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The Stamp Act
The British Parliament passed The Stamp Act to support the British troops stationed for war in the Seven Years’ War. This Stamp Act created direct tax collected from the colonies, as a sort of control order, and this first act was a signal of renegade obstruction. This act was important as it created even greater tension between the British and the colonies, so in the course of events, the colonies are unjustly paying their enemies helping them refuel for war. -
Townshend Act
The British government passed the Townshend Act, an act that passed taxes on everyday imports. The tax imports included lead, paint, paper, glass, and tea, all of which the American colonies were manufacturing, leading to an uproar. The British needed more money, but the importance of this is that this is one of the few acts that contributed to the rising tensions and protests of the colonists. -
Boston Massacre
After rising tensions, an American patriot mob attacked a British loyalist in Boston, Mass. British soldiers, startled, fired guns at them as defense and killed a couple of citizens. Before this act, the colonies were on the same page, but still had doubts creating separation. After this act, colonies united and started to take a stand on the British. This act sparked independence and liberty for the unsure Americans. -
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called “Common Sense”, encouraging readers to rebel against the British and to create an egalitarian society. This pamphlet organized the American lesser forces into a unified rebellion. It also convinced Americans to be unique and different from the parent country Britain, to signify that America is a country. -
Boston Tea Party
American Patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians threw 342 chests of tea from the British East India Company in the Boston Harbor. The actuality of this event was an act of rebellion, their first act of rebellion, a sign of independence. This event was like gasoline, lighting the fire of war between the British and the Americans. The impact was enormous, fueling both sides to start their war. -
First Continental Congress
56 delegates rounded from all of the colonies excluding Georgia convened at the First Continental Congress at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia to discuss British tyranny. They started to draft declarations of rights, and with that, they also elected the president of Congress to be Peyton Randolph. This Congress was mostly about organizing a rebellion against the Coercive Acts. -
Patrick Henry's Speech
Patrick Henry spoke at a Virginia convention as a signal of the impending revolution and stated “Give me liberty, or give me death!” His purpose of this speech is to convince the colonies to unite and fight against the tyranny of the British. This speech fired up the colonists and boosted their unification. -
Lexington and Concord
British troops launched an attack on Concord from Boston to fulfill their goal of increasing their power. They attempted to steal a hidden stash of army assets, but thanks to Paul Revere and similar horse riders, the American colonists attacked them in Lexington, and they retreated, whereas the controversy of the winner can be stated to be the colonists. The first shot or the shot heard around the world, marked the beginning of the colonies’ independence, persuading many Americans to help out. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts during the timespan of 2 hours. Altogether, the battle was a victory for the British, but the British had suffered major casualties (1054 deaths, specifically). In return, the British tried to increase the pace of the war. The battle was the first major battle of the revolution, and it was a physical victory for the British, but an emotional victory with the colonies. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a document created by the Founding Fathers and Congress that signifies the independence and separation of the American colonies from the British Government. This was a major event concerning the beginning of the Revolutionary War, creating the two different countries. The importance of this event is that it legally marked the start of the American colonies’ independence. -
Nathan Hale Execution
Nathan Hale, a Connecticut school teacher, was executed by the British for “treason” and spying. Hale during the Battle of Long Island volunteered to go and spy on the enemy’s movements but was captured and hanged. He was one of the first American spies, and so the significance of his death was mourning but more importantly, it created a bigger fuel for the burning passion of colonists to gain independence. -
Battle of Saratoga
General John Burgoyne and British troops surrendered in Saratoga County after his British and Hessian troops in the timespan of 18 days, where there were two integral battles and a victory for the Patriots. This siege created an increase in morale for the Patriots and won over the Dutch, Spanish, and French for an alliance. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were created on the Second Continental Congress, summarizing to create the structure of a new government. The significance of the Articles of Confederation was that these documents created enough structure to assist the survival of the American colonists. -
Battle of Monmouth
The ending of the Battle of Monmouth was inconclusive, but the long-term effect was a victory for the colonists, stated by credible articles. This battle contributed to the creation of the alliance of the French and displayed strength for the other countries to acknowledge. This was one of the battles that helped with alliances. -
Baylor's Massacre
An incursion on the 3rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons was controlled by General Baylor at modern-day River Dale, adding up a final of 69 captured, wounded, or killed (15 dead). The importance of this event was that it created more of a motive for fellow colonists to continue on with the act of independence. -
Execution of Major John Andre
Major John Andre was captured by three militiamen colonists on his way coming back to New York City. He assisted Benedict Arnold in his traitorous ways, and he was convicted of spying and was hanged. The significance of this execution was that it continued to fuel the colonists’ pride, but it also gave them the fear of the number of traitors there could be. -
DeWint House
John Andre, a traitor assisting the British General Benedict Arnold, was famously hanged at the Dewint House in modern day Tappan, New York. The significance of this house is that it marked the death of one traitor and the potential deaths of future traitors, giving the colonists both hope and fear. -
Battle of Yorktown
The American troops combined with the French troops created a lasting victory against the British commander Charles Cornwallis and his troops as the last major battle before America gaining independence. The significance of this battle in Yorktown, Virginia, was that Cornwallis’ surrender ended the end of the American Revolution and the beginning of America’s independence. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was the British’s government recognizing America’s independence and gave the majority of their land east of the Mississippi River to the Americans. This marked the end of the Revolutionary War and the starting of the new country United States of America.
