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French and Indian War
1754-1763
It was a war between the French and the British. Throughout the fight, there was many alliances. French and British allied with different tribes who live in the territory. Between the two colonies was the rich Ohio River valley. French built Fort Quduesne in the territory despite Virginia Government had grant 200000 acres of land to planters. In response, the Virginia Government sent militia and that was the opening of the war. -
Writ of Assistance
1760
Grenville took over caused tensions between Britain and one colony, Massachusetts. British cracked down on colonial smuggling to ensure that merchants were not doing business in French held territories. Massachusetts authorized the use of the writ of assistance, a general warrant to allowed officials to search on any colonized ships they believed that were smuggling goods. People were outraged and people lost money, leading to the Sugar Act -
Treay of Paris 1763
1763
Angered by French victories, Britain's King George II selected a new leader to run his government. In September 1759, the war took a dramatic turn with the British bringing victory in the war. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed giving Britain Canada and virtually all of North America east of the Mississippi River. Britain took over Florida and the treaty permitted Spain to keep possession land west of the river.This grew tension because French lose pretty much everything. -
Proclamation of 1763
1763
Native American captured eight British forts in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes area. British Officers gave the chief blanket with smallpox during a peace negotiation. This weakened the groups. To avoid further conflicts with the Native Americans, the British government prohibited colonists from setting west of the Appalachian Mountains. The treaty established the line and prohibited anyone who wanted to expand west, but many ignored the proclamation and traveled west, creating more tension -
Stamp Act and colonist response
1765
In March 1765, Parliament passed the Stamp Act. It was to tax all documents and printed items such as wills, newspapers, and playing cards. Previous taxes were indirect, but this one affected many people everyday lives. Many people boycotted the goods until the law was repealed. -
Sons of Liberty is formed and Samuel Adams
1765
Shopkeepers, artisans, and laborers organized a secret resistance group called the Sons of Liberty. The founder being Samuel Adams. They declared Parliament but it lacked the power to impose the law because they were not represented in Parliament. Eventually the law was repealed after many widespread boycott. -
Declaratory Act
1765
The Declaratory Act came into play in 1765, which repealed the Stamp act and the Sugar act. It asserted Parliament's full right to bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever. It helped loose up the tension between the colonist and the British. -
Sugar Act and Colonists response
1764-1766
Britain borrowed so much money that they needed to tax double the amount. This lead to people losing money and people were smuggling good without paying duties. As a result, the Sugar Act came in. It halved the duty on foreign made molasses. It placed duties on certain imports that were not taxed and people who violated the act were sent to vice admiralty court instead of a colonial court. This grew tension between the Americans and their motherland -
Townshend Acts and colonies response
1767
Parliament passed the Townshend act named after Charles Townshend the leading government minister. It taxed good that were imported into the colony like lead, glass, paint, and paper, and also tea, the most popular drink in the colonies. Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty boycotted again. Hostilities grew and city erupted. Eventually the act got repeal after the prime minister realized that it was costing more to enforce than without it. -
Boston Massacre
1770
Mob gathered in front of the Boston Custom House and taunted at the soldiers. Shots were fired and five colonists were killed or mortally wounded. This was labeled as the Boston Massacre. This created a ton of tension between both sides because many citizens were outraged that the soldier would shot people who were unarmed. -
Tea Act
1773
The Parliament repeal taxes for all expect tea. People were taxed on tea, the most popular drink at the time.Tension rose and a group of Rhode Island colonists attacked British custom schooner. This gave widespread alarm and at 1774, a communication network linking leaders form. Lord North devised this to save bankruptcy in the British East India Company. Granted right to sell tea directly and have colonist buy cheaper tea. -
Boston Tea Party
1773
A large group of Boston rebels disguised themselves as Native Americans and went in and dumped 18000 pounds of tea to rebel against the Tea Act. This event as a result resulted in the Intolerable act. This is because ton of money was thrown away. This event made the two side to separate and create more tension even more because the citizen did not want to follow the king's orders. -
Intolerable Acts
1774
The king was angry so we made an act called the Intolerable act. It shut down the Boston harbor and had authorized British commanders to house soldiers in vacant private homes and other buildings. in September 56 delegants met in Philadelphia and made a declaration and said colonist should fight back -
First Continental Congress meets
1774
