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Sugar Act
In 1764, Parliament lowered the sugar act tax, in hopes of reducing smuggling. New laws violated colonist rights. The trial by jury happened at this time, and they had to secure their homes. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act imposed a direct tax on the British colonies in America. They required that in the colonies, any printable sources had to have a stamp on it. -
The Townshend Act
The Townshend Act taught British that colonist would resist internal taxes. Taxed imported goods, like glass, tea, and paper were sent. The D.O.L imported fabric as well. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre used propaganda for the killings. Samuel Adams put up posters describing the B.M and said they were "blood thirsty" redcoats, and only 5 were shot. in 1722, Adams received the Boston Committee of Correspondence, and earlier brought protesters together. -
Boston Tea Party
The British East Company continued to ship tea to each colony. Three ships loaded with tea came to the Boston Harbor on December 16, 1773 at midnight, as the colonist dressed up as Native Americans and threw out 342 chests of tea overboard, leaving the Boston Harbor filled with massive amounts of tea in it. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts passed by Parliament, in 1774, after the Boston Tea Party. The laws were meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for the Tea incident. -
The Coercive Acts
These laws ordered the colonist to be forced to do as they were told, basically for payback for all of the tea left in the harbor. One of these acts banned town meetings, while another closed the Boston Harbor itself. This slowed down shipping goods. -
First Continental Congress convenes
Each delegate from the 13 colonies (except for Georgia) all met in Philadelphia as the First Continental Congress. This was to organize colonial resistance to Parliament's Coercive Acts, and discussed the complaints of the British. They believed these laws were a violation for the "laws of nature". -
Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech
Patrick Henry defended strong resolutions for Virginia militia to fight against the British. He made a speech saying, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -
Battle of Bunker Hill
2,300 British troops eventually cleared the hill of the entrenched Americans. More than 40% of the assault force was at risk of death. -
Jefferson write the DOI
The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Jefferson wrote the first rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, then people edited by others. It was then edited again by the whole Congress. -
The Declaration of Independence
John Adams believed would be “the most memorable epocha in the history of America.” On July 4, 1776, Congress approved the final text of the Declaration. It wasn't signed until August 2, 1776. July 2, was the official date they all voted for independence. -
Battles of Trent and New Jersey
The Battle of Trenton was a small, but very important battle during the American Revolutionary War. The morning of December 26, 1776, in Trenton, New Jersey this battle took place. 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 Philadelphia campaign was a British initiative.The American Revolutionary War gained control of Philadelphia. -
American and British Battle of Saratoga
In 1777, the Battle of Saratoga started. It marked the climax of the Saratoga campaign. Giving the Americans a victory over the British. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was an agreement among the 13 original states of the US. It served as its first constitution. It was approved, after much debate, by the Second Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and sent to the states for ratification. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Valley Forge functioned as the third of eight military encampments for the Continental Army. It was commanded by General George Washington. In September 1777, British forces had captured the American capital of Philadelphia. -
Manumission
Manumission, or affranchisement, is the act of an owner freeing his or her slaves. Different approaches developed, each specific to the time and place of a particular society. -
Congress prohibits enslaved people imported to the US
The Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves of 1807 is a new law that began where the United States made it to where no new slaves were permitted to be imported. -
State Constitutions
We have reproduced three State Constitutions: Virginia, the first to be written and adopted one week prior to the Declaration of Independence; New Jersey was adopted on July 2, 1776. The first to exclude a prefatory bill of rights, and Pennsylvania, the third constitution adopted and considered the most radical. -
Spain Declares war on Great Britain
At this event, Spain declares war against 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. -
John Paul Jones & Serapis
The battle took place in the North Sea off Flamborough Head, England, and lasted over 3 hours. Serapis was better equipped and faster than Richard Pearson. He surrendered to Serapis to John Paul Jones. -
British forces capture Charles Town
This was a major engagement and major British victory, fought during the American Revolutionary War. -
British surrender at Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown surrendered at Yorktown. Virginia was a decisive victory. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War. It was signed for France to give up all its territories in mainland North America. -
Plans for first Fed. Tax
Abraham Lincoln signed into law the nation's first-ever tax on personal income to help pay for the Union war effort. -
Spain closed lower Mississippi River to American Western Settlers
The Mississippi River was the western boundary of the U.S and also guaranteed Americans the right of free navigation. Spain closed the navigation of the Mississippi to Americans. Westerners were outraged and threatened war against Spain. -
The Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 was adopted by the United States Congress on May 20, 1785. It set up a standardized system where settlers could purchase a title to farmland in the west. -
The North West Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was adopted on July 13, 1787 by the Confederation Congress. They chartered a government for the Northwest Territory, and provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was in Western Massachusetts. There was a debt crisis among the citizens. The state government put in more effort to collect taxes. The fight took place mostly in and around Springfield during 1786 and 1787 -
Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in the old Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia -
Singing of the Constitution
The Signing of the United States Constitution occurred at the Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution created during the four-month-long convention -
Delaware fist state to approve Constitution
The first state to ratify was Delaware, on December 7, 1787, by a unanimous vote, 30 - 0. The featured document is an endorsed ratification of the federal Constitution by the Delaware convention -
New Hampshire ratifies Constitution
On January 5, 1776, the Congress of New Hampshire voted in Exeter 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
On April 15, 1800 the government approved the Harrison Land Act. This law people had an opportunity to buy land. The Harrison Land Act stated that people had to purchase at least 320 acres of land for a minimum of two dollars per acre.
