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French and Indian War ends
France and their Indian Allies lose the war against the British. They sign the Treaty of France of 1763, that makes France lose all of their lands in Canada. The British are in grave debt, because of this war. -
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American Revolution
The French Indian War, was a major defeat for the French. England was for now in massive debt, because of the war. Where should the British get the money to pay off their debts? England chose to tax their thirteen colonies in America. Americans (British Colonists) get angry over these taxes. Then the American Revolution starts, as a protest against the taxes. It will later become a violent insurgence. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts of 1763, put restrictions on colonial trade. It was based on mercantilism, to build wealth for England. It was done to pay off debts from the French and Indian War. -
Stamp Act
Great Britain passed this act to put a tax on all printed materials that was sold in the American Colonies. To know that an printed good had the tax, was if it had a stamp on it. The British felt they had the authority to tax the Colonies, because of British Troops stationed in the Colonies. The Americans Colonists hated this tax, because they didn’t consent to it. This is when the phrase “No Taxation without Representation” became popular. A year later, in 1766, this tax was repealed. -
Boston Massacre
An event when the British shot and killed a 5 colonists, who were in a mob. The mob surfaced because of the civil unrest in Boston from all the taxes Britain opposed on the Colonists in the 13 Colonies. -
Tea Act
Great Britain passed the Tea Act to grant the East India Company to send their products (tea) to the Colonies to get more revenue. The Colonies didn’t like this, because it was forcing them to pay for their products. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest of the Tea Act of 1773. Where the Sons of Liberty threw tea from the East Indian Company in the Boston Harbor. This will led to the Intolerable Acts, a retaliation from the British. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
Acts taken by Britain to mainly punish Boston for the Boston Tea Party and other signs of Colonial Hostility. This led to the calling of the First Continental Congress. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was established to boycott British goods, unless the Intolerable Acts was repelled. Georgia was the only colony that didn’t send delegates to this Congress. It also armed the local militia (minutemen) in Massachusetts. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military battles in the American Revolution. In Massachusetts and Maine there is a state holiday to remember these battles. It’s called Patriots Day. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was called about one month after the Battle of Lexington and Concord. It dealt with the making of the Continental Army, appointing George Washington as the General of that Army, and the drafting of the Olive Branch Petition, to reach a peaceful resolution with Britain. -
Declaration of Independence Adopted
On July 4 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. This document declared that the 13 British Colonies in North America are independent from Great Britain. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga, was a battle of the control of the Hudson River Valley. This was a American Victory that stopped the British from splitting the colonies into two. This battle led to France to join the American side in the war. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Valley forge was a encamped position in the middle of Pennsylvania. About 11,000 American Soldiers and George Washington stayed their for about 6 months. During this time, a lot of soldiers died from Disease, Starvation, and etc. At the same time, Washington’s army was reorganised and re-trained by Baron von Steuben, a Prussian soldier, with the help of Marquis de Lafayette, a French officer, at Valley Forge. -
Battle of Yorktown
Also known as the Siege of Yorktown, this battle will eventually led to the ending of the American Revolutionary War. The Americans and French retook the city, which led to the forced Surrender of General Lord Charles Cornwallis and his army. -
U.S. Constitution Written
The U.S Constitution was written in 1787, by James Madison. This is why James Madison is known as the father of the Constitution. -
U.S. Constitution Adopted
The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787, ratified 1788, and was ratified in 1789. This document described what the government will be as 3 branches, Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. It also demonstrates what the government can’t do, like the ability take away people’s rights protected in the Constitution (Ex. 1st Amendment).