-
End of the French and Indian War
The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War. The
French received all land from the Mississippi River west, while the British received all land from the Mississippi River east. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act lowered the tax on molasses and allowed officers to seize goods without going to court. -
The Stamp Act
This law taxed all printed materials. i.e. newspapers, wills, playing cards, etc. -
Jefferson writes the DOI
In 1776 Jefferson drafted a formal statement justifying the 13 North American colonies’ break with Great Britain. He worked with 4 other guys to complete this but was not recognized as the principal author until the 1790s. -
The Battles of Trent and New Jersey
During the Battle of Trenton, the Hessian force was led by Johann Rall. Wahington's plan was to send flanking columns under General Nathaniel Greene and General John Sullivan, while Colonel Henry Knox’s cannons fired on the Hessian garrison. This caused the Hessians to surrender soon thereafter. -
Period: to
Manumission
The act of an owner releasing their slaves. There were a lot of manumissions from 1776 - 1778. -
American and British Battle of Saratoga
The battle of Saratoga consists of two battles. This was a turning point for the revolutionary war and a very important win for the continental army. The first battle took place on Loyalist John Freeman's abandoned farm. The continental army had to retreat but the British had lost twice as many men as them. Therefore the British did not continue to Albany. The second battle was the Battle of Bemis Heights. Burgoyne surrendered his army to Gates on October 17 because that was the only option. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first national constitution. The AOC was a weak central government. Congress could handle foreign affairs, maintain armed forces, and print money but they couldn't enforce taxes or regulate commerce. That became a problem later on because they printed too much money off. -
Howe Captured Philadelphia
British General William Howe invaded and captured Philidelphia is hopes of gathering up loyalists and discouraging the rebels by capturing their capital. Luckily, the Continental Congress moved to New York a week prior. -
Period: to
State Constitutions
New York and Georgia had government plans. -
Congress prohibits enslaved people imported to the US
The northern states' need for slaves decreased after the war, therefore they passed legislation to abolish slavery. However, the southern states' need for slaves increased after the invention of cotton gin in 1793. This caused some strain on the relationship between the north and south. In 1778, Congress passed an act that would "prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States…from any foreign kingdom, place, or country.” -
Winter at Valley Forge
Washington and his men stayed at Valley Forge after losing a few battles. These losses resulted in the capture of Philadelphia. They were all hungry, tired, and cold but conditions at Valley Forge were not going to get better very soon. They were short in supplies and needed to become better fighters. Washington asked former Prussian military officer Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben if he could help them. In the end, he trained them into great fighters and a unified army. -
John Paul Jones & Serapis
John Paul Jones, while commanding Bonhomme Richard, came across the two ships the Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough. The two ships started to attack and did a lot of damage but after three hours of fighting the two ships surrendered and the next day the Bonhomme Richard sank. This all happened off the eastern coast of England, which means this was a battle won for America in English waters. -
Spain Declares war on Great Britain
Spain wanted to reclaim Gibraltar for Spain and secure Spanish borders in North America. This caused Spain to declare war on Great Britain and then become allies with the French. However, they refused to become allies with the United States but since they were allies of the united states' ally then that caused Spain to encourage the rebel from a critical diplomatic distance. -
British forces capture Charles Town
After the Battle of Saratoga, the British decided to focus on the southern states. When the time came to surrender Major General Benjamin Lincoln tried to negotiate with British Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton to surrender with "honors of war" but Clinton declined and called for an unconditional surrender. Lincoln surrendered around 3,371 men. He felt forced to because there were citizens asking for him to since the British had set fire to several homes with a heated shot. -
British surrender at Yorktown
With help from the French, the continental army surrounded and then ambushed the British. British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to the continental army. -
Plans for first Federal Tax
The department of finance was created and lead by Robert Morris. Morris tried to put a 5% tax on imported goods. People did not likr that. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary war, doubled the size of our nation and was a peace treaty with Britain. King George III accepted the peace treaty that John Adams and John Jay negotiated. -
Plans for first Federal Tax Continued...
New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania made their own trading policies because they did not want to accept new duties since they had just resisted the ones put on them by the British. -
Spain closed lower Mississippi River to American Western Settlers
Spain closed the lower Mississippi River to American Western Settlers because they were afraid that Americans were going to start expanding Southward. When some Americans started threatening war they sent Don Diego de Gardoqui to answer territorial, political, and commercial questions. -
The Ordinance of 1785
The Ordinance of 1785 made it possible for people to buy land in the west. -
The North West Ordinance
This created a single northwest territory with lands north of the Ohio River and Mississippi. Stated that the minimum population to achieve statehood was 60,000. Additionally, it granted freedom of religion and trial by jury and was the first attempt to end slavery. -
Shay's Rebellion
Ex-Revolutionary War soldiers-turned farmers did not like the economic policies so they violently attacked courthouses and other government properties in Massachusetts. Daniel Shays was one of several leaders of this rebellion and was also a former soldier. -
Convention
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met and talked about the Articles of Confederation and how it was a weak central government. This lead to the creation of the new Constitution. -
Signing of the Constitution
The Constitution was signed but it would not be binding until 9 out of the 13 states ratified it. -
Delaware first state to approve Constitution
Delaware was the first state to ratify the constitution with Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut quickly following. -
New Hampshire ratifies Constitution
New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify the constitution. Rhode Island rejected the constitution until the US threatened to sever commercial relations with the state. -
Land Act of 1800
This made it possible for people to slowly pay for land. they had to buy at least 320 acres for $2 per acre with half paid upfront then the rest in four-yearly payments.
