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The Stamp Act
Britain passed the Stamp Act, imposing a tax on legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards. This is the first direct tax on the American colonists. A successful American campaign to have the act repealed will give Americans confidence that they can avoid future taxes as well. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a deadly riot on King Street in Boston. A conflict between American colonists and British soldiers broke out and the soldiers fired killing 5 colonists and wounding others. -
Boston Tea Party
Protesting both a tax on tea (taxation without representation) and the perceived monopoly of the East India Company. -
Intolerable Acts
In retaliation for colonial resistance to British rule during the winter of 1773–74, the British Parliament enacted four measures that became known as the Intolerable Acts. -
First Continental Congress convenes
Called by the Committees of Correspondence in response to the Intolerable Acts, the First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia. Fifty-six delegates represented all the colonies except Georgia. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
At Concord, the British were met by hundreds of militiamen. Outnumbered and running low on ammunition, the British column was forced to retire to Boston. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill, which was part of the American siege of British-held Boston. Some 2,300 British troops eventually cleared the hill of the entrenched Americans, but at the cost of more than 40 percent of the assault force. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
A 47-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. -
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
A minor conflict of the American Revolutionary War fought near Wilmington, North Carolina. -
Battle of Sullivan's Island
the first decisive patriot victory over the British Royal Navy, shocked the world and protected Charleston during a critical early stage of the American Revolution. -
Declaration of Independence
After the Congress recommended that colonies form their own governments, the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and revised in committee. On July 2 the Congress voted for independence; on July 4 it adopted the Declaration of Independence. -
Saratoga Campaign
The American defeat of the superior British army lifted patriot morale, furthered the hope for independence, and helped to secure the foreign support needed to win the war. -
Battle of Saratoga
The American defeat of the superior British army lifted patriot morale, furthered the hope for independence, and helped to secure the foreign support needed to win the war. -
France in the American Revolutionary War
France began preparing fleets and armies to enter the fight but did not formally declare war on Britain until June 1778. -
Battle of Valley Forge
The Continental Army emerged the following June as a well-disciplined and efficient fighting force. -
Siege of Charleston
British land and sea campaign that cut off and forced the surrender of Charleston -
Battle of Kings Mountain
the first major patriot victory to occur after the British invasion of Charleston. -
Battle of Cowpens
Near the town of Cowpens, South Carolina, between U.S. forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan and British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, as part of the campaign in the Carolinas -
Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in the field at Yorktown on October 17, 1781, effectively ending the War for Independence. -
The Treaty of Paris
The military verdict in North America was reflected in the preliminary Anglo-American peace treaty of 1782, which was included in the Treaty of Paris of 1783.