American Revolution

By wymanj25

  • Navigation Acts

    1651 & 1660 Restricted colonial trade to England.

  • French and Indian War Ends

    Britain received land from France. One reason France allied with colonists.

  • Stamp Act

    Taxed items such as newspapers and pamphlets. Colonists viewed this as an attack ob their rights.

  • Boston Massacre

    Colonists were tormenting British soldiers, who then opened fire on the crowd. Five were killed and the colonists were heavily angered.

  • Boston Tea Party

    Colonists dumped tea into harbor to protest tax. Caused harsh punishments which sparked First Continental Congress

  • Tea Act

    Reduced the prices of tea from the East India Company, causing smugglers to be bypassed. Caused Boston Tea Party.

  • First Continental Congress

    Included figures of the enlightenment. Discussed a response to Britain’s punishment for Boston Tea Party.

  • The Coercive/Intolerable Acts

    Set of laws passed by parliament to punish Massachusetts for Boston Tea Party Including:
    • Boston Port Act (Blockade)
    • Massachusetts Government Act (Massachusetts Council would be appointed by king)
    • Administration of Justice Act (Governor could move the location of a trial)
    • Quartering Act (Accommodations for troops could be demanded in all colonies)
    Angered the colonists and sparked First Continental Congress

  • Lexington and Concord

    First battle of revolution. Caused Second Continental Congress to meet.

  • Second Continental Congress

    Set up Continental Army with George Washington.

  • Independence Declared

    Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson, heavily influenced by enlightenment thinkers, and accepted by vote.

  • Battle of Saratoga

    First turning point. Colonists defeated the British convincing France to ally with them.

  • Valley Forge

    Winter 1777-78. Troops faced cold, hunger, and disease. Washington held the army together.

  • Yorktown

    With help of french, British were defeated essentially ending the war for them.

  • Treaty of Paris

    Ended the war. Britain accepted them as an independent nation.

  • Constitution Written

    Leaders such as George Washington, James Maddison, and Benjamin Franklin gathered to write constitution. It encompassed many enlightenment ideas such as social contract, separation of power, checks and bakances, and other legal ideas.

  • Constitution Approved

    Representatives from each colony gathered to approve the constitution. Most signed it.