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Treaty of Paris
Ends French and Indian war. Granted Canada and all French holdings east of the Mississippi River except New Orleans to the British. -
Stamp Act
Tax on legal documents. Required that a stamp be bought for all legal documents and other items. Marked the beginning of organized opposition to British rule. -
Townshend Act
Named after Britain's chief financial officer, Charels Townshend, the act was used for "the support of civil government" in the colonies. Parliament puts duties on imported goods. Even though an 'indirect tax," colonists were upset because they still saw it was "taxation without representation." Colonists started boycott. -
Boston Massacre
A drunken mob harasses British soldiers who then fire their muskets pointblank into the crowd, killing 3m instanly, wounding 2 others, and injuring 6 others. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians. They went aboard three tea ships, broke open the crates, and dumped out 45 tons of tea. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of laws passed by Parliament. -
Second Continental Congress
The americans were divided in that some leaned toward independence, and others toward compromise which meant more colonial self-rule. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British army attacked. The British launched three assaults on the patriots. Finally on the third attack, the British succeeded and coptured Breed's Hill. -
Olive Branch Petition
Congress last attempt to get King George III of Great Britain to reason with them. -
Common Sense is published
Thomas Paine wrote in a simple, direct style, suggesting that anyone could understand the conflict between Great Britain and the Colonists. -
Declaration of Independence
written by Thomas Jefferson. Clearly states the reasons of independence of the colonies and why the action is justified. Jefferson divided the Declaration into four parts; a preamble, a declaration of rights, a list of complaints against the king, and a revolution of independence. -
Trenton
Trenton was occupied by three regiments of Hesian soldiers commanded by Colonel Johann Rall for a total of about 1,400 men. -
Battle at Saratoga
Another British army led by General Burgoyne objective was to cut New England off from the rest of the colonies. The Americans weren't happy with Burgoyne's idea, so they retreated in Burgoyne's path, they destroyed trees and knocked trees in the road to slow down his forces. In mid September General Gates attacked Burgoyne's forces and in October 1777 Burgoyne surrendered his army. As a result of Burgoyne's surrender, it formally brought France in the was as an American Ally. -
Yorktown
Washington's troops joined Lafayette's troops. Britain's Cornwallis is left to face an army twice the size of his own. Cornwallis suffered many casualties at Cowpens, South Carolina. Unable to escape, Cornwallis surrenders to Washington.
