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The Mayflower lands at Plymouth Rock
After making a halt near today’s Provincetown Plymouth rock is said to be the location where William Bradford and the other Pilgrims first set foot on land. -
Pennsylvania Becomes a Colony
The new colony was named after William Penn’s father by king george. It was to include the area between the 39th and 42nd degrees of north latitude, as well as five degrees of longitude west of the Delaware River. -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War started in 1754 and ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris. The war rewarded the United Kingdom with substantial territory gains in North America, but disagreements about succeeding frontier policies and paying the war's expenditures fueled colonial dissatisfaction and, ultimately, the American Revolution. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act cut the molasses tax from six pence to three pence per gallon, and Grenville made steps to ensure that the levy was properly enforced. The imposition of a molasses tax resulted in an almost instantaneous fall in the rum business in the colonies. -
The Currency Act
The Currency Act, also known as the Paper Bills of Credit Act, was one of many Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain that controlled paper money produced by British America's colonies. The Acts attempted to shield British businessmen and creditors from being paid in devalued colonial currency. -
The Stamp Act
England wanted to pay their troops in the colonies, so they passed the Stamp Act. It put a tax on papers, documents, and other stuff. If the colonists didn’t pay, they were punished unfairly without a jury. The colonists hated this act. For them, it was an example of “taxation without representation.” -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required that British soldiers were placed in barracks provided by the colonies. If the barracks were too small, the soldiers were to be housed at local inns, livery stablesm ale houses. Usually much larger houses and wine seller’s residences. -
The Townshend Revenue Act
Originally by Charles TOwnshend and passed by the English Parliament Immediately after the Stamp Act was removed. They were intended to increase cash from American colonies by taxing customs taxes on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper and tea. -
The Boston Massacre
It started as a fight between American colonists and a lone British soldier, but quickly escalated into a terrible death. The war increased British feeling and set the way for the American Revolution. -
The Boston Tea Party
Frustrated and upset with Britain for imposing "taxation without representation," American colonists dropped 342 chests of tea bought by the British East India Company into the sea. -
The First Continental Congress
The principal achievement of the First Continental Congress was a colonial agreement to boycott British products beginning December 1, 1774, unless Parliament repealed the Intolerable Acts. -
Patrick Henry’s “Give me Liberty or give me Death” speech
"Almighty God, forbid it!" I don't know what path others will follow; but as for myself, give me liberty"—Henry sprang from his fictitious chains and snatched an ivory letter opener—"or give me death!" As he said these final words, he thrust the letter opener into his chest, simulating a knife blow to the heart. -
The Ride of Paul Revere
Dr. Joseph Warren of Boston summoned Paul Revere and assigned him the mission of traveling to Lexington, Massachusetts, with word that regular troops were preparing to march into the countryside northwest of Boston. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress acquired conventional government tasks, including as appointing diplomats, creating paper money, raising the Continental Army through conscription, and naming generals to head the army. -
George Washington named Commander in Chief
The Continental Congress appointed George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Washington was chosen above other contenders such as John Hancock because of his past military experience and the belief that a Virginian leader might help unify the provinces.