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End of French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was fought in North America between France and Great Britain. It's important because to offset the high cost of the war the British Government decided to impose new taxes on its American colonies. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a law enacted by Great Britain to prevent the smuggling of molasses into the American colonies and to enforce the collection of taxes. It's important because by hurting the economy of the colonies it set the stage for the revolt when the Stamp Act was imposed. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was imposed by Great Britain to collect taxes on all paper documents in the colonies. It's important because it raised the issues of taxation and representation and strained the relationship between Great Britain and the colonies. -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts (June 15 - July 2, 1767) were a series of acts passed by Great Britain in an attempt to prove that it had the right to exert authority over the colonies by taxing goods imported in the colonies and the suspension of the representative assembly. They are important because they increase hostility towards Great Britain as colonists resisted them everywhere both verbally and with physical violence. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a deadly riot where a small British army detachment open fire and killed 5 people in the mob. It is important because it led the Royal Governor to evacuate the occupying army from the town of Boston and inspire armed rebellion within the colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party occured when a party of Bostonians decided to protest both a tax on tea and the monopoly of the East India Company. Disguised as Mohawk they boarder British ships anchored in Boston Harbor and dumped 10,000 pounds worth of tea. It is important because it was the first major act of open defiance against Great Britain by showing that the colonists would not take taxation and tyranny without a fight. -
Boston Port Act
The Boston Port Act passed by Great Britain in March of 1774 closed the port to all commerce and ordered the citizens of Boston to pay a large fine to compensate Great Britain for the tea destroyed during the Boston Tea Party. It is important because it angered the colonists to the point that all colonies started anti-British events. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in response to the Intolerable Acts. There were 56 delegates representing all colonies with the exception of Georgia. It was important because it was the first compact among the colonies to boycott goods from Great Britain unless the British Parliament rescinded the Intolerable Acts. -
Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech
This was a speech given by Virginian Patrick Henry in Richmond. In his speech he defended the idea of equipping the Virginian militia against the British. It was important because it helped to convince colonists in Virginia of the importance to preparing the Virginian militia for war against the British. -
Paul Revere's Ride
On the night of April 18th 1775, Paul Revere rode from Charleston to Lexington in Massachusetts to warn that the British were coming to seize the armory at Concord. It was important because his warning helped the Militia to be prepared and fight off the British attack. -
Battle of Concord
Seven hundred British soldiers that marched to seize the colonial armory at Concord were met in Concord by hundreds of Minutemen that forced the British to retreat back to Boston. It is important because it marched the start of the American War of Independence. -
Battle of Lexington
Seven hundred British soldiers that marched to seize the colonial armory at Concord were met by the colonial Militia on Lexington Green by 77 local Minutemen and others. A skirmish started that killed 8 Americans. In the end the colonial Militia defeated the British. It is important because it marched the start of the American War of Independence. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought during the Siege of Boston. Although the British defeated the colonists, the inexperience colonial army inflicted serious casualties against the British. It is important because it was a moral victory for the Americans. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense is Published
The publication of Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense put American Independence from Great Britain on the table. More than 100,000 copies were sold. It is important because it paved the way for the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a document that states the principles on which the American government is based and the natural and inalienable rights of the American people. It was important because when it was adopted on 07/04/1776 the 13 Americans colonies effectively broke off their political connection to Great Britain. -
Washington Crosses the Delaware
On Christmas eve 1776, general Washington and the Continental Army crossed and ice covered Delaware river and defeated the Hessian garrison at Trenton at dawn. It was important because it gave the new country hope in a future military victory and kept the fight for independence alive. -
French Alliance
The French and the Americans signed a Treaty of Alliance in Paris in February of 1778. It was important France started to prepare fleets and armies to enter the fight on the side of the Americans increasing the latter chance of military victory against the British. -
Siege of Yorktown
George Washington and the Continental Army placed Yorktown under siege during September and October of 1781. Lord Cornwallis commander of the British forces surrendered his army on October 19th, 1781. It was important because it was the decisive engagement in the American Revolution. The British surrender was the prelude to the end of the British rule in North America. -
Articles of Confederation Ratified
The Articles of Confederation practically served as the United States first constitution. They were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15th 1777, and ratified on March 1st 1778. They were important because they established a "league of friendship" for the 13 independent and sovereign states. -
Treaty of Paris Ends the Revolutionary War
By signing the Treaty of Paris of 1783 Britain recognized the independence of the United States of America. It's important because the signing of this treaty ended the American Revolutionary War and a new beginning for the now independent colonies.