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The Navigation Acts
The acts were passed to try and strengthen Britain’s economy by exporting more than importing. These acts were supposed to strictly regulate trade in the colonies, but they were not rigorously enforced. Because of this, crimes like smuggling weren’t seen as criminal acts by the colonists and were actually seen as commonplace. -
The End of the French and Indian War
The end of the war occurred with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763. As a result of the treaty, Britain made massive territorial gains in America, but the colonist living there would eventually revolt due to subsequent abuses of power by Parliament. -
The Stamp Act
Taxed items such as newspapers and pamphlets. This was seen as an attack on the colonists’ rights because such newspapers and pamphlets were American documents, and it was unfair that Britain make money off of them. -
The Boston Massacre
Not really a massacre, British soldiers opened fire on a crowd that was throwing stones and snowballs at the soldiers. Five protesters in total were killed. -
The Boston Tea Party
Spurred by a new tax on tea, a handful of colonists dumped a cargo of British tea into the harbor in protest. Parliament attempted to punish them by passing harsh laws against Massachusetts. Other colonies rallied to help Massachussetts. -
The Tea Act
Because the East India Tea Company was troubled, Parliament enacted the Tea Act to grant the company the ability to land ships directly to the colonies with no middle man, reducing the costs of their tea and increasing sales. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, as tea for the colonists was cheaper, but it was seen as an attack on their freedoms since Britain was trying to establish a tea monopoly in America. This played a role in the Boston Tea Party’s development. -
The First Continental Congress
As tensions with the British rose, representatives from 12 American colonies gathered in Philadelphia to mull over what to do in response to Britain’s harsh actions against Massachusetts. -
The Coercive/Intolerable Acts
These acts were actually a group of four acts that only further increased tensions and were enacted by Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party and other anti-British destructive events. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first outbreak of war in the colonies. Led to the Second Continental Congress creating the Continental Army, which was led by George Washington. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met to set up the Continental Army, and they appointed George Washington as the leader of it. The formation of this army was crucial towards claiming independence from Britain, as this very army would go on to triumph over Britain and cripple their war effort. -
The Declaration of Independence is Signed
After voting on the decision to declare independence, Thomas Jefferson took up the role as the principal author of the document. It clearly reflected enlightenment ideas and philosophies, as well as political and legal ideas. It announced that people have “certain unalienable rights, that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Also gave right to alter or dissolve governments that were not working well. American leaders signed it, promising to dedicate a lot to the cause. -
The Battle of Saratoga
When the Americans won this battle, the French saw potential in them and both countries were now allied. Americans got supplies, soldiers, and warships because France saw Britain as an old rival. The Netherlands and Spain also eventually joined the support effort. -
The Winter at Valley Forge
A brutal winter and a hard time for soldiers. Continental troops had to suffer through cold, hunger, and disease. George Washington used his skills as a general to hold the struggling army together. -
The Battle of Yorktown
George Washington, along with his thrown-together army, forced a victory against the British in Yorktown, Virginia. This battle was the killing blow against the British war effort. -
The U.S. Constitution is Written
During the summer, some of America’s great leaders such as George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin, wrote the Constitution. This was framework for a strong government that remained active for over 200 years and counting. -
The Constitution is Adopted
After writing the constitution, all that had to be done was ratify the constitution. Several colonies all stepped up to ratify it until every colony had done so. The ratification of this document finally set up the strong, flexible American government that the country needed, and it led to America surviving as a country and eventually thriving as a world power today.