-
French and Indian War
With the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the French and Indian War came to a conclusion. Although the war gave Great Britain significant territorial gains in North America, disagreements over the subsequent frontier strategy and how to pay for the war's costs eventually stoked colonial unrest and gave rise to the American Revolution. -
sons of liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a grassroots organization of instigators and provocateurs that employed an extreme form of civil disobedience—threats and, in some cases, actual violence—to terrify adherents and enrage the British government in colonial America. -
Stamp act
On a variety of papers, documents, and playing cards, the colonists were compelled to pay a tax, which was symbolized by a stamp. It was a direct tax levied by the British government without the consent of the colonial legislatures and payable in colonial money, which was difficult to obtain, rather than in the British pound sterling. -
townshend act
Parliament established the Townshend Acts, which imposed taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea in order to help cover the costs associated with overseeing the American colonies. Nonimportation. The colonies once more made the decision to discourage the purchase of British products in reaction to increasing taxes. -
first continental congress meets
The first Continental Congress of the United States convened on September 5, 1774, in Philadelphia to discuss how to respond to the British government's restrictions on trade and representative governance following the Boston Tea Party. -
battle of bunker hill
The first fight between the British army and the New England militia took place on June 17, 1775. The violent battle, sometimes referred to as "The Battle of Bunker Hill," was fought across the Charles River from Boston in a mountainous area with walled meadows. -
olive branch petition sent to england
On July 5th, 1775, Congress decided to adopt the Olive Branch Petition and send it to the King as a final effort to avert the declaration of war. Their rights as British citizens were underlined, as were their allegiance to the British throne. As scheduled, the Congress convened. -
battle of lexington and concord
On April 19, 1775, the American Revolutionary War officially began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Samuel Adams and John Hancock, two rebel leaders, were taken into custody in Lexington, and an American arsenal and ammunition supply was destroyed in Concord by the British Army, which had left Boston. -
articles of confederation created
the 13 states were merged to become The United States of America. Article 2: State governments continued to possess independent authority not specified in the Articles of Confederation. Article 3: The united states were in charge of aiding in each other's defense against attacks. -
Great compromise
Their infamous "Great Compromise" established a dual system of congressional representation in honor of its creators, Connecticut representatives Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth. Each state would be given a certain number of seats in the House of Representatives according to its population. -
bill of rights adopted
In regard to their government, it outlines Americans' rights. Individual liberties and civil rights are ensured, including freedom of speech, of the press, and of religion. It establishes guidelines for legal due process and reserves to the people or the States any rights not granted to the Federal Government. -
enlightenment
The Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, was an intellectual and cultural movement in the eighteenth century that favored science over blind religion and reason over superstition.