-
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a conflict between long time rival countries France and Britain. The main cause was that the British were concerned about French Forts being built by the Ohio River Valley and the British population was rapidly growing and pushing west. -
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The British won the French and Indian War, and what resulted was the Treaty of Paris. France lost Canadian Colonies and claimed land east of the Mississippi River. The British got all French Territory in Canada and Florida. Spain got French territory west of the Mississippi River and New Orleans. -
Proclamation of 1763
King George III declared that all land west of the Appalachian Divide was off limits to the Colonists in response to a revolt from the Native Americans. This upset the colonists as they saw it as Britain just trying to maintain strict control over them. -
Stamp Act
Business owners and citizens alike were required to buy stamps for paper, legal documents, licences, news papers, and other paper related products. This was an effort buy the British to pay off debt from the French and Indian War. -
Boston Massacre
An incident where British soldiers shot straight into a crowd of colonists. Many were killed. This was one of the most graphic events in history. The soldiers were tried and convicted of manslaughter. -
Boston Tea Party
Various leaders in the colonies disguised themselves as Native Americans, snuck onto the ships in the Boston Harbor, and dumped millions of dollars worth of tea into the water. The British demanded repayment but the colonists refused. The British responded with the intolerable acts. -
Intolerable Acts
Several laws set in place as punishment by the British in response to the Boston Tea Party. The acts consisted of closing the port of Boston, reducing the colonies' self-governing rights, those who were accused of crimes had to be tried in Britain (most of the Jury was biased and nobody from the colonies ever won a case), and the colonists must quarter troops, no questions asked. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
These battles were the first military engagements between Britain and the Colonies of the revolutionary war. The British won both battles. Over 100 were killed and another 100 were wounded. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The battle took place in Charlestown, Massachusetts. It occurred during the Siege of Boston in the early stages of the revolutionary war. The British won the battle. The battle was named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, MA. -
Publication of Common Sense
Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense. It sold over 150,000 copies in very little time. The pamphlet advocated independence from Britain and encouraged common people in the colonies to join the war effort and fight for their freedom. -
Declaration of Independence
The most famous document in United States history. This famous document was written by Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams and several others and included the basic rights that every citizen would be entitled to. Signed by 56 delegates at the 2nd Continental Congress. The document was created to declare independence from Britain. -
Battle of Trenton
This was a small but pivotal battle during the war. The British army was crushed by Washington's march across the Delaware River. The colonists were rejuvenated by the easy defeat of the British forces. The battle took place in Trenton, New Jersey. The Colonists won the battle. -
Battles of Saratoga
The battles of Saratoga were the climax of the Saratoga campaign. The colonists had a decisive victory over the British. The battles took place in Saratoga County, New York. The British surrendered October 17th, 1777. -
Valley Forge
The location where General Washington and his army stayed during the harsh winter. -
Battle of Cowpens
The battle took place in Cowpens, South Carolina. It was a major victory for the Colonists and gave a major boost to Patriot morale. The British lost around 600 soldiers and the Americans only lost around 70. -
Battle of Yorktown
Also known as the Siege of Yorktown, a major British army was surrounded on a peninsula at Yorktown, Virginia where General Cornwallis surrendered. This was a major victory for the Americans and practically ended military activity for the war. -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The treaty signed in Paris by representatives of Britain and the Colonies. The Colonists were given a large amount of land. This officially ended the revolutionary war and the colonies officially gained their independence from Britain and became the United States of America.
