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The French and Indian War
Also known as the Seven Years' War, the French and Indian War was part of a larger conflict played out in Europe, India and North America in which the English and French battled for colonial domination. The English eventually came out on top, but not without the price of massive debt. This war was the beginning of hostility between the colonies and Great Britain, which increased the pressure that lead to the American Revolution. (please note exact dates were not given) -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the French and Indian War on February 10, 1763. The treaty gave Britain control of the area west of the 13 British colonies to the Mississippi River. France agreed to no longer support any North American colonies and gave up all land rights to Britain. Because Spain had sided with the French, they were forced to give up their rights to Florida. (Spain kept the property west of the Mississippi) -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act required colonists to pay a tax on all printed material they used including legal documents, diplomas, pamphlets, newspapers and playing cards. The Stamp Act was created by Parliament primarily to raise money, not to regulate commerce, as with previous taxes. -
The Townshend Acts
Named after Charles Townshend, the chief treasurer of Britain, the Townshend Acts taxed glass, oil, paint, paper and tea in an attempt to raise funds for the administration of the colonies. Colonists did not accept the taxes; they rebelled by creating by making homemade substitutes for British goods, physical violence, and nonimportation agreements. The outrage in the colonies resulted in its repeal in on March 5, 1770. -
British Troops in Boston
Parliament dispatched troops to Boston as a punishment and discipline keeper in Massachusettes after opposition to the Townshend Acts. The troops first encamped at Boston Commons, the Court House and Faneuil Hall, causing outrage and resentment by citizens. The unrest created by military force in Boston eventually lead to the Boston Massacre, the offspring of an argument between a British soldier and a shop keeper. -
The Boston Tea Party
As part of a protest against the monopoly on American tea importation recently granted by Parliament to the East India Company, Samuel Adams and other Sons of Liberty boarded ships in the Boston Harbor and threw 342 chests of tea into the ocean. This event confirmed Parliament’s suspicion that Massachusetts was the core of American resistance. -
The First Continental Congress
The Congress was held in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia shortly after the Boston Tea Party. The Congress was comprised of delegates from all colonies except Georgia. The aim of this congress as a whole was to demonstrate combined authority to Britain, but individual views were varied. Some seeked compromise with Britain, while other delegates wanted seperation. Despite the variation, it was agreeable to all to make the colonies' suffering known to all (the King, world, etc) -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
One of the better known battles of the American Revolution, the battles of Lexington and Concord kickstarted the Revolutionary War. British troops marched from Boston to Concord in an attempt to obtain an arms cache. Paul Revere and others sounded the alarm on the night of the 18th ("The British are coming, the British are coming!") and successfully alerted colonial militia members to fight. British forces were encountered in Lexington, where they were forced to retreat. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill in Massachusetts on June 17, 1775 by the troops of Colonel William Prescott and the British troops of Major General William Howe and Brigadier General Robert Pigot. The Americans lost, after being forced to retreat after hand-to-hand combat and loss of ammo. The Americans’ failure resulted in Breed’s Hill and the Charlestown Peninsula falling to British control. -
Washington assumes command
The Second Continental Congress chose George Washington to be the commander in chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. Washington assumed command on July 3. He recognized that he lacked experience and knowledge, but the Congress was impressed by his previous military work and confident, quite demeanor. -
Dunmore's Proclamation
John Murray, the governor of Virginia and fourth earl of Dunmore, released a proclamation in November of 1775 that offered freedom to slaves who fought for the crown. He believed slaves would want to avenge themselves, and overlooked the fact that most slaves would join seeking only the freedom. The proclamation resulted in unrest and succeeded in turning more Virginians against the crown. -
Attack on Quebec
Colonel Benedict Arnold and General Richard Montgomery lead American troops to the British-occupied city of Quebec in order to obtain Canadian support for America. The attempt ended in a major loss, which occurred quickly because the British troops were prepared to attack and released fire on the first sight of the American troops, killing Montgomery in the first assault. Arnold’s division (which attacked the northern wall of the city) fared similarly and the Patriots were forced to retreat. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental congresss was held in Philadelphia after the battles of Lexington and Concord. The 65 delegate congress decided and did many importnat things, such as writing and signing the Declaration of Independence, forming the Continental Army, and making the decision to print paper money. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence announced the unanimous desicion to seperate the colonies from Britain. It demonstrates the fundamental ideas that form the American nation; all men ae created equal and possess inherent natural rights and it is the government's job to secure these rights. This document (drafted by Thomas Jefferson) included a preamble, a list of charges against King George and a conclusion after being approved and edited by Congress. -
Washington Crosses the Deleware River
George Washington lead the Continental Army across the icy waters of the Deleware on Christmas night of 1776 as part of a surprise attack. The troops attacked and defeated Hessian troops in the village of Trenton, New Jersey. The victory set the stage for sunsequent victories to come and served as a morale booster for the Continental soldiers. -
Marquis de Lafayette comes to the colonies
Marquis de Lafayette left France on April 20, 1777 in order to join the American cause, even after being forbidden by Louis XVI to go. Even though he had received an offer from Silas Deane to join the American service, Congress accepted only after he offered to serve without pay. he was sent to work with Washington, with whom he first fought alongside at the Battle of Brandywine. -
The Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine was fought by the troops of the British General Howe and the American General Washington. The American army was forced to retreat, but they attributed this loss to being unfamiliar with the terrain around the Brandywine River in Philadelphia, where the battle was fought. The battle lasted until nightfall, and the Americans retreated in defeat after being outmaneuvered and ineffectively defending their position from the British. -
British Surrender at Saratoga
After two battles in Saratoga, New York, British General Burgoyne surrenders his troops after having his 5,000-strong forces surrounded by the 20,000-strong American force. This was the first large scale surrender of the Revolutionary War, and carried importance because Louis XVI heard of the success and agreed to recognize American independence and provide formal aid. -
The Valley Forge Encampment
June 19, 1778 marked the end of a six month encampment of American troops at Valley Forge. The encampment was mainly one of suffering; starvation, freezing temperatures, and disease were common. The period of desparation was ended in February when supplies began to trickle in. The supplies revitalized troops, and by June, the soldiers left Valley Forge anxious to battle British forces. -
The British Capture Charleston
After a seige that began on April 12, 1780, Patriot forces lead by General Benjamin Lincoln unconditionally surrendered to the British Lietenant General Sir Henry Clinton after being vastly outnumbered and surrounded. Clinton subsequently confisticated the army's ammunition, weapons and supplies. -
The Battle of King's Mountain
This battle was fought between not American and British forces, but between loyalist and patriot American forces. The patriot troops under Colonel William Campbell defeated Major Patrick Ferguson’s soldiers after a battle on a rocky, treeless ridge known as King’s Mountain in South Carolina. The loyalists’ loss was partly in thanks to a suicide charge lead down the mountain by Ferguson, which resulted in his death as well as many of his troops. -
Surrender at Yorktown
The British army of about 8,000 men (lead by General Charles Cornwallis) surrendered to French and American forces on October 19, 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia after being surrounded. The French assisted George Washington by keeping British ships from entering the York River or Chesapeake and by helping American troops put a siege on Yorktown. The siege cut off supplies to the British and eventually they could not continue fighting. Conwallis's surrender began American independence soon after. -
The Treaty of Paris
Negotiations began in April of 1782, after the French and the Americans triumphed at Yorktown. The Continental Congress named a five-member commission to negotiate with Britain (John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens. The Treaty of Paris officially recognized American independence. Adams, Franklin, Jay, Laurens, and Richard Oswald from Britain signed the final treaty on September 3, 1783.
