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Period: to
US Revolution
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French and Idian War
War fought between Great Britain and its two enemies, the French and the Indians of North America. Most of the battles were in Canada. American colonists, including George Washington, fought with the British in this war, which lasted from 1754 to 1763. The British won the war and won the right to keep Canada and several other possessions in the New World. -
The Sugar Act
1764 Act that put a three-cent tax on foreign refined sugar and increased taxes on coffee, indigo, and certain kinds of wine. It banned importation of rum and French wines. These taxes affected only a certain part of the population, but the affected merchants were very vocal. Besides, the taxes were enacted (or raised) without the consent of the colonists. This was one of the first instances in which colonists wanted a say in how much they were taxed. -
The Stamp Act
First direct British tax on American colonists. Instituted in November, 1765. Every newspaper, pamphlet, and other public and legal document had to have a Stamp, or British seal, on it. The Stamp, of course, cost money. The colonists didn't think they should have to pay for something they had been doing for free for many years, and they responded in force. -
Townshend Acts
Series of 1767 laws named for Charles Townshend, British Chancellor of the Exchequer (Treasurer). These laws placed new taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. Colonial reaction to these taxes was the same as to the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, and Britain eventually repealed all the taxes except the one on tea. In response to the sometimes violent protests by the American colonists, Great Britain sent more troops to the colonies. -
The Boston Massacre
Shooting of five American colonists by British troops on March 5, 1770. One person, an African-American man named Crispus Attacks, was killed. Nearly every part of the story is disputed by both sides. Did the colonists have weapons? The British say rocks and other such weapons were hurled at them. But the British had guns, and they did open fire. The Boston Massacre deepened American distrust of the British military presence in the colonies. -
The Boston Tea Party
Angry and frustrated at a new tax on tea, American colonists calling themselves the Sons of Liberty and disguised as Mohawk Native Americans boarded three British ships (the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver) and dumped 342 whole crates of British tea into Boston harbor on December 16, 1773. Similar incidents occurred in Maryland, New York, and New Jersey in the next few months, and tea was eventually boycotted throughout the colonies. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
It is one of the most important colonial victories in the U.S. War for Independence.This battle made both sides realize that this was not going to be a matter decided on by one quick and decisive battle.The Battle of Bunker Hill started when the colonists learned about the British plan to occupy Dorchester Heights. The colonists were understandably shaken by this news. They thought of this as the last straw, and they had to protect their land and freedom. -
The Battle of White Plains
Both sides plotted strategies and speculated about the cause of the conflagration in New York City on September 21.William Howe lurched back into action on October 12. He hoped to avoid a costly direct assault against the Americans. Washington was aware that the British were massing behind his lines. Washington took advantage of the British lethargy. -
The Battle of Princeton
George Washington decided to use his momentum and grab another victory before entering winter quarters. On December 30, he crossed the Delaware River back into New Jersey. on January 3, 1777, the rest of Washington's force set out. In Princeton, Lt. General Charles Cornwallis had left 1,400 British troops under the command of Lt. Colonel Charles Mawhood. Washington was able to attack and defeat the troops at Princeton and get out before General Cornwallis could arrive with reinforcements. -
The Battle of Brandywine
It was a critical time for George Washington. He had just been soundly defeated in New York and morale was very low. His writings to the Continental Congress tell us so. Although there was not much to be gained through a victory here in a territorial sense, it was one of the many crucial moments in the American Revolution. This victory was essential to give the soldiers hope that a group of rag-tag soldiers could indeed be victorious in their struggle for independence. -
The Battle of Germantown
On October 2nd, Washington conceived a bold plan of attack on Howe's 9,000 troop garrison stationed in Germantown.The morning started well for the Americans who had the British retreating. But Washington's plan went astray.The British defense was particularly strong at a Germantown mansion named Cliveden where dozens of soldiers had taken refuge.In the end, bad luck and poor timing forced Washington to retreat to Whitemarsh with the British in pursuit. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown or Battle of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by General Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by General Lord Cornwallis. It proved to be the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War, as the surrender of Cornwallis's army prompted the British government eventually to negotiate an end to the conflict.
