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Currency Act
The British passed this act on September 1, 1764. The Currency Act was supposed to regulate the paper money in the colony's economies. -
Stamp Act
This act received royal assent on March 22, 1765. The Stamp Act required all printed items such as newspapers to have a stamp on it. This was a way for the British to tax the colonies. The Stamp Act was repealed on March 18, 1766. -
Quartering Act
The British parliament passes the Quartering Act on March 3, 1765. The Quartering Act required the colonists to house British soldiers inside barracks that were to be provided by the colonists. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act gave the British parliament the power to make laws that were binding to the colonists. This act was passed the day the stamp act was repealed. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were multiple acts passed by the British government that placed taxes on many of the goods being imported into the colonies. The Townshend Acts were many acts passed in 1767. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre happened on March 3, 1770. Colonists were becoming increasingly angry about taxation without representation. At one point the protesting became so bad the British soldiers ended up shooting and killing 5 colonists. -
Boston Tea Party
In December of 1773 many colonists came together and threw over 300 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. The colonists were angry with Britain for taxation without representation. Because Britain didn't lower the taxes on tea the colonist had what is known today as the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Port Act
On March 25, 1774, the British passed the Boston Port Act. The Boston Port Act closed the Boston harbor after the Boston Tea Party. It also stated that until almost 1 million dollars in tea was repaid the harbor would stay closed. -
Massachusetts Government Act
The Massachusetts Government Act gave the royally appointed governor of the Massachusetts bay area extra rights. This act was passed on May 5, 1774. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was created on September 5, 1774. The congress was made up of delegates from all the colonies excluding Georgia. They acted as the government, though they were still British, and they met in Philidalfia. The First Continental Congress was created to oppose the Coercive Acts. -
Minute Men
On October 26, 1774, the Massachusetts congress recommended having a fast ready, structured militia. Minute Men were civilians such as farmers, clerks, bankers, and so on. They were people that could be called on at any given moment and they would be dressed and ready for battle in one minute or less. -
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Speech
Patrick Henry held his famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech on March 3, 1775. Patrick Henry was one of the founding fathers. The "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech was most likely held to get people to recognize that a war with Britain was not only inevitable but also needed for the USA to become independent. -
Battle of Lexington
On April 4, 1775, the first battle of the American Revolution began. There were many things that lead up to the first battle. The biggest of which are the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. A small force of 77 men was destroyed by the 700 British troops in the battle on Lexington. This marked the beginning of the war. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was very much like the First Continental Congress. They were the government but had little power. The Second Continental Congress is mostly known for issuing the Declaration of Independence, setting forth America's independance. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was a loss for each side. Although the Americans lost a very good strategic position they also managed to take down 1000 British soldiers, boosting morale. -
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
Thomas Jefferson was the primary writer of the Declaration of independence. He was a founding father, the third President of the USA, the Second Vice President of the USA, and the first Secretary of State of the USA. The committee of 5 who wrote the Declaration of Independence started on June 11, 1776. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document written by the committee of 5 stating all the grievances the USA had with the British king. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. We celebrate July 4 today as a day of independence. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga began on September 19, 1777, and ended on October 17, 1777. Even though the Americans had a fair share of struggles they managed to beat the British. Because they beat the British the Americans had a major morale boost and were able to persuade the French, Spanish, and Dutch to join with them against a mutual rival. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown started on September 28, 1781, and ended on October 19, 1781. The Battle of Yorktown was one of the most, if not the most, important battle of the Revolutionary War. By September 28, General George Washington had encircled Cornwallis and his men, forcing him to surrender. From that day forth the war for freedom was over. -
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804)
Alexander Hamilton helped to lead the attack on Yorktown and later became a very influential founding father. He was also appointed Secretary of the Treasury.
