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Occupying Kentucky
After Dunmore's War, settlers begin settling in Kentucky and along the frontier. They petitioned for a Kentucky county and Virgnia's rebel government agreed. -
Lexington and Concord
The first battle of the American Revolution. British forces fought against the American rebels but were later ambushed by the Americans as they retreated. -
Second Continental Congress
Patriot leaders gathered in Philadelphia to create the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its leader. -
Olive Branch Petition
Written by John Dickinson as a way to negotiate with King George III and prevent independence. Wanted to maintain peace with the royal government -
Dunmore's Proclamation
Lord Dunmore promises freedom to any slave or indentured servant who joins the Loyalist cause -
Economic Warfare
American merchants cut off exports to Britian and its West Indian sugar islands -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine calling for American Independencea and a republican form of government. -
Thoughts on Government
Written by John Adams. Adapted mixed government with a republican society. -
Many States Establish Republican Governments
The Second Continental Congress urges states to reject royal authority. They comply -
Declaration of Independence
The final step towards the American Revolution. The Continental Congress approved the Declaration, written mostly by Thomas Jefferson, by using Enlightenment ideas and criticizing King Geroge III's ill treatment towards the colonies. -
Battle of Long Island
General Howe defeats the Americans at Long Island and the Americnas are forced to retreat to New Jersey. Part of British strategy to isolate New England. -
Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
Unilateral legislature with complete power (no governor to veto) and mandated a system of elementary education and protected citizens form imprisonment for debt. -
Battle of Trenton
General Washington crosses the Delaware and stages a surprise attack on the Trenton, New Jersey, and captures 1,000 Hessian soldiers. -
Battle of Princetom
General Washington's revolutionary forces defeat British forces near Princeton, New Jersey. -
Battle of Saratoga
Because of Howe's detour and capture of Philadelphia, General Burgoyne was stuck near Saratoga and had no back up. Patriot forces led by General Horatio Gates blocked Burgoyne's forces fromleaving and Burgoyne was forced to surrender. Turning point of the war for the Americans; captured 5,000 British troops and helped win a French alliance -
Attack on Albany
Lord Germain launches an attack to seperate New England from the rest of the colonies by attacking on 3 sides. Howe was supposed to attack northwards from NYC but instead attacks and takes over Philadelphia, forcing the Continental Congress to flee to the countryside -
Articles of Confederation
Guidelines for a union where each state retained, to an extent, its own freedom. Each sate had one vote and the government could make treaties, print paper money, and judge disputes, but it could not tax the states or the people. -
Valley Forge
Washington's army retreated to Valley Forge, NY to settle or the winter. Hard time and many died or quit. But Baron von Steuben came and trained the army so b spring, they were more professional and tougher. -
Treaty of Alliance
Alliance between French and the American Colonies. Stated that neither could sign a seperate peace treaty without American independence. In return, France got conquests in West Indies. -
British Repeal Tea and Prohibitory Acts
Tea and Prohibitory Acts repealed becuase King George III wanted to stop a French/American alliance, but was later rejected by the colonies. -
Clinton Attacks Georgia
Henry Clinton uses the Southern Strategy and captures Savannah, Georgia and gradually took over South Carolina's coast. -
Spain joins the Revolution
Spain joins the war against Great Britain as a way tor regain Florida and the fortress of Gibraltar in the Mediterranean. -
Philipsburg Proclamation
Henry Clinton issues the Philipsburg Proclamation and declares that any slave who runs away from their American master will be protected by Great Britain. Part of Britain's Southern Strategy. 30,000 slaves ran away -
Battle of Camden
General Cornwallis defeats General Gates at Camden, allowing Cornwallis to take over South Carolina. -
Battle of Guilford Courthouse
Nathaniel Greene and Lord Cornwallis' armies drew at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina. British weakened by war of attrition and decide to cede the Carolinas to Greene and move on to Virginia. -
Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis' army was surrounded at Yorktown and cut off from reinforcement or retreat, so he surrendered. The end of the American Revolution; the Americans had won. -
Treaty of Paris
Great Britain recognizes American independence and relinquishes claims to lands south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi, allowed fishing rights off the Canadian coast, and stopped British from taking away American slaves. British could pursue debts and reclaim property. -
Treaty of Versailles
Signed at the same as the Treaty of Paris between Spain, France, and Great Britain. Spain reclaimed Florida and Tobago. -
Shay's Rebellion
Farmers in Massachusetts rose up against tax collections because they could not afford to pay them. Led by Captain Daniel Shays. -
Philadelphia Convention
Proposed the New Jersey and Virginia Plans and chose the Virgnia Plan as the basis for discussion. The Great Compromise solved the problem of representation of large and small states and allowed slaves to be counted as 3/5 of a free person. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Created the territories that would become Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. These territories, when they became large enough, could petition to become states. Also prohibited slavery and earmarked funds for public schools. -
The Federalist
A collection of essays written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton to promoting the new Constitution. Argued that republicanism would work in large states because it would protect liberty. -
Constitutional Debate
Federalists vs Antifederalists -
Ratifying the Constitution
The states ratified the new Constitution, and although it was a close vote, the states decided to give it a try. It is the same Constitution still in use today.
