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Stamp Act
The first tax placed on the United States. This tax was specific to any and all paper documents the colonials would've had at that time. The Stamp Act was used to help the British recover from the Seven Years' War (1756-63) in particular. By Pennsylvania Journal - Rare Books and Manuscripts Division, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, Public Domain
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6097391) -
Boston Tea Party
The was a "political protest" that occurred as a result of the Stamp Act years earlier. Colonists ended up dumping 342 crates of tea into Griffin's Wharf in Massachusetts. Source:W.D. Cooper. "Boston Tea Party.", The History of North America. London: E. Newberry, 1789. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16857908 -
Ride of Paul Revere and William Dawes
Prior to the ride, British soldiers were sent out to capture American weapons and equipment at Concord. Orders were also sent to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington. As a result of this, Revere and Dawes were sent to alert the Minutemen. The pair took different routes: the Boston neck peninsula (Dawes) and the Charles River (Revere). Picture by Richard Wood from Tacoma, Washington, USA - Boston 2010-05-02-15, CC BY 2.0, (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10425338) -
Minutemen and redcoats clash at Lexington and Concord ("The shot heard 'round the world")
The battle at Lexington began with 70 minutemen gathered together. Seemingly out of nowhere, a shot was fired. Although no one is sure which side it originated from, a melee nonetheless ensued. The loss felt by the Americans was eight. The same day, the skirmish at Concord occurred, resulting in the death of two colonists. The redcoats, in comparison, lost around three men from the events at both Lexington and Concord. Godefroy, François
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1627823) -
Declaration of Independence
This document was originally drafted in mid-June of this year in separation from British rule. A five-man committee was given this task, including figures such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. It was finally adopted by Congress on July 4th, the same day we celebrate Independence Day. This document, along with the Constitution and Bill of Rights, is one of the essential documents that created the nation we know today. William Stone
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=621811) -
Articles of Confederation
This document served as a sort of prequel to the Constitution. The Articles in particular gave states the ability to maintain sovereignty and independence. More problematic then helpful, this document no longer held value in regards to Congressional taxes. After failing yet again to grant Congress the ability to tax in 1786, the Articles of Confederation were put our of use. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=579409) -
Gen. Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown
This surrender effectively brought the American Revolution to a close, following Cornwallis's surrender of 8,000 British soldiers and seamen. Marquis de Lafayette was responsible for blocking Cornwallis' attempted escape via land. General Washington would later contributed after bringing down 2,500 more troops to encircle Cornwallis. Picture by Auguste Couder - Own work (PHGCOM), photographed in the Palais de Versailles 2009
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7029460) -
Adoption of the Constitution
One reason for the Constitution derived from the failure of the Articles of Confederation. When it came to signing and adopting this document, only 39 out of the 55 delegates signed the document. George Washington himself was the first to sign the Constitution himself. After the signing of Rhode Island, the Constitution was finally ratified. Picture by Howard Chandler Christy
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=662340) -
Bill of Right Adopted
These were 10 amendments added to the Constitution to aid in securing basic human rights. This included things such as "freedom of speech, religion and the press, the right to bear and keep arms, the right to peaceably assemble, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, and the right to a speedy and public trial"(history.com). As of today, there are 27 of these bills. Picture by 1st United States Congress (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=661347)
