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French and Indian War
The French had developed a trade relationship with the Native Americans. France and Great Britain had a dispute about the Ohio River Valley. The French had built Fort Duquesne in the area despite the fact that the Virginia gov had land in Ohio. The gov sent militia to evict the French causing the French and Indian war. -
Writ of Assistance
The Writ of assistance was a general search warrant that allowed the British to search any colonial ship or building. This angered the merchants. The prime minister concluded that the colonists were smuggling goods which lead to the Sugar act. -
Treaty of Paris 1763
The treaty of Paris stated that Great Britain claimed Canada and the east side of the Mississippi River as well as Florida. Spain kept the west side of the Mississippi and the city of New Orleans. France controlled a few islands and small colonies near Newfoundland in the west indies and elsewhere. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 established a line along the Appalachians. colonists were not allowed to cross. However the colonists continues to move west into Native American lands ignoring the proclamation. -
Sugar Act & colonists response
Due to Great Britain's financial crisis George Grenville (the new prime minister) noticed that the colonists were smuggling goods without paying duties, Therefore, Grenville established the Sugar Act. It included lower tax on foreign made molasses, it taxes on certain imports, and it stated that colonists accused of violating the act would be tried in a vice-admiralty court. This created tension between the colonists and Britain because the colonists did not want to obey to the Sugar Act. -
Stamp Act & colonists response
This act imposed a tax on documents and printed items such as wills, newspaper, and playing cards. There would be a stamp placed on the paper indicating that the tax had been paid. -
Sons of Liberty is formed & Samuel Adams
The Sons of Liberty was a secret resistance group made to protest the law. They boycotted British goods until the stamp act was repealed. Samuel Adams was one of the founders of The Sons of Liberty. -
John Locke's Social Contract
Locke believed that all people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. In addition, he stated that every society is based on a social contract. If the government interferes with the social contract then the people have the right to resist as well as overthrow the government. -
Declaratory Act
This act asserted Parliament's full right "to bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever" -
Townshend Acts & colonists response
The townshed act taxed goods that were imported into the colony from Britain- glass, paint, and paper. As well as tea. Because of this the Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770. The Prime minster repealed the townshed act except for the tax on tea. -
Boston Massacre
It was a confrontation between the colonists and the British. There was a mod of colonists that was taunting the British soldiers. As a result the British fired at them. This confrontation was another stepping stone that lead towards the American Revolution. -
Tea Act
Lord Frederick North (New Prime minister) established the tea act. This was a way to save Great Britain from going bankrupt. Tea act granted the company the right to sell tea to the colonies free of the taxes that the colonists had to pay. They thought that the colonists would buy more of the cheaper tea however, they protested against it. -
Boston Tea Party
Rebels dressed as Native Americans and dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. This was done as a type of protest against the British. This lead both sides closer to war. -
Intolerable Acts
Parliament responded to the Boston Tea Party with the Intolerable Acts. The first law connected to this act shut down the Boston Harbor which was a very important part of Britain's shipment and economy. The second law was known as the Quartering Act. This act authorized British command to house soldiers in private homes or buildings. -
First Continental Congress Meets
56 delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up a declaration of colonial rights. It stated that the colonists had the right to run their own affairs as well as if the British used force against the colonies that they had the right to fight back. -
Second Continental Congress
During the second congress some delegates called for independence while others wanted reconciliation with Great Britain. They recognized the militia and voted George Washington as commander. -
Minutemen
Minutemen were soldiers that pledged to be ready to fight in a minutes notice. General Thomas Gage discovered this and sent his troops to seize all illegal weapons. -
Publication of Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense. He stated that independence would allow America to trade more freely. In addition to that he stated that independence would give the American colonists the chance to create a better society, free from tyranny, with equal opportunities for all. -
Continental Army
The Continental congress agreed to recognize the colonial militia as the Continental Army.In addition they appointed George Washington as their leader. -
Loyalists and Patriots
Loyalists were those who were against independence and remained loyal to the British king, as well as judges, governors, and people with modest means. They thought the British were going to win the war and they wanted to avoid punishment as rebels. They thought the crown would protect their rights. Patriots supported independence. Some African Americans joined loyalists because they were promised freedom. Most Native Americans fought with the British because they didn't want their land occupied. -
Battle of Lexington
Paul Revere, William Davis, and Samuel Prescott spread out to inform the colonies that the British were coming to Concord. On April 19 there were 70 minutemen. The British commander told them to put their weapons down and to retreat. Someone fired and the British shot. It was the first battle of the Revolutionary war. -
Battle of Concord
The colonists sneaked up on the British during their march back to Boston. The colonists won the Battle of Concord. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British militia attacked militiamen in Breed's Hill north of Bunker Hill. This battle is known as the deadliest battle of the Revolutionary war.Colonial men shot at the advancing redcoats. The colonists won. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a petition that was sent to the king. It urged a return to the former harmony between Britain and the colonies. However, king George rejected the petition. In addition, the king issued a proclamation stating that the colonies were in rebellion and urged parliament to order a naval blockade to isolate a line of ships meant for the American coast. -
Declaration Of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration Of Independence. He included statements from Locke's ideas of natural right. In addition he added unalienable rights. -
Delaware River into Pennsylvania
The summer of 1776 the colonial army attempted to defend New York, however they ended up retreating and were pushed across the Delaware river into Pennsylvania. -
Washington's Night Time Surprise
Washington led his troops Christmas night across the Delaware River and soon marched to Trenton New Jersey and defeated the British in a surprise attack, however the British quickly came back and captured the American capital in Philadelphia. -
Saratoga
Burgoyne's plan was to lead his army down a path of lakes from Canada to Albany. Where he would gather and join forces with the other troops to isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. They were confronted by the Colonial Army. They were surrounded at Saratoga with no help from the other British leaders. -
Valley Forge
Washington and his army suffered at Valley Forge due to the freezing weather and their lack of food and supplies. More than 2,000 soldiers died, Washington wrote a letter to congress and friends. -
Friedrich Von Stueben and Marquis De Lafayette
Friedrich Von Steuben helped train the continental army. French leader Marquis De Lafayette led a command in 1779 for French reinforcements in Virginia in the last years of war. -
French American Alliance
The victory at Saratoga led the French to believe that the Americans could indeed win the war. This caused the French to sign an alliance with the Americans joining them in battle. -
British Victories in the South
At the end of 1778 the British moved south and concurred Savannah, Georgia. In May 1780 generals Henry Clinton, and Charles Cornwallis captured Charlestown, South Carolina. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
Cornwallis led his 7,500 troops to Yorktown. After Washington and Lafayette discovered this they led their army towards Yorktown. By late September about 17,000 French/American troops surrounded the British and bombarded them day and night until October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered the Americans had defeated the British. -
Treaty of Paris
The Delegates signed the Treaty of Paris which stated the confirmation of US independence and set the boundaries of the new nation. The US began at the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from Canada to the Florida border.
