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Townshend Acts
a series of measures, passed by the British Parliament in 1767, that taxed goods imported to the American colonies. -
The Boston Massacre
A deadly riot -
Intolerable Acts
A series of four laws passed by the British Parliament to punish the colony of Massachusetts Bay -
Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War -
Boston Tea Party
Protesting both a tax on tea and the perceived monopoly of the East India Company -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Independence from England -
First Continental Congress convenes
Called by the Committees of Correspondence in response to the Intolerable Acts. -
Paul Revere’s Ride and the Battles of Lexington and Concord
Paul Revere rode from Charlestown to Lexington to warn that the British were marching from Boston to seize the colonial armory at Concord. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Breed’s Hill in Charlestown was the primary locus of combat in the misleadingly named Battle of Bunker Hill -
Declaration of Independence
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America -
Nathan Hale executed
Having penetrated the British lines on Long Island to obtain information, American Capt. Nathan Hale was captured by the British. He was hanged without trial the next day. -
The Stamp Act
Raise money for Britain -
Battle of Valley Forge
Valley Forge functioned as the third of eight winter encampments for the Continental Army's main body -
France and the United States form an alliance
The United States and France signed the Treaty of Alliance, creating a military alliance against Great Britain. -
John Paul Jones: “I have not yet begun to fight!”
The U.S. battleship the Bonhomme Richard was getting the worst of its battle with the British vessel -
Benedict Arnold turns traitor
Revolutionary War hero Benedict Arnold turned his back on his country in a secret meeting with a top British official -
Battle of Yorktown
the surrender at Yorktown, or the German battle -
Articles of Confederation ratified
A plan of government organization that served as a bridge between the initial government by the Continental Congress and the federal government -
Treaty of Paris ends the war
This treaty ended the American Revolution and formally recognized the United States as an independent nation.