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Tension in the streets
Officers were teased by colonists-a solider was thrown to the ground by a rock which triggered other redcoats to fire and kill 5 people, Crispus Attucks was first killed -
Spreading the news
Leaders used the deaths as propaganda to make it easier to choose an opinion or be biased.
Sam Adams put posters up showing that the Boston massacre was a slaughter of innocent Americans.
Paul Revere made an engraving showing an officer giving order to fire. -
Trouble In Massachusetts
Britain was on brink of rebellion- rejected British authority, troops were sent to Boston/redcoats. -
Crisis in Boston
Parliament passed tea act to protect BEIC. Tea act limited taxes on some tea but not all. Colonists were still max because they didn't want to pay any tax. Colonists boycotted BEIC and vowed to stop BEIC ships from unloading. -
A Tea Party
Colonists still forced BEIC ships back, December 16, 1773 colonists dressed as native Americans and threw 342 chests of tea in the water. -
The Intolerable Act
George 3rd realized Britain was loosing control, he declared we must either must master or leave them. -
A Meeting in Philadelphia
55 delegates went to Phili. to set up a political body. The body was called the continental congress. Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent reps. Georgia was the only on who didn't. -
The Second Continental Congress
Continental Congress wanted to meet again if the British didn't address their complaints. Lexington and Concord caused higher tension between the British and the colonists. -
Moving Toward Independence
Thomas Paine published a pamphlet "Common Sense", which called for complete break with British rule. The pamphlet listed reasons why Americans would be better off without Great Britain. -
Fighting Begins
Mass militias held drills, made bullets, and stock piled weapons. Some militias were known as minutemen because they could be ready to fight in just minutes. 1774-74 British were stationed in Boston. -
Great Britain Sends Troops
Tome Gage had orders to seize weapons from the militias and arrest the leaders. Gage ordered 700 troops to concord to follow the orders. -
The British on the Move
Warren saw troops marching out of the city, he told Revere and Dawes to spread the word and move out. -
Lexington and Concord
At dawn the redcoats approached Lexington. Minutemen and redcoats have shootout causing 8 minutemen to die. As the British headed towards Concord they burned some weapons but started to take loses so they went back to Boston. By the time they reached Boston 174 redcoats were injured and 73 redcoats dead. -
Key Actions
The continental congress authorized the printing of money and set up a post office. They also formed committees to form relations with Native Americans and foreigners. The continental congress created the Army that George Washington commanded. The delegates offered Britain a chance to avoid war. They sent a petition to George the third named the Olive Branch Petition, it stated they wanted peace. The king rejected the petition and sent more than 30k Hessians to fight with British troops. -
Distinguished Leaders
Delegates of the second continental congress included John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington. Benjamin Franklin had been a Pennsylvania legislator, in 1765 he represented the colonist in London to help repeal of the stamp act. John Hancock of Massachusetts was wealthy, he funded many patriot groups such as the Sons of Liberty. Delegates choose Hancock to be the president of the second continental congress. -
The Battle of Bunker
People volunteer to join the militias which has the numbers at 20,000. The British kept trying to attack but were being shot at and retreated many time before colonists ran out of ammunition and gun powder. -
Jefferson Write the DOI
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 in the the Pennsylvania state house. -
Manumission
1776-78
Manumission is when an owner of a slave let's the slave free. -
Choosing sides
Colonists had to choose which side they were going to be on. Loyalists didn't think unfair taxes and laws justified the rebellion. The Patriots supported the war. They believed colonists had the right to govern themselves. -
Declaring Independence
The second continental congress debated if they should be an independent nation or stay under British rule. Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution that the united colonies be free and independent. Some agreed and others disagreed also some still feared Britain's power. -
Writing the Declaration
The second continental congress voted on Lees resolution. Twelve colonies voted for independence but New York voted later and announced its support. John Hancock signed the declaration first, eventually 56 delegates signed the document announcing the United States. -
The War Heats Up
British troops planned to invade New York, Americans stuck first. Washington needed weapons for his growing militias, dozens of cannons were hauled 300 miles. Washington believed his army was ready, the cover of darkness helped the soldiers get into position with cannons overlooking Boston where the Red Coats slept. British were surprised, William Howe commanded his soldiers to withdraw from Boston. -
The Declaration of Independence
John Adams expected a national holiday after Lees vote which is now Independence Day. The Americans declared themselves a new nation, the American Revolution had begun. -
Battles of Trent and New Jersey
The Battle of Trenton was a small war during the American Revolution. The Americans won the battle, the battle pitted approximately 2,400 soldiers of the Continental Army. 1,400 Hessian soldiers commanded by Colonel Johann Rall. -
American and British Battle of Saratoga
The battles of Saratoga were the turning point of the war in favor of the Americans. -
State Constitutions
State constitutions are usually longer than the U.S constitution, reaching 8500 words. The shortest state constitution is the Vermont constitution. The longest constitution is the Alabama constitution. -
Articles of Confederation
The articles of confederation is the original U.S constitution. -
Howe captures Philadelphia
George Washington's defeats at the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of the Clouds. -
Congress prohibits enslaved people imported to the US
The congress didn't want enslaved people coming into the United States. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Soldiers didn't have clothes, shoes, or food for the horrible winter in valley forge because the British took over Philadelphia. -
Spain Declares war on Great Britain
On the day of the war Spain created an alliance with America. -
John Paul Jones & Serapis
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More Military Action
Benedict Arnold raised a force of 400 to seize Fort Ticonderoga. There were tons of military supplies. Ethan Allen joined with Arnold and they were later called the Green Mountain Boys. They took the British by surprise. -
British forces capture Charles Town
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British surrender at Yorktown
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Plans for first Fed. Tax
1781-1783 -
Treaty of Paris
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Spain closed lower Mississippi River to American Western Settlers
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The Ordinance of 1785
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The North West Ordinance
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Shay's Rebellion
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Convention
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The Delegates Vote
Delegates called for the repeal of the 13 acts of Parliament. Colonies wouldn't import or use any British goods. Continental Congress endorse Suffolk Resolves. The resolutions declared coercive acts to be illegal. -
Singing of the Constitution
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Delaware fist state to approve Constitution
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The Colonial Militias
Militias were the towns defense, they trained just like the red coats. Each person was responsible for getting their own musket and ammunition. As tension grew with Britain towns gathered military supplies. -
New Hampshire ratifies Constitution
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Land Act of 1800
