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End of Seven Years' War
Seven Years War, also known as The French and Indian War, laid the groundwork for the Revolution. The war ends with the Treaty of Paris (1763), where France surrenders its North American territories to Britain. Great Britain covered some of the costs of the war by taxing their American colonies. -
Passage of the Stamp Act
An act passed by the British that placed a stamp upon documents, letters, playing cards, etc. The stamp was taxable - this was the first direct tax on American colonists and it was not taken well. -
Stamp Act Repealed
After a large amount of resistance and fuss from the American colonists, the British repealed the Stamp Act. This created a hope in the colonists that they could fight against taxation. -
Passage of the Townshend Acts
These Acts placed new taxes on glass, paint, lead, paper, and tea. The fed-up colonists organized boycotts and protests of the regulations. -
The First Treaty of Fort Stanwix is signed
The Treaty was signed between Great Britain and the Iroquois Confederacy, in which the Confederacy was required to give up large portions of their land to make more room for colonial expansion. -
British begin occupying Boston
A British fleet entered the Boston Harbor with 1,000 soldiers aboard. They determined that occupation of Boston was necessary, due to the unrest that was moving through the colonies (particularly in Boston). -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers shot into a crowd of colonists who were protesting British taxation. Three colonists were killed and two others were severely injured. -
Boston Tea Party
The Tea Act of 1773 placed large taxes on the failing East India Company. Ships carrying the tea arrived in the Boston Harbor, and a group of colonists, disguised as Native Americans, hopped on the ship and dumped the tea into the harbor. -
Revolutionary War Begins
The first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired in Massachusetts during the battles of Lexington and Concord. This was the beginning of a conflict that would go on for 7 years. -
George Washington becomes America's first Commander-In-Chief
Washington was unanimously elected to office. He was supported by many politicians and folks of the public. -
Declaration of Independence Signed
Representatives are ready to break with Britain. There has been agitation over taxes and a year of war. A committee forms to draft the Declaration of Independence with Thomas Jefferson chosen to write it. July 2nd, congress voted in favor of the DOI, and July 4th the DOI was approved. -
Marquis de Lafayette returns to America
In 1778, France allied itself to the New American Government. An important French figure during this time was Lafayette. He was a major general in the Continental army in 1777. After a trip back to France in 1779, he returned to America in 1780 with thousands of French troops and supplies to aid and contribute with the war, and upcoming Battle of Yorktown. -
Battle of Yorktown Begins
French and American forces come together in Yorktown, Virginia. The war began in September 1781, and ended in October 1781. Yorktown was the battle that contributed to the end of the fighting in the revolution. -
Battle of Yorktown Ends
General Cornwallis surrenders, unable to evacuate or gain reinforcements. A French fleet drove off a British fleet leading to an advantage. The war for American freedom begins to conclude. -
Loyalists leave America
Approximately 60,000 British Loyalists left America in 1782 and 1783. Many faced extreme hardships in their new homes. -
Treaty of Paris ends the War
The treaty was negotiated and signed in Paris. American representatives were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. The treaty officially ended the war. It validated the 13 North American states. -
The Second Treaty of Fort Stanwix is signed
the Iroquois Confederacy was weakened due to westward expansion and the Revolutionary War. The Confederacy ceded some of their territory in present-day NY and PA through this treaty. -
Shay's Rebellion
This uprising was violent and took place in the Massachusetts countryside. It was brought on by a debt left behind at the end of the American Revolutionary War. It was led by Daniel Shay against the debt collection in Massachusetts. -
Constitutional Convention begins in Philadelphia
This meeting was set to address the weak spots of central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. From the Constitutional Convention, we get the United States Constitution. -
First U.S. Presidential Election
Washington won support of every participating elector (a total of 69). Electors were chosen from each state. Ten states cast votes in this election: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Massachuttes, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. Washington was an obvious choice. -
Constitution went into effect
The US Constitution clearly outlined the three branches of government: legislative branch, judicial power, and executive power. It holds the rules for how a country or state is run. -
French Revolution Begins
America's largest ally during the Revolutionary War, France, began a revolution against their own monarchy in 1789. Americans hotly debated whether or not they should support France in their revolution: in the end, the United States decided to remain neutral. -
Bill of Rights are enforced
The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It outlines a citizens rights in relation to government. It states the rules for the processing of laws, an reserves power (outside or not delegated to the federal government) to the people of the United States. -
Ratification of John Jay's Treaty
The treaty aimed to resolve outstanding issues between the US and Great Britain. American people did not like it, but it got the job done in the sense of keeping the peace and remaining neutral. -
French Revolution Ends
The French revolted against inequalities, corruption and despair over economic hardship. They were nearing bankruptcy due to their participation in the American Revolution, and King Louis XVI's massive spending. This period was known as The French Revolution, and it from it came the French Republic.