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Key Events
Timeline for American Revolution -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed on Feb 10, 1763 in agreement that Great Britain had the victory against the French and Indians in the Seven Years War. Kingdoms in Great Britain, French, Spain, and Portugal signed this treaty. This treaty displaced the French empire from the North American continent and caused them to lose everything. They were only able to maintain small sugar islands in the West Indies. Great Britain was seen as the dominant power in North America and leading world naval power. -
Pontiac’s Rebellion
Pontiac’s Rebellion occurred in the spring of 1763. This began because of the removal of the French caused deprivation of allies for the Indians and the colonists expanding into Indian territory. Pontiac’s group laid siege to Detroit and over an all but three British posts west of Appalachians. The Indians killed around 2,000 soldiers and settlers. But Pontiac died in 1769, causing the colonists to cross the Appalachian mountains and take western lands. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 forced the colonists to not be allowed to expand beyond the Appalachians. Britain wanted to avoid bloody Indian uprising, but couldn’t. The colonists were angry and flouted the proclamation and reduciendo to be restrained. They headed west in search of gold and riches against the British. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was the first law passed by Parliament in 1764 to raise money for the British from colonies. It was a tax on sugar. Many bitter protests came about. Because of this, the taxes were lowered substantially and the agitation died down. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act in 1765 was aimed to raise revenue to support the new British military force. It was a tax on paper and stamps. Stamps were required on bills for sale for about 50 trade items. People in England paid a higher stamp tax. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was passed just after the Stamp Act in 1765. This act required colonists to provide their shelter, food, and quarters to British troops. This renewed anger from the Sugar and Stamp Act. -
Sons and Daughters of Liberty Establishment
The Sons and Daughters of Liberty Establishment was in the summer of 1765 . Their activism was towards the Acts getting repealed. They told the colonists to not buy British goods and to stay away from them. They took law into their own hands and cried, “Liberty, Property, and No Stamps”. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress of 1765 was a meeting to tell England to change the Acts. They stated the rights and grievances of colonists. This was ignored in England. But, this Congress was a significant step toward intercolonial unity within the colonies. -
Repealed Stamp Act
With the Sons and Daughters of Liberty’s activism, the machinery for collecting the tax broke down. Causing all stamp agents to be forced into resignation. Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was passed by Parliament affirming the rights and laws towards the colonists. It was “to blind” colonies in all cases whatsoever during conflict. The colonies were English and owned by them. This act made it clear that England ruled the colonies. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts in 1767 made it so taxes were now on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea. The tea taxes were very badly received by the colonies. The colonists were against the Townshend Acts and refused to pay any taxes without representation. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre on March 5, 1779 was started because the colonists were against the Townshend Acts. So, they found a way to smuggle cheap tea into Boston. The British did not like this action, so they landed troops in the Boston square. The British supposedly heard “Fire” and shoot the colonists after they were throwing snowballs, rocks, and bricks at them. Cripus Attucks was the first person to die in the American Revolution. One other man died in this massacre. Both sides shared blame. -
Committee of Correspondence
The Committee of Correspondence was organized by Samuel Adams in 1772 in Massachusetts. The committee exchanged letters that showed opposition to the British policies. Many of the other colonies joined in the effort. This committee soon evolved into the First Continental Congress. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party occurred on December 16, 1773. The cause of this was from the British only letting one tea company, which was the British East Indian Company, run their business. They sold tea at a very low price, but the colonists thought it was a trick. So, they disguised themselves as Indians, boarded the ships that held tea, and dumped them into the Boston Harbor. They smashed open around 342 chests of tea. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were acts passed by Parliament on June 2, 1774. These were passed onto the colonists because of the Boston Tea Party. The most damaging act was the Boston Port Act. This closed the port of trading on the harbor in Boston until the damages were paid for. They also made restrictions on town meetings, officials who killed colonists in line of duty were went to Britain for trial, and new Quartering Acts were put back into action. Giving authorities to put soldiers in homes. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was summoned by the colonies in 1774. 12 out of the 13 colonies sent 55 delegates to deliberate. The did this for 7 weeks in total. It was a convention rather than a Congress. Some of these important men were S. Adams, J. Adams, G. Washington, and P. Henry. One of their major achievements was drawing up a Declaration of Rights to the king and British people. Their other achievements was the Continental Association to boycott British goods. -
The Continental Association
The Continental Association was an action from the First Continental Congress that was the most significant. This action called for complete boycott of British goods. These were nonimportation, non-exportation, and non-consumption. -
Lexington and Concord
Lexington and Concord was caused by the Intolerable Acts, then creating the First Continental Congress, and the Parliament rejecting Congress’s petitions. The British knew war was coming, so they went to Boston to gather weapons. Troops were also supposed to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. They refused, and shots were fired on April 19th, 1775. Many Americans were wounded, but later jumped the British and were victors. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was created in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775. It was another meeting with the delegates from the colonies. The Congress selected George Washington to lead the improvised army. This Second Congress was America’s attempt to self-governance. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was on June 17, 1775. The colonists sieved the Breed’s hill and Bunker hill in Massachussetts while the British launched a frontal attack with 3,000 men. Americans mowed down the British, but ran out of ammo and had to run. This battle occurred to break the siege of Boston and get rightful ownership of Bunker Hill. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was created by the Second Continental Congress on July 5th, 1775. They adopted this petition professing the American loyalty to the crown and begging the British king to prevent further hostilities. Because this petition followed Bunker Hill, the king refused any reconciliation. -
Battle of Quebec
The Battle of Quebec occurred on December 31, 1775 between the Americans and the British. The cause of this battle was the Americans to win support from Canada and attempt to capture the city of Quebec from the British. This war came with heavy losses and was the first major defeat for the Americans. -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Common Sense by Thomas Paine was a pamphlet to convey the American Colonists and their true cause for independence rather than reconciliation with Britain. It explained that without independence, they could not hope for foreign assistance. It involved political arguments to tell the people in the colonies to fight against the British and take freedom. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It was an inspiration over the revolutionary movement. This document severed the colonies connection with Great Britain. It stated their rights to choose their own government. -
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton was a small but very important war in the end of 1776 with the Americans and the Hessian army. It was one of the Americans first victories after losing battle over battle for months. This victory changed the morale of the army and the country all together.
