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DeWint House
The DeWint House, located in Tappan, New York, is one of the oldest surviving structures in Rockland County. It was built in 1700 using brick and indigenous stone by Daniel DeClark.Washington first stayed at the DeWint House while he was inspecting a redoubt on the Hudson River. He returned for the trial of John Andre. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a tax passed by the British to pay for the French and Indian War. The act placed a tax on sugar goods. Additionally, it allowed officers to seize goods from smugglers. The Sugar Act and new laws angered the colonists. The Act caused an increase in local production in the colonies, but the colonists thought it was unfair. Protests against the Sugar Act led to the end of it. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax put on the American colonies by the British in 1765. It had the colonies pay tax on printed materials like magazines, legal documents, and newspapers. The Stamp Act was made to help the British pay for the French and Indian war. The Sons of Liberty began to protest and use intimidation to get tax collectors to resign from their jobs. Eventually, the protests from the colonists began to hurt British merchants and businesses. On March 19, 1766, the Stamp Act was repealed. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws confirmed on June 29, 1767, by the British Parliament. When the Townshend Acts were passed, the British were able to tax imported goods to the colonists. The primary purpose of this was to use the colonists' money to get money for wages and debt. Because the colonists had no representation in the British Parliament, they couldn’t do anything but protest, which the British reacted to by sending troops to Boston. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a brutal riot that occurred at King Street of Boston. It took place on March 5, 1770. The Boston Massacre started as a small brawl on the street between a British soldier and the American colonists. The brawl rapidly developed into a bloody, horrifying slaughter, killing five men. This event made a big impact on the colonists because it boosted the anti-Brtish idea. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an American political and mercantile protest in Boston, Massachusetts by the Sons of Liberty. The American Colonists were angry at the taxation so they dumped 342 chests of tea that were imported by the British East India Company into the harbor. This was the first major act of defiance to the British rule over the colonists. -
Coercive Acts
On May 20, 1774, the Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, were passed by the British Parliament. The Coercive Acts included restrictions on trade and let the British obtain more control over Boston. The growing tension between the colonists and the British made things hostile. The British would make laws and restrictions, and the U.S. would fight back by protesting. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress took place from September 5 through October 26, 1774. Excluding Georgia, delegates from each colony met at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first major action they took was sending a letter to King George III about issues about how the colonies were being treated. In the letter, they demanded the Intolerable Acts be stopped or they would boycott English goods. The King ignored them so the Americans began to boycott. -
Lexington and Concord
The battle of Lexington and Concord took place in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775. The battle of Lexington was one of the smaller battles but is considered important because it was the start of the American Revolutionary War. The battle of Concord that took place at the North Bridge began when the British started searching the town for any hidden weapons. In the end, the colonists won the battle. -
Bunker Hill
The battle of Bunker Hill took place in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on June 17, 1775. The British were led by General William Howe and the colonists were led by Colonel William Prescott. The battle started when the British were trying to clear out colonial forces and take full control of Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. The Americans fought back, but the British eventually won. -
“Common Sense” by Thomas Paine
“Common Sense” written by Thomas Pain was a 47-page long pamphlet. The main points that he highlighted were the independence of the 13 colonies and the democratic republic form of government. Although Thomas wasn't religious, he used quotes from the Bible to help his religious readers to understand better. During this time, the argument encouraged common people to start paying more attention to the revolution. -
Declaration of Independence
The Committee of Five was appointed to write a document to explain why they were declaring their independence. The members were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson. The members decided that Thomas Jefferson should write the first draft. On July 4, 1776, Congress officially approved the final version of the Declaration of Independence. -
The United States Flag
During the American Revolutionary War, Congress decided to make a flag to represent the united colonies. The Second Continental Congress passed a Flag Resolution on June 14, 1777. This day is celebrated in the United States as Flag Day. The resolution said that the flag would have 13 red and white alternating stripes and it would have a blue area with 13 white stars. The resolution didn’t have an exact description so there were several different versions of the flag. -
Saratoga
The battle of Saratoga took place on September 19, 1777, in Saratoga, NY. The battle during the second year of the Revolutionary War. This battle was the turning point in the Revolutionary War because Americans gained military support from the Dutch, Spanish, and French against Britain. The British were led by General John Burgoyne and Major General John Burgoyne led the American colonists. Eventually, the British surrendered, and colonists gained lots of confidence and power. -
Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was on June 28, 1778. It took place near the Monmouth Courthouse. General George Washington who fought the British Army led the battle. The battle began with a bad start because Lee did a bad attack which forced them to retreat. Later, George Washington came with his army. He successfully made them back off. However, there wasn’t a significant effect on either army because everything stayed the same after the battle. -
Baylor's Massacre
A surprise British attack was launched to provoke George Washington’s army into battle on September 27, 1778. Additionally, the attack was a distraction to divert their attention from a patriot privateering base that was being raided. -
Execution of Major John Andre
John Andre was a British Major who was a part of a scheme to secure British control over Westpoint, NY. Born in England, he joined the British Army and got promoted to major in November of 1778. He was caught in his scheme by a minuteman who caught him and told George Washington. Washington ordered his execution in October of 1780. -
Articles of Confederation
The Article of Confederation was a document stating that the original 13 colonies of the US were united. It was written around 1776-1777 but wasn't approved until March 1, 1781. The article also states that congress is permitted to raise an army, print money, and come up with new laws. The primary author of this document was John Dickson along with the other 12 members of the Second Continental Congress helping him. -
Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. It is the place where the British Army surrendered. It is also where the British government began to consider a peace treaty. British General Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown was an unofficial end to the war. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, which was the end of the American Revolutionary War. Thanks to Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay, the treaty was negotiated well with King George III from Great Britain. The treaty included the British giving official clarification that the colonies were now a new and independent nation named the United States of America.
