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Stamp Act
The British Parliament decided to collect taxes to get out of the debt they were in after their war with France. Colonists had to pay a tax on all printed material they used. This tax included legal documents, correspondence and even playing cards. -
Tea Act
Drinking tea had become a very established cultural practice across every social class. The colonists saw it as an attack on an important tradition and a symbol of British control over the colonies. Ultimately the resentment drove civilians into acts of protests. -
Boston Tea Party
Because of the Tea Act, a group of American colonists decided to board three British ships in Boston Harbor. By dumping chests of tea into the sea and destroying shipment they showed resistance. It was a very dramatic act of defiance that escalated tensions with Britain. -
First Continental Congress
The colonies gathered representatives to gather and to discuss their complaints against Britain. They decided to raise a militia and end the trade with Britain. These acts made the tension with the British even worse. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
This was when the British Army attempted to take colonial weapons. To this the militia responded and met them in battle. This battle was one of the most important because it marked the beginning of the American revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
After one month of the battle of Lexington and Concord the colonist representatives met. During the second continental congress the colonists met and appointed George Washington as commander in chief of the army. He led them into battle once again. -
Declaration of Independence
This document written primarily by Thomas Jefferson declared the independence of the 13 colonies from the British. It create a new country, The United States of America. The Declaration of Independence was firmly based on enlightenment ideas. -
Battle of Saratoga
During the fight for independence there were a lot of battles but this is one of the most important. This American victory was very important and one of the turning points in the war as after many losses this win convinced France to support the Americans. The French provided essential military aids. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown is also very important because after three years of having support from the French in Yorktown, Virginia the British Army surrendered to the Americans. This war effectively ended the war. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty primarily written by Benjamin Franklin formally put an end to the war. It recognizes the United States as an independent country. Established new boundaries extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. -
United States Constitution
This document became the foundation for the United States government. The constitution is strongly influenced by enlightenment ideals from thinkers. Montesquieu had the idea of a government being divided in three main powers the legislative, executive, and judicial. John Locke’s idea was people having natural rights (life liberty and property) and Rousseau had the idea that a government could not rule without the consent of the people. -
Bill of Rights
Ten amendments were added to the constitution. They were called the Bill of Rights. They protect the fundamental rights defended by Voltaire, Rousseau and Locke. Things such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion.