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French and Indian War
Part of a greater conflict between Great Britain and France known as the seven years war. It ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. -
Albany Plan
The Albany Plan was a rejected plan to place the British North American Colonies under a more centralized government. -
Proclamation of 1763
Prohibited Anglo-American colonists from settling on lands acquired from the French following the French and Indian War. Closed down colonial expansion westward beyond Appalachia. -
Sugar Act
A tax enacted to end the smuggling of molasses. -
Stamp Act
A tax placed on the colonists, taxing all paper and printed goods. Protests broke out and colonists argued “No Taxation without Representation”. -
Townshend Act
A tax placed on the colonists taxing glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. Protests and boycotts broke out which caused the British government to send more troops to America. -
Boston Massacre
Growing unrest in Boston led the colonists to act out toward British soldiers. The seven soldiers fired their guns off at the crowd which killed 5 colonists. The Seven soldiers were convicted for their actions. -
Boston Tea Party
The colonists protested the British Parliament's tax on tea. They acted on this protest by throwing chests of tea into Boston Harbor. The British parliament punishes Massachusetts by placing more taxes on them. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates of 12 of the Thirteen Colonies held from September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia at the beginning of the American Revolution. It was the key link in the chain of events that led to our nation gaining its independence from England. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The British marched into colonies to seize American weapons.
This battle led many colonists to support the revolution, showing the British Empire that America was not taking unjust treatment anymore.
This battle was significant because it marked the first battle of the American Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
While this war broke out in the colonies, the 2nd Continental Congress came together to figure out how to resolve this issue. The Congress agreed to compromise and create the Continental Army with George Washington as the commander.
This specific congress was significant because this new army brought the colonies closer to fighting for freedom. -
Olive Branch Petition
This was created to inform the British Government of the unjust treatment towards the colonies and how the colonies had been loyal to the Crown, claiming they had rights that had been ignored. The King dismissed this petition.
This petition was significant because it stands as a representation of how the colonies viewed the British Empire and their desire for peace. -
Yorktown
Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown which effectively ended the Revolutionary War. Without being able to raise a new army, the British government gave in to the Americans for peace. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was a political pamphlet that made an argument for independence that persuaded many colonists to fight for freedom.
This was significant because this document widely spread the idea of independence while being accessible to everyone. -
Declaration of Independence
July 2nd, the 2nd Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Britain.
July 4th, the congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration was a list of grievances that was sent to the British, demanding freedom.
It was first drafted by Thomas Jefferson and later edited by a few members of Congress.
This was significant because it brought all the colonies together to break free from the British -
Battle of Saratoga
The American defeat of the superior British army. A major turning point in the Revolutionary War as it lifted morale, increased the hope for independence, and helped secure the foreign support needed to win the war. -
Articles of confederation
Created a national government composed of a Congress, which had the power to declare war, appoint military officers, sign treaties, make alliances, appoint foreign ambassadors, and manage relations with Indians. Significant because it was the first governing document of the United States. -
Valley forge
The Continental Army struggled with a supply crisis while simultaneously retraining and reorganizing their units in an effort to successfully counterattack the British. The significance is that it was the winter encampment site of the Continental Army under General George Washington. -
Coercive Acts
A series of four laws passed by the British Parliament to punish the colony of Massachusetts Bay for the Boston Tea Party. They were meant to break Massachusetts Bay and warn the other colonies of the consequences of rebellious behavior -
Treaty of Paris
Ended the American Revolution. The significance of this being that it also recognized the United States as an independent nation from Britain.