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French and Indian War
Fought between the French and British militaries for control of the Ohio River Valley in the Midwest. The conflict was inevitable as both countries began expanding through the American mainland. The French expanding south from Canada and the British expanding west from the Atlantic coast. Most Native Americans who fought in the war sided with the french, because they treated the Native Americans with respect, traded with them, adopted some of their customs, and coexisted peacefully. -
Treaty of Paris (1763)
Ended the French and Indian War. Negotiations of the treaty declared that France would lose all claims to land in North America. Great Britain received claims to all lands in Canada and the Ohio River Valley. As a result of the document Great Britain received ownership of the North American Continent. -
Proclamation of 1763
Decreed by the King of England. Declared that all colonists could not settle lands west of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Colonists reaction to this was to settle western areas anyways. -
Stamp Act
Placed a direct tax on all paper products. paper was widely used by all social classes of people so it was naturally a good way for the British to raise money to help pay off the accrued national debt from the French and Indian War. Colonists were angry about the tax, because the King and parliament were taxing them without having any representation in Parliament which created laws and tax levies. -
Boston Massacre
Event in Boston, where several patriots were protesting outside the Governors mansion. They were hurling snowballs and stones at the British Soldiers when the British troops open fired on the crowd killing several colonists. Crispus Attucks was a freed slave and was the first to die in the open fire. Sometimes he is considered the first casualty of the American Revolution. -
Boston tea Party
Colonists angered by the Townsend Act and Tea Act, boarded a vessel in the British Harbor dressed as Indians and Proceeded to dump all tea on the ship into the harbor, ruining it and the and commercial value it would have fetched. -
The Intolerable Acts
Set of acts that closed Boston Harbor until all tea dumped was paid for with taxes. Colonists could also be tried for crimes in Britain where juries would be loyalist. Widely detested by the people over Boston and Massachusetts, but also by colonies who feared that the King of England could impose such measures on them as well if they challenged Parliament and the King's authority. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Was the first battles of the American revolution. -
Declaration of Independence
Signed and approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Formally declared the 13 colonies independent from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson wrote the document and he was greatly influenced by the ideas of John Locke. Among Locke's most famous ideas are the concept of Natural Rights (Rights that apply to everyone regardless of social class or skin color) and Social Contract Theory. The theory states that governments are created to protect natural rights. -
Battle of Trenton
General Washington led a contingent of colonial soldiers across the Delaware River in the early morning following Christmas night. He launched a surprise and successful attack on a fort in Trenton New Jersey. Was a good morale booster to colonists who had lost several battles. -
Battle of Saratoga
Battle between Colonists and the British. Convinced the French to join the war, providing weapons, troops, and financial aid. -
Winter at Valley Forge 1777-1778
The continental army after failing to take back Philadelphia from the English in the fall of 1777. Washington set up winter camp in Valley Forge Pennsylvania. One of the most trying times of the entire war. Many soldiers had little no clothing or blankets, food was very short, but Washington led them through the tough time. Marquis De Lafayette,a French military officer and aristocrat helped train the colonists to fight during the winter as can be seen in the image. -
Battle of Yorktown
Final battle of the American Revolution. General Washington and continental army pushed Cornwallis to the edge of the York River in Virginia and the French navy had blockaded any escape route by sea. Led to the Treaty of Paris in 1783. -
Treaty of Paris
Officially ended the American Revolutionary War. The American colonies were now independent and free to govern themselves. The boundaries of America are established to the Mississippi River. Britain is still able to keep Canada.
