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Period: to
Timespan
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Proclamation of 1763
Issued by King George III following Great Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War, which forbade all settlement past a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains. -
The Sugar Act
Parliament passed a modified version of the Sugar and Molasses Act (1733), which was about to expire. Under the Molasses Act colonial merchants had been required to pay a tax of six pence per gallon on the importation of foreign molasses. -
The Stamp Act
A law enforced that required all colonial residents to pay a stamp tax on virtually every printed paper including legal documents, bills of sale, contracts, and even playing cards and dice. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occurred between a "patriot" mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers. Several colonists were killed and this led to a campaign by speech-writers to rouse the ire of the citizenry. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston in which colonists disquised themselves as Native Americans and dumped 45 tons of tea into the port. -
Intolerance
In response to the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament passed a series of laws that came to be known as Intolerable Acts. These closed the Boston harbor for all shipping until the city would pay for the destroyed tea cargo. -
Battles
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. -
New Commander in Chief
George Washington was named the new commander in chief. -
Independence
iThe Declaration of Independence was formally declared on July 2, 1776. On July 4, 1776, Congress approved the final text of the Declaration. It wasn't signed until August 2, 1776. -
Battle of Trenton/ Crossing the Delaware
Washington and his army crossed the icy Delaware River. Once there, the Hessians, taken by complete surprise, surrendered, and Washington didn’t lose a single man. He then took 868 prisoners and 300 British troops. -
Saratoga
When Burgoyne’s army finally reached Saratoga Springs on the Hudson River, it was packed with Militia that easily outnumbered the small British army. Even so, Burgoyne ordered an attack, and after taking a beating, he surrendered on October17, 1777. -
Allies
France became an ally of the United States. Their government sent money, weapons, troops, and warships to the Continental army. -
Rebellion
Rebellion by slaves in Williamsburg, Virginia -
Surrender
Cornwallis surrendered on October 19th, though he was not there because he claimed to be ill. After losing 8,000 soldiers, Britain began negotiations with America to end the conflict. -
No more slavery here
Supreme Court of Massachusetts abolishes slavery in the state.
