-
French and Indian War
Conflict between the British and France over land. -
Proclomation of 1763
The British established a proclamation line which prevented colonial expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
Sugar Act
The British halved the duty on foreign-made molasses, and placed duties on certain imports. Violators would no longer be tried by a jury, but by a vice-admiralty. -
Stamp Act
A Tax imposed on documents and printed items. It was the first tax that affected the colonists directly. -
Sons of Liberty formed
After the stamp and sugar act were passed, the colonists began to boycott British goods led by Samuel Adams. This was the formation of the Sons of Liberty, with Samuel Adams as a founding member. -
Townshend Acts
British put a tax on goods that were imported into the colony from Britain. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770 a mob gathered in front of the Boston customs house and taunted british soldiers standing guard, shots were fired, and five colonists were killed. This was labeled as the Boston Massacre. -
Tea Act
In an attempt to save the British East india Company, the British granted the company the right to sell tea to the colonists without a tax. -
Boston Tea Party
In protest of the Tea Act, a large group of Boston rebels disguised themselves as native americans and took action against 3 British tea ships. This became known as the Boston Tea Party. 18,000 pounds of tea were dumped into the Boston Harbor that night. -
Intolerable Acts
The British responded to this act of rebellion by passing the Intolerable Acts. This shut down the Boston Harbor, and authorized British troops to occupy vacant houses. -
First Continental Congress Meets
In response to the intolerable Acts, 56 delegates met in Philadelphia, in which they drew up a declaration of human rights. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode out to spread the word that 700 british troops were headed for Concord. In response 70 minutemen drew arms, and were ordered not to shoot unless shot at. A shot was fired, which resulted in the death of eight minutemen and only one redcoat. The british then proceeded to concord, but found nothing, so they began to march back to boston. By then 3000 to 4000 minutemen had assembled and ambushed the marching british troops. -
Second Continental Congress
In May 1775 colonial leaders called the second continental congress. There were dvisions among the colonists in their loyalties, but despite these differences, they recognized the need for a colonial militia. The Continental Army was created under the command of George Washington. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Cooped up in Boston, British general Thomas Gage decided to send 2,400 troops up Breed's Hill near Bunker Hill, to strike the militamen. The colonists held their fire until the last moment and then they began to shoot down the advanving troops. Once the battle had ended, the colonists lost 450 men, while the british suffered over 1000 casulties. -
Olive Branch petition
Many colonists loyal to King George III blamed the bloodshed on the king's ministers. On July 8, Congress sent the king the Olive Branch Petition urging a return to "the former harmony' between Britain and the Colonists. -
Publication of Common Sense
In Thomas Paine's Common Sense, he attacked king george and the monarchy. Paine claimed that independence would allow free trade and a chance to create a better society free from the tyranny of Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776 the colonists adopted the Declaration of Independence. The colonists declared freedom, and would have to fight for their human rights. -
Early Continental Army Victories
Washington led 2,400 men across the Delaware river, and defeated the a garrison of hessians in Trenton, New Jersey, because of a surprise attack. -
Early British Victories
In 1776 The british sent 32,000 soldiers, and took over New York City. The continental army attempted to defend New York in August, but the untrained and poorly equipped trrops soon retreated. In september 1777 the british regrouped and took the American capital at Philadelphia, after their loss in Trenton New Jersey. -
Saratoga
The british General John Burgoyne planned to meet up with other british troops at New York City by moving through Canada and Albany. As Burgoyne traveled to New York City, the continental army gathered to intervene. Burgoyne realized he had lost, and he surrendered on October 17, 1777. The Americans victory at Saratoga boosted France's beleif in America, and resulted in an alliance. -
Valley Forge
Low on supplies in the winter camp in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the continental army fought to survive. Although over 2,000 soldiers died, the survivors didn't desert Washington. -
Friedrich von Steuben and Marquis de Lafayette
in February 1778 Friedrich von steuben, a Prussian captain and talented drill master had stepped up to train the American Continental Army. Other foreign leaders such as Marquis de Lafayette also aided in the battle. Lafayette helped rally french reinforcements in 1779. -
British Victories in the South
In 1778 the british took Savannah, Georgia with ease. Under General Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis, the british also captured Charles Town, South Carolina. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
After learning General Cornwallis's plans to fortify Yorktown, the French send a naval force to block british entry to the chesapeake bay. French and American troops proceed to surround and bombard the british on the Yorktown peninsula. On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrenders, and the world is shacked at the americans defeat of the British. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris confirmed U.S. independency and set new boundaries for the nation. The U.S. now stretched from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River, and from Canada to Florida.
