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End of French and Indian War
The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War. The
French received all land from the Mississippi River west, while the British received all land from the Mississippi River east. -
The Sugar Act
The 1764 parliament lowered the Sugar Act tax.George Grenville believed that this would convince the colonists to start paying the tax instead of them smuggling. This act also allowed the officers to take the goods that have been smuggled without having to go to court. The colonists didn't agree with this rule, they thought it violated their rights. The colonists didn't like that officers could barge in their homes and search for smuggled goods without any permission. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act made it so the colonists had to pay tax on every piece of paper that they print. This was not just meant for taking paper, though. The Stamp Act made the colonists pay taxes on many printed materials, including even playing cards. -
The Townshend Acts
In 1767, the parliament passed the Townshend Acts. This act was made to tax imported goods like glass, tea, and paper. The tax had to be paid when the imported goods arrived. This angered the colonists to a point where they decided to protest any act that was set upon them. -
Trouble in Massachusetts
Protests continued to go on because of the British forcing acts onto the colonies. The colonists went on by rejecting the British authority. The redcoats proceeded to set up camp in the middle of the city. The soldiers in Boston were rude to the colonists as well, and that made the matters worse. -
Tension in the Streets
A fight broke out between Boston citizens and soldiers. They began throwing sticks and stones towards the soldiers, and dared the soldiers to fire at them. The soldiers ended up killing 5 colonists. This ended up being called the "Boston Massacre." -
Spreading the News
The colonial leaders end up using the killings in the Boston Massacre to influence other peoples opinion on who's side they're on for this war. Paul Revere made an engraving show a British officer commanding the other soldiers to fire at the colonists. The Boston Massacre led the colonists to call for stronger of boycotts of the taxed British goods. In 1772, Samuel Adams got a committee together to call for action against Britain. -
Crisis in Boston
In 1773, the parliament passed the Tea Act. They did the help save the British East India Company and protect the British economy. The Tea Act removed some, but not all of the taxes on tea. This made it less expensive for the colonists. But the colonists still weren't happy, they didn't want any tax on tea. -
Boston Tea Party
The colonists took their anger out on the British in 1773 by loading 342 chests of tea onto a ship and dumping it all overboard. Yet most colonists still saw themselves as loyal British citizens. -
A Meeting in Philadelphia
The first continental congress in the United States had a meeting n Philadelphia. During this meeting, they considered their reactions to the British government's restraints on trade and represent government after the Boston Tea Party. -
The Intolerable Acts
In 1774, the parliament passed the coercive acts. These laws were passed to punish the colonists for rejecting British authority. One of the Coercive Acts made it so that the colonies had to let British soldiers live with them. One of the Coercive Acts banned town meetings in Massachusetts. The colonists believed all of this was outrageous and they called this the intolerable acts. Intolerable means painful and unbearable. -
Jefferson Write the DOI
Thomas Jefferson was one of the main authors in the Declaration of Independence. The second continental congress wrote this as a response to the British overtaxing the colonists, and to say that America will be free. -
Battles of Trenton and New Jersey
This was a small battle in the American Revolutionary War. The Continental Army had previously suffered several defeats in New York and had been forced to retreat through New Jersey to Pennsylvania. -
Howe Captures Philadelphia
The defeat at the battle of Brandy wine led to general Howe capturing Philadelphia. George Washington got into many skirmishes with the British after this. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the original constitution of the US, which was then replaced by the US constitution in 1789. -
American and British Battle of Saratoga
This was a war between the Americans and the British. The Americans ended up winning this battle in the American Revolutionary War. The Americans won the war when the British surrendered on October 17, 1777. -
Congress Prohibits Enslaved People Imported to the US
The United States created a federal law that stated that no new slaves were permitted to be imported into the United States from any foreign kingdom, place, or country. -
Winter at Valley Forge
This was a terrible winter for Washington's army. Many soldiers got diseases, or just couldn't hang on anymore and died. They ran out of resources such as food and water. Some soldiers didn't even have shoes. -
State Constitutions
The State Constitutions were made to establish governments in each of the states. This also laid down the political processes and limitations for each state. -
Manumission
In 1778, states, including Virginia, granted freedom to any slaves that served in the Revolutionary War. As a result of the Revolution, a surprising number of slaves were manumitted, while thousands of others freed themselves by running away. -
John Paul Jones & Serapis
During the Revolutionary War, the U.S. ship "Bonhomme Richard" which was led by John Paul Jones, won a hard fought war against the British ships of war Serapis. -
Spain Declares War on Great Britain
Spain declares war on Great Britain, creating a de facto alliance with the Americans. Spain's King Charles III would not consent to a treaty of alliance with the United States. -
British Forces Capture Charles Town
When the British forces captured Charles Town, this was a major battle, which led to a major British victory. This war was fought between March 29,1780 - May 12, 1780. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was a war with the French and American generals, against the British general. The British general Cornwallis brought 8,000 troops to Yorktown and was expecting help from British ships sent from New York. The ships never arrived, causing General Cornwallis to surrender. -
Plans for First Fed. Tax
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Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed by King George III and the representatives of Britain to mark the end of the American Revolutionary War. -
Spain closed lower Mississippi River to American Western Settlers
In 1784, Spain closed the lower part of the Mississippi River to American Western Settlers, the Westerners became very frustrated by this and threatened to start a war against Spain. -
The Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 set up a standardized system whereby settlers could purchase title to farmland in the undeveloped west. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was a series of violent protests staged during 1786 and 1787 by a group of American farmers who objected to the way state and local tax collections were being enforced. -
Convention
The point of this Constitutional Convention was to decide how America would be governed. It was originally called to revise the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates thought otherwise. -
Signing of the Constitution
The constitution was signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 12 of the original 13 states sent delegates to Philadelphia to sign the Constitution. The only state that did not send anyone was Rhode Island. -
Delaware First State to Approve the Constitution
Delaware became the first state to ratify the constitution in 1787. When Delaware voted on the approval and disapproval of the constitution, it was a unanimous vote at 30-0. -
New Hampshire Ratifies Constitution
the Congress of New Hampshire voted in Exert to establish a civil government, and specified the manner and form that government would have.The constitution was the first constitution ever ratified by an American commonwealth. -
Land Act of 1800
The land act gave the people the opportunity to buy land in the Northwest Territory directly from the federal government. ... The Harrison Land Act stated that people had to purchase at least 320 acres of land for a minimum of two dollars per acre.
