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Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were to regulate colonial trade and manufacturing These acts were not enforced heavily which led to things such as smuggling being common. -
French and Indian War Ends
France was the loser of this war. Britain was the winner gaining French Canada and rich islands in the Caribbean. -
Stamp Act
Because King George III used up the money in the British treasury he said that the colonies had to pay for their own defenses. This act taxed commercial things such as newspapers and pamphlets. Colonists were upset and said it was an attack on their rights, they demanded, “No taxation without representation.” -
Tea Act
This act was created because the East India Trading Company was suffering financially. It allowed them to sell tea directly to the colonies without a middleman. This formed a monopoly on British tea imports. -
Boston Tea Party
Protesting a tax on tea, some colonists threw newly shipped British tea into the harbor. Massachusetts was punished with harsh laws and other colonies rallied to help. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
A series of laws made by British Parliament. They were created to punish the colony of Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. -
First Continental Congress
Twelve colony representatives gathered in Philadelphia to discuss how to respond to the harsh laws put on Massachusetts. Some of the people there were John Adams, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. -
Lexington and Concord
The crisis between the colonists and British turned into war. At these battles in Massachusetts colonists battled the British. This was the beginning of the revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
Soon after the beginning of the American Revolution, this meeting took place. A Continental army was set up and George Washington commanded it. -
Boston Massacre
A crowd of people threw stones and snowballs at British soldiers. The soldiers responded by opening fire on these people. Colonists said that five protesters died in this outburst. -
Declaration of Independence Adopted
America declared its independence from Britain with this document saying that they have certain inalienable rights. It stated the rights of the people and was inspired by John Locke and the Enlightenment. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The first turning point in the war where the Americans won against the British. The French made an alliance with the Americans because of this victory providing them with much needed supplies and soldiers. -
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Winter at Valley Forge
Even after the win at Saratoga hard times still went on. In this harsh winter, Continental troops at Valley Forge suffered greatly. They were starving, freezing, and sick. Through all of this Washington patiently and courageously held the army together. -
The Battle of Yorktown
Washington, with the help of a French fleet, Forced a British army to surrender. This was the end of the British effort and the Americans won. -
U.S. Constitution Written
Because the Articles of Confederation were not strong enough to rule effectively, America’s leaders gathered again to solve this problem. In the summer of 1787 they came up with a constitution that has lasted over 20 years. -
U.S. Constitution Adopted
The Constitution featured a separation of powers in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It created a federal government.
