-
Proclamation of 1763
The King didn't want to continue fighting the natives, so he declared the Proclamation of 1763 so that the Colonists couldn't cross the Appalachians and disturb the Indians. -
Sugar Act
Indirect tax imposed on sugars and other luxuries. It was the first tax imposed for Britain to get money in order to pay for war debts. -
Currency Act
Parliament banned paper money in the colonies but they were running low on gold and silver reserves in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
First direct tax on colonists. Required colonists to get a stamp in order to purchase paper goods. Imposed to pay for war debts in Britain. -
Quartering Act
Colonists required to provide shelter, food and alcohol for soldiers in return for protection provided by soldiers. Colonists thought the soldiers were only spying on them and weren't protecting them. -
Repeal of Stamp Act and Declaratory Act
Many colonists stopped buying goods because of boycotts. Eventually parliament repealed the Stamp act but passed the Declaratory Act which stated that parliament could tax colonists whenever they wanted. Colonists ignored the Declaratory act. -
Townshend Duties
Indirect tax on tea, paper, glass, etc. The demand for these products remained high no matter how high the prices. Caused people like Samuel Adams to smuggle goods. -
Tea Act
Caused by a change in prime minister who tried to support the British East India Tea Company as well as reduce debt. Caused the Sons of Liberty to rebel and caused Boston Tea Party. -
Coercive or "Intolerable" Acts
Caused the close of Boston Harbor, reiterated the Quartering Act, Royal Governor could ban town meetings, and British soldiers tried in Britain. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
British marched toward Lexington in attempts to take militia supplies and to arrest Sam Adams and John Adams. After running into the militia and causing them to retreat, they then marched towards Concord just to be surprise attacked by colonial militia and were drove back to Boston. Known as the shot heard around the world. -
Second Continental Congress
All colonies, except Georgia, sent delegates to to Philadelphia to convene for the second time. They Declared that the revolutionary war had begun. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
A costly victory for the British. Despite the American loss, they inflicted a significant number of casualties. British lost 226 soldiers and had 828 wounded. Americans lost 140 and had 220 wounded. Colonists eventually had to retreat out of lack of supplied, but was still a huge confidence booster because of the high number of British casualties. -
Declaration of Independence
Adopted by the Second Continental Congress which declared the Colonies at war with Britain and announced themselves as a newly independent, sovereign state. -
Battle of Saratoga
A major turning point in the Revolutionary War for the colonists. It caused the French to decide to support the colonies with money, troops and ships. -
Battle of Yorktown
The last major battle of the Revolutionary war. Cornwails and his troops were strategically trapped in Chesapeake bay by the French fleet as the American army came by land. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
Ended revolutionary war and recognized the American colonies as an independent nation as well as granted colonies territory; from the southern border of Canada to the northern border of Florida, and from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi river.