The group included Boston shopkeepers, artisans, and laborers. In October 1765, merchants in NY, Boston, and Philadelphia agreed to a boycott of British goods until the Stamp Act was repealed. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts taxed goods that were imported into the colony from Britain, such as lead, glass, and paper. The Acts also imposed a tax on tea. The colonists again boycotted British goods. -
Boston Massacre
A mob gathered in front of the Boston Customs House and taunted the British soldiers standing guard there. Shots were fired and five colonists, including Crispus Attucks were killed or mortally wounded. -
Tea Act
Granted the company the right to sell tea to the colonies free of the taxes that colonial tea sellers had to pay. -
Boston Tea Party
A large group of Boston rebels disguised themselves as Native Americans and proceeded to take action against three British tea ships anchored in the harbor. They dumped 18,000 pounds of the East India Company's tea into the waters of Boston Harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
Shut down Boston Harbor. Quartering Act- authorized British commanders to house soldiers in vacant private homes. Martial law, rule imposed by military forces. -
First Continental Congress
56 delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up a declaration of colonial rights. Defended the colonies-right to run their own affairs. If British used force against the colonies, the colonies could fight back. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Paul Revere rode and spread word that 700 British troops were headed for Concord. Redcoats reached Lexington and encountered a milita of colonists. Someone fired and the British sent out tons of shots. 8 militiamen were killed while only 1 British was injured. Battle lasted only 15 minutes. The British then marched to Concord, where they found an empty arsenal. They marched back and encountered 3 to 4 thousand militiamen and fired at the British. Dozens of British died. -
Second Continental Congress
Some delagates called for independence, while otheres argued for reconciliation with Great Britain. Agreed to recognize colonial militia as Continental Army and appointed George Washington as commander. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Thomas Gage sent 2400 British troops up Breed's Hill. The colonists held their fire until the last minute and began to mow down the advancing redcoats before finally retreating. Colonists lost 450, British suffered over 1000 casualties. Deadliest battle of war. -
Olive Branch Petition
Urged a return to the "former harmony" between the British and the colonist. King George rejected this because he issued a proclamation stating that the colonies were in rebellion and urged Parliament to order a naval blockade to isolate a line of ships meant for American coast. -
Publication of Common Sense
50 page pamphlet by Thomas Paine. Paine attacked King George and the monarchy. Responsibility for British tyranny lay with "the royal battle of Britain". Independence would allow America to trade more freely and give colonists the chance to create better society-one free from tyranny, with equal social and economic opportunities for all. -
Early British Victories
1: Attempted to seize NYC. Sailed into NY harbor with 32000 soldiers. The untrained and poorly equipped colonial troops soon retreated. By late fall, British pushed Washington's army across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. 2: Sep '77- British captured the American capital at Philadelphia. -
Declaration of Independence
"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" were "unalienable rights" that could never be taken away. Government power can only come from the consent of the governed. "All men are created equal" The colonists declared freedom from Britain, -
Early Continental Army victories
Washington risked everything, he led 2400 men in small rowboats across the Delaware River and marched to Trenton, NJ and defeated a garrison of Hessians in a surprise attack. -
Saratoga
General John Burgoyne (British) planned to lead an army down a route of lakes from Canada to Albany where he would meet British troops as they arrived from NYC. Then join forces to isolate New England. He fought off colonial troops, he didn't realize British officers were preoccupied with holding Philadelphia and weren't coming to meet him. He finally surrendered. Saratoga's victory bolstered France's relief that the Americas could win the war. France signed an alliance with America. -
Valley Forge
The Continental Army was desperately low on food and supplies and fought to stay alive at winter camp in Vallley Forge, PA. 2000 soldiers died, but the survivors didn't desert. Their endurance and suffering filled Washington's letters to Congress and his friends. -
Friedrich von Steuben and Marquis de Lafayette
Von Steuben-Prussian captain and talented drillmaster. He helped train the Continental Army.
Lafayette-(1779) Lobbied French for French reinforcements and led a command in VA in the last years of war. -
British Victories in the South
1: Under general Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis; captured Charles Town, SC. They left for NY, while Cornwallis continued to capture land throughout the south. 2: In '81- Led army of 7500 onto the penninsula between the James and York Rivers and camped at Yorktown, VA. -
Treaty of Paris
Confirmed US independence and set boundaries of the new nation. The US now stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from Canada to the Florida border. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
17000 French and American troops surrounded the British on the Yorktown Penninsula and began bombarding then day and night. America defeated the British. French defeated the British fleet and blocked entrance to Chesapeake Bay, obstructing British sea routes to the bay.
