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French and Indian War
The need for more land to produce goods was increasing, so as the colonies expanded there would be more conflicts between them and the natives. As the British moved west (Ohio Valley), they often had conflicts with the Native Americans and French that were settled there; however, the tension between the French and British had gotten to the point where war them. Some Native Americans siding with the French because of their respectful relationship. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. -
Treaty of Paris 1763
This treaty ended the French and Indian War. France, Spain (an ally of the French), and Great Britain signed the treaty. In this treaty, they agreed that France would give up the land claimed in Canada and all of it east of the Mississippi River. -
Proclamation Line of 1763
This proclamation was issued by King George III. It’s a British-produced boundary marked by the Appalachian Mountains as a border. This prohibited the American colonists from settling lands west of the Appalachian Mountains, which the land was what the French had received from the results of the French and Indian War. -
Committees of Correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence was the first organization linking the 13 colonies in their opposition to British rule. This committee was key to the planning for the First Continental Congress. They’d write to other colonies to encourage united opposition to Britain’s recent enforcement. -
Sugar Act
This act was input to stop the smuggling trade of sugar and molasses, that was occurring in the French and Dutch West Indies colonies. It was also placed to help pay off all of the debts created by the French and Indian War. -
Stamp Act
Under this law, the British government taxed nearly all printed material by requiring that it bear a government stamp. The items included newspapers, legal documents, and commercial documents (games, playing cards, books, etc.) -
Quartering Act
This act required the colonists to provide the British soldiers with food and shelter, without any say. If the houses were too small to have soldiers live with the family, the soldiers would be sent to inns or other houses with more space. This made the colonists upset because they needed to pay taxes additionally for provisions and barracks. -
Declaratory Act
The act was put into place after the Stamp Act had been repealed. The act stated that the British Parliament had the right to implement laws and taxes in the colonies. -
Townshend Act
The act placed new taxes and reduced the freedom of the colonists. The implemented taxes on common items. They as well established an American Customs Board in Boston, to collect taxes and a new court to prosecute the smugglers without a proper jury. In addition, the British gave their officials the right to search the businesses and houses of the colonists. Resulting in boycotts, an increase in smuggling to avoid taxes, and protests. One of those protests causing the Boston Massacre. -
Boston Massacre
There was a small argument between the Red Coats and a few colonists outside the Custom House in Boston. This began to escalate when more colonists arrived; however, when more Red Coats arrived armed this increased the colonists' anger. A Red Coat was knocked down, which lead to him firing towards the crowd; thus, leading to the other Red Coats to fire as well. This resulting in the death of five people (three died immediately and two later on due to the wounds). -
Tea Act
Tea was the biggest beverage in Britain and the colonists. Making it a major source of income for the British; so, with the British wanting more money, they made the colonists buy tea from one company under the British, this giving Britain the power to place high taxes on the tea. Later resulting in the Boston Tea Party in retaliation. -
Boston Tea Party
One of the key events leading up to the American Revolution. This was a way of protest by the American Colonists against the British and their taxes. The colonists, led by the Sons of Liberty, boarded three ships and dumped 342 chests of tea in protest of the British law allowed British traders to gain an unfair advantage from the tea taxes. Some of the colonists dressed as the Mohawk Indians, as well. -
Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were implemented as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. These acts allowed British officials accused of major crimes to be tried in England and forced the colonists to house British troops on their property. In response, the colonists formed the First Continental Congress to protests these acts and formed colonial militias. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from the 13 colonies (except Georgia) met in Philadelphia to organize colonial resistance to Parliament’s Coercive Acts. There they wrote that colonists had the right to be represented in their government. -
George Washington
Washington was one of Virginia’s delegates in both the Continental Congress’. Here he was appointed as the commander of the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress. Leading the Patriots to victory at Yorktown, where the British surrendered. -
Marquis de Lafayette
Served as an assistant to General George Washington during the war. After the battle of Brandywine Creek, Washington promoted Lafayette to a commander. Lafayette returned to France to convince France to support the Americans and to send more troops. He then led troops in battles, including the Battle of Yorktown. When Lafayette returned to France he was promoted to major general of the French army. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Signaled the start of the Revolutionary War. British officials went from Boston to Lexington, to arrest the rebellion leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. They were also going to destroy the weapons they had stored. However, Paul Revere got word and went to warm Lexington that the British were coming. -
Second Continental Congress
The congress was formed shortly after the war with the British had started. They managed the colonial war effort, appointing George Washington as commander of the Continental Army. Then on July 4th, 1776 the Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, which granted the colonies full independence from their mother country. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The American forces learned that the British were going to take over Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill to gain an advantage. So the Americans subtly moved their troops to the hills and built forts. When the British attacked the American troops successfully fought off two charges but started to run out of ammunition by the third wave of troops. This resulted in the British defeating the Americans. With the Americans needing to retreat to avoid further casualties. -
Ben Franklin and John Adams in the French Alliance
John Adams along with Ben Franklin traveled to France to negotiate an alliance, which was reached. Then in 1782 they once again went to France for the Treaty of Paris, to negotiate the peace treaty that would put an end to the Revolutionary War. -
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
At this time, many people were still undecided about whether they should join the revolution, to break away from Britain, or not. Over a short period of time, Common Sense had been distributed along with the colonies, thus resulting in the colonists joining the revolution and become patriots. -
Committee of Five
The committee was made up of Thomas Jefferson from Virginia, John Adams from Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman from Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston from New York. They were chosen by the Continental Congress to create a draft of the Declaration of Independence, which was signed on July 4th, 1776. -
Declaration of Independence
The Second Continental Congress appointed the Committee of Five (Thomas Jefferson, John Livingston, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Roger Sherman), to draft the declaration. Jefferson wrote the first draft of the declaration, which borrowed phrases from John Locke: Natural Rights and Social Contract. -
Battle of Saratoga
Britain’s plan was to gain control of New York, which would divide New England from the other colonies. However, instead of heading north, General John Burgoyne (British General) led his troops to Philadelphia, where he was surrounded at Saratoga. The American troops were setting up forts on the high grounds of Saratoga when an American soldier was looking over the Hudson River Valley where the British troops were heading. The high grounds giving them an advantage. -
Baron Von Steuben
Steuben was a Prussian American military officer, who was hired by George Washington to help get the Continental Army into shape. He’s known for his bravery, discipline, and grit he brought to the American troops. -
Articles of Confederation
Served as the first constitution of the United States and officially established the unity of the thirteen states. It was written by a committee of 13 men from the 2nd Continental Congress, the primary author of the first draft was John Dickinson. It was made because the colonists needed some type of government that united the 13 colonies. The Articles were later replaced with the Constitution. -
Battle of Yorktown
Originally Britain’s plan was to move south; however, General Charles Cornwallis (Britain troop general) wanted to maintain communications with Great Britain, so they headed to Yorktown. Yorktown was on the coast, the body of water allowed the French to block the British from escaping. So the American and French troops surrounded them, which lead to the British surrendering to the Americans. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
This was an official peace treaty that was signed by the U.S. and British Representatives at the end of the Revolutionary War. The treaty was signed in Paris, France; John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay were there on behalf of the Americans.
