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Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a movement in the 18th century that focused on using reason and science instead of superstition and blind faith. History -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War started in 1754 and finished with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Great Britain got a lot of new land in North America from the war. But arguments about what to do with the new land and who should pay for the war made the colonists unhappy. This led to the American Revolution. Britannica -
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were American colonists who opposed British rule. They were a sometimes violent political group, that aimed to protect the rights of colonists and resist British taxation. Their actions played a significant role in sparking the American Revolution.
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Stamp Act of 1765
On March 22, 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which mandated that colonists pay taxes on every page of printed paper they used, as well as fees for playing cards, dice, and newspapers. Britannica -
Boston Massacre
Eight British soldiers were confronted by a crowd in the streets of the city. Five colonists were killed as the soldiers fired their muskets in response to the mob's insults and threats. (https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre) -
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party, incident in which 342 chests of tea belonging to the British East India Company were thrown from ships into Boston Harbor by American patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians. The Americans were protesting both a tax on tea and the perceived monopoly of the East India Company. (https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party) -
Battles of Lexington & Concord
On April 19, 1775, the Revolutionary War's first battle took place in Massachusetts. British troops headed towards Lexington and Concord from Boston to confiscate the colonists' military supplies and detain revolutionaries. Wikipedia%2C%20and%20Cambridge.) -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British army and New England soldiers engaged in their first violent confrontation, resulting in the defeat of the American patriots at the Battle of Bunker Hill. However, the patriots demonstrated their ability to stand up against the stronger British Army. National Park Service -
The Olive Branch Petition
Congress adopted the Olive Branch Petition on July 5, 1775. It was sent to the King as a final effort to avoid declaring formal war. Wikipedia -
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense published
He argued for two main points: independence from England and the creation of a democratic republic. Wikipedia -
Declaration of Independence adopted
the Second Continental Congress all agreed and adopted the Declaration of Independence, This meant that the colonies were officially declaring their independence from Great Britain. National Archives -
Battle of Trenton
George Washington's army won against Hessian mercenaries in Trenton after crossing the Delaware River during a dangerous storm. American Battlefield -
Articles of Confederation created
The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777, which became the United States' first constitution. Library of Congress -
Treaty of Paris
On September 3, 1783, U.S. and British representatives signed the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolutionary War. -
Constitution is ratified
The Constitution made by the Convention aimed to establish a government that had enough power to work on a national level, but not so much power that it would endanger basic rights. [History](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-constitution-ratified