-
Jamestown established
The British colonists landed in the New World after several months of seasickness, storms, and disease and established the first successful English settlement in Virginia with the guidance of Captain John Smith. -
Navigation Acts
The British placed restrictions on the colonies` foreign trade and guaranteed their source of New World goods in order to build their empire. -
Bacon`s Rebellion
English settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon defeat Native Indians and rebel against the Jamestown government led by Berkeley after being rejected protection from Indians. Signifies the union of colonists to obtain rights and freedoms from the government. -
Period: to
French and Indian War / Seven Years` War
Conflict between France and Great Britain that led to great land gains in the New World for the British and ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Colonial discontent with British Parliament was becoming an increasing issue. -
Proclamation of 1763
Signed by King Geroge III and limited the expansion of colonist settlement and protected American Indian land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Signified how British favored Indians over American colonists. -
Sugar Act
The British tightened control over the colonies by taxing them on imported sugar and molasses. This further angered colonists and led to many protests and boycotts. -
Stamp Act
British Parliament passed the Stamp Act to tax paper products in order to raise funds after the devastation of the French and Indian War. Led to the Stamp Act Congress to boycott British goods and fight stamp distributors. -
Declaratory Act of 1766
Parliament passes another act that states the colonists` vulnerability to British taxation and law. Leads to colonist hatred towards British Parliament and the desire for freedom of oppressive government. -
Townshend Duties
Act passed by Charles Townshend and British Parliament that increased tax in the colonies on glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea. Led to nonconsumption and boycotts of these goods by colonists and anger towards Britain. -
Boston Massacre
Dispute between colonists and British soldiers that resulted from the increasing control of the British on American colonists. Sparked the colonial desire for independence from Britain. -
Tea Act
Lowered the selling price of tea in the colonies through the British East India Company and increased colonist discontent and nonconsumption of tea. Eventually led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty dumped the tea imported through the British East India Company into the Boston Harbor to protest "taxation without representation." -
Intolerable Acts
A series of acts that increased British control in the colonies through limiting trade, colonial-run government, justice, and colonist privacy. Last straw for oppressed colonists and led to the Continental Congress. -
First Continental Congress
Representatives from the colonies met in Philadelphia for the first time to address issues with the British Parliament to King George III peacefully. Signified the desire of colonists to be free from oppressive government, not through independence at this point, however. -
Second Continental Congress
Another meeting of colonies in which war was finally declared in the quest for independence from Britain. George Washington was appointed as the leader of the Continental Army to fight the British. Signified the courage of colonists to fight their "mother country" and gain freedom. -
Declaration of Independence
The colonies declared their independence from Great Britain by signing a document written by Thomas Jefferson. Signified how angry the colonists were with British oppression and control. -
Period: to
Battle of Saratoga
The British, led by General Burgoyne, were defeated in this infamous battle called the "Turning Point" of the American Revolution, After this battle, France and Spain ally with the United States, leaving Great Britain without any allies. -
Articles of Confederation
A document stating a system of government which gives lots of power to individual states, but lacks a force of unity, which was later established in the Constitution. -
Peace of Paris
A series of treaties between Britain and America that ended the American Revolution and gave America its long-desired independence. -
United States Constitution
Created a unified and balanced government with several branches with checks to run the newly independent nation, while reserving some powers for states. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Federalist John Adams signed these acts in order to restrict the influence of Republicans in United States government. Limited the representation of all people of the United States and forced government in one direction of beliefs. -
Louisiana Purchase
Huge territory west of previous American settlements bought from Napoleon of France during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. Significantly increased the size of the United States and allowed for expansion. -
Period: to
War of 1812
American declaration of war after British impressment, trade restrictions, and support of Indian tribes that ended with the Treaty of Ghent. -
Monroe Doctrine
Finalized American and western hemisphere independence by declaring that European powers could no longer influence or colonize the Americas, as signed by President Monroe.
