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Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were a series of laws passed by Parliament that were meant to restrict colonial trade. The mercantilist British economic policy used the American colonies to build up the British state power. These acts were a significant factor in the buildup of the Revolutionary War. -
French and Indian War Ends
The French and Indian War, pitting the British Empire against the French Empire as well as the Native Americans, ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris. This caused France to have to surrender all of their North American colonies to Britain. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an act passed by Parliament in 1765 that created a tax on many printed materials in the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre erupted after a fight broke out among British soldiers and colonists. Several colonists were killed due to the British believing that they were a mob. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was an act passed by Parliament in 1773 that allowed tea to go directly to America instead of being imported to Britain and then exported to the colonies. Many colonists were upset about this act. -
Boston Tea Party
On the night of December 16, 1773, at Griffin’s Wharf, Massachusetts, American colonists, with the help of Native Americans, dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts weee laws passed by Parliament in 1774 as a response to the Boston Tea Party. These acts were used as punishment for the colonists’ rebellion, and the acts consequently led to the outbreak of the American Revolution. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies. The meeting was meant to be used as a discussion on the recently passed Intolerable Acts. -
Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first military action of the Revolutionary War. The “shot heard round the world” fired at this battle officially marked the start of the war. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was the second meeting between 12 delegates of the colonies. This meeting was used to discuss declaring independence from Britain and create the Continental Army. -
Declaration of Independence Adopted
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. This severed all ties between the American colonies and Britain. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga, occurring during September and October 1777, gave a decisive victory to the Continental Army over the British Army in the Revolutionary War. This battle helped persuade the French to join forces with the Americans. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Valley Forge was one of the 8 winter encampments for the Continental Army. Nearly 2,000 people died when lack of supplies, starvation, and disease affected the inhabitants. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the final battle of the Revolutionary War, and led to the surrender of the British Army. This war also helped cement George Washington’s reputation as an incredible leader. -
U.S. Constitution written
The U.S. Constitution, written during the Constitutional Convention, affirmed that the United States Government would serve the people. This constitution eventually led to the union of the colonies to form the United States of America. -
U.S. Constitution Adopted
The United States Constitution was adopted on June 21, 1788 when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. This document laid out the official framework for the government of the United States.