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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 the land from the Mississippi River east. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act placed a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the American colonies. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act taxed all paper used for print material in the colonies. -
The Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts were a sequence of measures, passed by the British Parliament in 1767 that taxed goods that were imported to the colonies in America. -
The Boston Massacre
A street riot which resulted in 5 injured colonists. Although only 5 were wonded, Paul Revere made a plate to inform other colonists, and titled it Boston Massacre for negative propaganda against the Redcoats. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act allowed tea to be shipped by British companies duty-free to the colonies, therefore allowing them to sell the tea for a discounted price. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest, which protested tax on tea. American colonists dumped 342 chests of tea, imported by the British East India Company, into the harbor. As a result, the Bristish shut down Boston Harbor until all of the 342 chests of tea were completely paid for. -
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were four measures enacted by the British Parliament in retaliation for acts of colonial defiance. (The four being Boston Port Bill, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act,and the Quartering Act.) -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The American militia, after the battle of Lexington, fled. A shot went off, forcing the Brisish to attack. The American militia fled to the outskirts of Concord and watched British militia search for hidden weapons and ammunition. While the American militia was watching, locals had gathered in support of the American troops,and joined their army. When British forces realized their opponents resistance had grown too large to win against, the Bristish retreated. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was a fight in which the American soldiers had to save ammuntion as to not waste muskets. When the Bristish army was close enough, the Americans fired such a lethal fire the British militia temporarily retreated. When the British forces were lined up once more, they attacked, but failed again. The third time, when the Bristish ascended up the hill, they engaged American soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. The Americans were forced to retreat. -
Jefferson Writes DOI
Jefferson and many others wrote the Declaration for Independence to declare freedom from Britain's rule/ King George III on the fourth of July and this is why we call Fourth of July Independence Day. -
Manumission
Manumission means the act of a master freeing their slave(s); giving their slave(s) freedom. -
Battles of Trent and New Jersey
Washington led his troops across the Delaware River and Washington planned a risky assault on the Hessian garrison at Trenton. He envisioned a three-pronged attack, with his army of 2,400 flanked by a 1,900-man diversionary force under Colonel John Cadwalader and a blocking move by General James Ewing’s 700 men Washington’s men and cannons crossed the icy river in boats and began the march towards Trenton in a freezing storm, but in the end, either man was able to carry out the plan. -
The Declaration of Independence Publishing
Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman all wrote, together, a declaration which declared independence from Britain, and named The United States as a free country, and when the U.S.A ceased to live under King George III's rule any longer. -
The British and American Battle of Saratoga
American forces at Fort Ticonderoga realized that once the British mounted artillery on high ground near the fort, Ticonderoga would be indefensible. A retreat from the Fort was ordered, and the Americans ended in Mt. Independence. The British and German troops caught up with the Americans when they were headed towards Hubbardton. All of a sudden, Sir William Howe decided to attack the Rebel capital at Philadelphia. Tough rebel defense was encountered. Sep: (American Victory!) -
Howe Captures Philadelphia
The British captured Philadelphia on September 26, 1777 because Washington and his army were forced to retreat and there was no longer an American army defending Philadelphia. -
State Constitutions (1977-1978)
States made constitutions to put the individual states in order and keep them under control in addition to the Declaration and Articles of Confederation -
Articles of Confederation
First written constitution of the United States. Under these articles, the states remained independent, and Congress could only occasionaly aid with problems. Maryland was yet to accept or agree to the Articles, which led to Thomas Jefferson persuading his state to yield its claims to the West, but only if the West was divided into new states, which would be admitted into the Union on thesame terms as the original 13. Virginia’s action persuaded Maryland to ratify the Articles. -
Congress prohibits enslaved people imported to the US
In 1778 Thomas Jefferson introduced a Virginia law prohibiting the importation of enslaved Africans. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Washington's troops camped in Valley Forge for 6-months, in cold, harsh conditions. On top of this, some 2,000 mendied of disease and left Washington with the survivors. Troops constructed 1,500 to 2,000 log huts in parallel lines that would house those soliders, women, and children throughout the winter. Prussian military officer Baron von Steuben trained Washington's army to be a worthy fighting force in order to beat British soldiers. -
John Paul Jones & Serapis
Jones took control of the Bonhomme Richard (ship) and engaged the Serapis and the smaller Countess of Scarborough on Sep. 23, After inflicting considerable damage to the Bonhomme Richard, the captain of the Serapis asked Jones if he had surrendered. From his disabled ship, Jones replied, “I have not yet begun to fight,” and after three more hours of fighting it was the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough that surrendered. -
Spain Declares war on Great Britain
King Charles III wanted to reclaim Gibraltar for Spain and secure Spanish borders in North America so he declared war on Great Britiain in attempt to get what he wanted. The British managed to drive the Spanish from Gibraltar when they attacked, since they built an 82-foot-long tunnel into the north face of the rock of Gibraltar, in order to supply it with cannon. Although they were driven out, the Spanish ended up getting West Florida, East Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. -
Seige of Charles Town (Charleston)
Major General Benjamin Lincoln surrenders to British Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton and his army in Charleston after British forces trapped the Americans in Charleston. British warships stopped at Charleston Harbor's mouth, closing off any means of escape. British troops bombarded the rebel defense. Lincoln offered to surrender if his men were allowed to leave unharmed.Clinton refused and kept attacking. Later the Americans surrendered because the city was burning around them. -
Plans for first Fed. Tax
Robert Morris, English-born merchant and a Founding Father of the United States, proposed 5% tax on imported goods in order to put the first federal tax to action. -
Treaty of Paris
A peace treaty with representatives of King George III, that ended the Revolutionary War. In the treaty, the British Crown formally awknowledged American independence and gave most of its territory east of the Mississippi River to the United States. -
Spain closed lower Mississippi River to American Western Settlers
Spain closed the lower Mississippi River to American trade because if American relations with Great Britain were poor, affairs with Spain were worse. Spain wished to halt American expansion into the territory it claimed for itself. -
The Ordinace of 1785
Divided land into 6x6 sections (in miles) that were futher divided into 36 sections of 640 acres. This land was then auctioned for $1 an acre or more. -
Shay's Rebellion
This rebellion was an armed uprising in response to a debt calamity among the citizenry and the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes on both individuals and their trades. -
The North West Ordinance
Stated rules for Northwest Territory, stated that each new state "inducted" into the USA would have the same rights as the original 13 colonies, and listed a bill of rights that were guaranteed in that territory. -
Signing of the Constitution
The signing of the Constitution happened on Sep. 17 of 1787. This Constitution signing consited of 39 delagates, representing 12 states, but the 13th state, Rhode Island, declined to send delagates. -
Delaware fist state to approve Constitution
Delaware, on December 7, 1787, by a unanimous vote (30 - 0) was the first to approve the Constitution. Delaware citizens believed that a stronger national government under the Constitution would help protect them against ambush and make the economic playing field equal with bigger states. -
New Hampshire ratifies Constitution
New Hampshire was the last state to ratify the constitution, and once they did, the constitution became the organic law of the land. -
Land Act of 1800
This Land Act stated that people had to purchase at least 320 acres of land for a minimum of two dollars per acre. They paid the first half up front, and paidoff the rest over a time span of four (4) years.
