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French & Indian War
The French and Indian War fought between France and Great Britain in North America, resulted in Great Britain gaining territory but led to colonial unrest due to disagreements on frontier policies and how to pay for the war's costs, ending with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. -
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a covert political group in the Thirteen American Colonies, established to advance colonist rights and resist British government taxation. Some of the members of the group played a role in inspiring the colonies to join the American Revolution. The group lasted from August 14, 1767, through 1770. -
The Stamp Act 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765, also known as the Duties in American Colonies Act of 1765, was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain that imposed a direct tax on the British colonies in America. The act required the colonists to pay a tax, represented by a stamp, on various forms of papers, documents, and playing cards. The Act lasted from November 1, 1765, through March 18, 1766. -
Townshend Act of 1767
The Townshend Acts, introduced by the British Parliament in 1767, imposed taxes on imports into the American colonies, including glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea, to cover the costs of overseeing the colonies. The colonies forbade British products due to increasing tariffs. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, a confrontation in Boston on March 5, 1770, resulted in nine British soldiers shooting several crowd members, leading to the Revolutionary War and escalating the revolution into armed rebellion across the colonies. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an American protest on December 16, 1773, led by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts. The protest involved 60 colonists throwing 342 tea chests into Boston Harbor, protesting against a tea tax and the perceived East India Company monopoly. -
The Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)
The Intolerable Acts, also known as the Insufferable Acts or Coercive Acts, were punitive laws imposed by the British Parliament in 1774 to punish Massachusetts Bay for the Boston Tea Party. These laws restricted trade and increased British control, causing the colonies to unite and potentially leading to rebellion. -
Second Continental Congress meets
The Second Continental Congress, held in May 1775, was preparing for war after the Lexington and Concord attacks. It appointed George Washington as army commander, approved the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and prepared the Articles of Confederation in 1781. The event lasted from May 10th,1775, to March 1, 1781. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston, marked the first stage of the American Revolutionary War. Despite being defeated by the British Army, the American patriots demonstrated their strength against the superior British Army, proving that reconciliation between England and the American colonies was no longer possible. -
Olive Branch Petition sent to England
The Olive Branch Petition, adopted by Congress on July 5, 1775, aimed to prevent a formal war by emphasizing American colonists' loyalty to the British crown and their rights as British citizens. This was the final attempt by the Second Continental Congress to convince King George III to address American concerns and settle their differences amicably. -
Declaration of Independence adopted
The Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, marked the end of the 13 American colonies' political ties to Great Britain. It outlined colonists' motivations and grievances, aiming to convince the world, particularly France, of their right to resist King George III's rule. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was a document signed by the 13 US states, formerly the Thirteen Colonies, as part of the nation's first government framework, establishing its functions after declaring independence from Great Britain. -
The Battle of Camden
The Battle of Camden, also known as the Battle of Camden Court House, was a significant British victory in South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. It marked a crushing defeat for the British army, highlighting the importance of control over outposts and supply depots in subjugating rebel American colonies. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, marked the end of the War of the American Revolution, recognizing the US's independence and granting significant Western territory. The agreement, based on a preliminary treaty from 1782, established the new nation's borders. -
The Constitution is ratified
The United States Constitution, written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and operating since 1789, is the world's longest-surviving written charter of government. Produced in secrecy during the Philadelphia convention, it informed the public about the proposed new government.