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Beginning of French and Indian War
The war between the British and the French and Native Americans over territorial disputes. First major appearance of George Washington. The war set in motion the entire future events, allowing Britain to be the world's superpower, having the most dominion over the North Americas to come -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan was a plan formed around the start of The 7 Years War. Although signed, it was never really put into effect. Although somewhat useless, it's important because it is the first instance of the idea of Americas combining into one country. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty that unofficially ended The French and Indian War, making France give up all its territories in the Eastern Americas to the British and Spanish, although the Spanish didn’t keep it for very long. -
Proclamation of 1763
The treaty that officially ended The French and Indian War, that also drew a line on The Appalachian Mountains that prevented the colonists from settling beyond them. -
Sugar Act
The first major tax in the Americas, putting tax on all of the major imports, such as Sugar, Wine, Coffee, and textiles. -
Townshend Act
Parliament created duties on common items instead of direct taxes. -
Boston Massacre
Britain sent soldiers to enforce their new acts and the colonists threw snow and rocks at them. The soldiers then shot them. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty snuck into the Boston Harbor and poured 45 tons of tea into the sea in protest of the Tea Act that supported the East India Company. This radical action set off more tea parties across the colonies in their harbors to protest the British. -
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
Cut off all trade to the boston port, put the massachusetts government entirely under british control, allowed any royal official accused of a crime to be tried in britain rather than massachusetts, and allowed the british army to live in colonists home and the colonists couldn't refuse. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from every colony aside Georgia gathered in Pennsylvania to debate their response after Parliament had passed the Intolerable Acts. They intended to de-escalate the tension and decided to resort to boycotting if the Intolerable Acts were not repealed by Dec. 1, 1774. On October 26, the colonists sent a petition to King George III expressing their grievances in hopes of changing his attitude towards the colonists. -
Battle at Lexington and Concord
At Lexington, British soldiers came across a group of minutemen and fired at them. After a short battle, the colonists withdrew and the British marched along. Hours later at Concord Hill, a more intense attack occurred and the British retreated to Boston. The conflict had a devastating political impact on Britain, as it inspired more Americans to join the war, making this battle be considered the start of the Revolutionary War. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine published Common Sense, a pamphlet arguing for independence from Britain. The work had audacity and was ruthless on British rule and royalty while also spreading Enlightenment ideas. His work had a significant impact on the colonists as it was able to be consumed by common colonists and influence a much larger amount of the population to support independence. It became the most sold printed work in the colonies at the time. -
Lee Resolution: Second Continental Congress
The Continental Congress became the governing body of the rebelling colonies during the early years of the Revolution, the delegates elected quickly lost hope of peace with Britain. The Lee Resolution had a profound influence over the Declaration of Independence. The plan for treaties and alliances were delayed by up to a year. 12 colonies voted for the Lee Resolution, aside from New York that did not cast a vote until the NYCov agreed to the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Article declares their independence. Signed by the Continental congress, though it was a second draft after the first, proposed by General Lee, flopped. -
Battle of Saratoga
General William Howe and his forces choose not to attack Manhattan as planned, but he goes over to Philadelphia failing terribly to win the battle against the continental army. Victory here proved to the French that this war was not a lost cause. -
Articles of Confederation
Colonies are allowed one vote in Congress, but Congress was not allowed to give taxes on the colonies. -
Valley Forge
A location that greatly affected the continental army during the winter time killing off 2,500 due to diseases and exposure. -
Siege of Yorktown
The French invaded Yorktown where British General Charles Cornwallis camped his men who were waiting for reinforcement and supplies.