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The French and Indian War
The first battle happened on May 28, 1754. The war started because the French and the British fought over colonial territory and wealth. For the first few years, the French dominated the war. But, when the British became allies with the Indians and sent over more troops, they took control. Eventually, the British won the war later in 1763. -
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Treaty of Paris (1763)
This treaty ended the French and Indian War. This gave Britain control of the area of North America to the north and east of the Mississippi River. The French couldn't support the thirteen colonies anymore, and Canada, too. -
Stamp Act
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765. This act created a tax on every printed piece of paper the American colonists used. This was viewe as a direct attempt by the British to raise money in the colonies without the colonial legislatures' permission. People thought that if this went on without any protest then worse things would happen in the future. -
Townshend Acts
Townshend Acts was passed by the British Parliment after the Stamp Act was repealed. They were designed to collect revenue from the American colonists by putting customs duties on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The colonists started to boycott all British goods. The boycott decreased British trade, so most of the Acts were repealed, all except for the tea tax. -
British Troops in Boston (1768)
The colonists did not react to the Townshend Acts very well. So, in hopes of solving this problem, Lord Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the Colonies, sent 4,000 troops in order to restore order in Boston. This, however, only made the situations worse. -
Boston Tea Party
Governor Thomas Hutchinson ordered that three British ships be allowed to come to Americaand that the appropriate pay will be given to them for the tea. Because this act was very unpopular, this encouraged 60 men to aboard the ships one night, disguised as Native Americans, and dump all of the tea into the water. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress brought together representatives from 12 of the colonies, all except Georgia. Together they discussed their opinions on the British "Intolerable Acts." Their fist meeting was in 1774 in Philidelphia. They had three main goals: to compose a statement of colonial rights, to identify British parliaments violation of those rights, and to provide a plan that would convince Britain to restore those rights. -
Lexington & Concord
The battles of Lexington and Concord started off the American Revolutionary War. British General Thomas Gage sent troops out to distroy the colonists' ammunition and guns and to capture John Handcock and Samuel Adams on the night of Sept. 18. Paul Revere warned them that "the British are Coming" and the two escaped. The colonists had been a battle with the British and when they finally arrived, they were ready and then the battle started. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met while the British came and arrested the patriots who openly voiced their negative opinions on the King. The twelve representatives came together to discuss and to present the grievences of the colonies and when nothing changed, they started to write the Declaration of Independence. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill happened during the Seige of Boston and happened mostly on Breed's Hill. The colonial military learned that the British was planning to send troops from Boston to take over the hills near the city. The British troops attacked the next day and eventually won the battle. -
Washington Assumes Command
General George Washington was voted commander-in-chief of the Continental Army by the American Congress on June 15. He did not arrive in Massachusetts to assume his duties until July 3. The army Washington met Cambridge was very undisciplined and did not have a lot of training, they also had a shortage of supplies. -
Dunmore’s Proclamation
The Earl of Dunmore created a proclamation that issued freedom for slaves that fought for the King. This caused fear and mistrust in Virginia. But, the slaves wanted to be free, not be loyal to the King, as some of them were close to the colonists. -
Attack on Quebec (1775)
The attack on Quebec started over a military confict between the original 13 colonies and the Kingdom of Great Britain. It happened because the Britich colonists wanted the French colonists to become allies with them and help rebel against the British Empire. -
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Second Continential Congress adopted it. It states the reasons that the 13 colonies wanted independence. -
Washington Crossing the Delaware
General George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey in a sneak attack on the British. Their win helped turn the war around into America's favor. -
Battle of Brandywine
This battle was between the American troops under general George Washington and the British troops under General Sir William Howe. The British won the battle and forcecd the Americans to head over the rebel's capital in Philadelphia. -
British Surrender at Saratoga
British General Burgoyne attacked, for the second time and with weakened troops, the Americans at Bemis Heights on October 7th. But, they were defeated and surrender ten days later. -
Marquis de Lafayette comes to colonies – early 1777
When Marquis de Lafayette heard of the American Revolution, he was inspired and decided to join the battle. He soon became very close the General George Washington and saw him as a role model. During, his first battle he was injured and was forced to surrender the battle and get his troops back safely. He continued to go up in ranking in the Military. -
Valley Forge Encampment
General Washington and his Continental Army spent the months of winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The tents they used did little to protect them from the cold. They didn't have good, warm clothes and had to share clothing. In Feburary 1778, they finished building warm huts with fireplaces. -
British Capture Charleston
After the British took control of Georgia, General Clinton to take control of Charleston, South Carolina. When they showed up with their large troops, the small American troops had no choice but to surrender, letting the British take over Charleston. -
Battle of King's Mountain
This battle was fought near Blackburn, South Carolina and King's Mountain, North Carolina. This was a kind of turning point for the American Revolution because the Americans defeated the British troops and killed Major Ferguson. -
Surrender at Yorktown
British General Charles Cornwallis brought his 8,000 troops to Yorktown and expected help from some British ships sent form New York. When those ships never showed up, This was when the thirteen colonies found their best chance to defeat the King and they took it. General Cornwallis then surrendered. -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
This treaty, signed in Paris by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay, ended the Revolutionary War. The terms of the treaty made Britain regconize the United States of America as an independent nation. Also, the British troops in America had to leave and all debts to Great Britain be payed.