In response to British's actions, the committees of correspondence assembled the First Continental Congress. 56 delegates met in Philadelphia and drew a conclusion. This established the concept that if British attacks on colony, it is an attack on all colony. This give the Americans a sense of unity and gave a fire to obtain freedom and detach from the British. -
Minutemen
1774
After the Congress met, the colonies met and started to a create militia to defend themselves from the British. Minutemen or civilian soldiers who pledged to be ready to fight against the British on a minute notice stockpiled firearms and gunpowder. This grew more tension because the Americans were getting stronger by getting their own firearms illegally and it clearly shown to the King that the colonist did not want to be a part of the British. -
Olive Branch Petition
On July 8, Congress sent to the king a so called Olive Branch Petition, urging a return to former harmony between Britain and the colonists. This was a decision made by the Second Continental Congress with the hope for peace,and most of the delegates, like most colonists, being loyal to the king and blame the bloodshed on the king's ministers -
John Locke's Social Contract
There was a shift in public opinion when the Enlightenment ideas spread throughout the nation. One of the key Enlightenment thinkers, John Locke, maintained that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Everyone should follow it and if the government takes any of this away, the people should be able to resist and alter the wrong ways. -
Publication of Common Sense
A 50 page pamphlet made by Thomas Paine called Common Sense brought in ideas that changed the ways that people view their nation. He attacked King George and the monarchy and argued that responsibility for British tyranny lay with the royal brute of Britain. He declared Independence with make society stronger and better and allow more trades. This made more colonist to riot together and become stronger and say to separate from Britain and become independent. -
Battle of Lexington
On the night of April 18 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott rode to spread the word that 700 British Soldiers were heading to Concord to get the firearms that were illegally brought. By morning 70 minutemen and the redcoats fought. The Redcoats won by a long shot. 8 men died and 10 were wounded. It only lasted 15 minutes. -
Battle of Concord
After the battle of Lexington, the British marched to Concord. There, they found a empty arsenal. They lined up to march to Boston, but the march turned into a slaughter. Between 3000 to 4000 minutemen fired the soldiers and they won the fight. This battle was a start to the Revolutionary War and established themselves to the Britain that they were enemies. -
Continental Army
In may of 1775, colonial leaders called the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia debated their next move. They decided that despite their differences, the Congress agreed to recognize the colonial militia as the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as it commander. This strengthen their bond and passion to obtain freedom and be separate from Britain. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Cooped up in Boston, British general Thomas Gage decided to strike at militiamen on Breed's Hill. He sent 2400 soldiers up the hill. After the fight, colonists lose 450 men while British had suffered over 1000 casualties. This was one of the deadliest battle of the war and also showed the level of difference between the two forces. -
First Shot
At the start of the war, tension rose. Many riot happened with many illustrations and novels and articles being made. In the morning of April 19, 1775, the first shot was fired. This was fired by a scared Patriot who was untrained and did not know what was the best option during the time. This shot happened at Lexington, Massachusetts, when the British was trying to capture the fort with the illegal weapons and trying to prevent the colonists from becoming too strong for the British. -
Second Continental Congress
1775
In may of 1775, colonist leaders made another meeting in Philadelphia to debate their next move. The loyalists that divided colonists sparked endless debate at the Second Continental Congress. Some delegates called for independence, while some argue for reconciliation with the Great Britain. After a ton of debate, the Congress agreed to recognize the colonial militia as the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as it commander. -
Loyalists and Patriots
As the war began, Americans found themselves on different sides on the conflict. Loyalist, people who were loyal to the king and thought that Britain was going to win. Loyalists were judges and governors and people of more modest means. Patriots were people who supported independence. Many people were neutral. Many Africans fought with the Patriots for freedom, while some in the Loyalists because British promised freedom to slaves who fought. -
Declaration of Independence author, Summary of Statements made, date of adoption
In 1776, the wavering Continental Congress decided to urge each colony to form its own government and this eventually lead to the creation of the Declaration of Independence which was wrote by Thomas Jefferson. It declared the rights of Life Liberty and pursuit of happiness to be unalienable rights and is something that cant be taken away. People can abolish or alter the government and the government has limited power. He also declared that All Men are created Equal despite our differences. -
African American
During the war, African American slaves served both sides of the war. The British offered to the slaves freedom from their owners if they were to fight with the British. in 1776, George Washington raised a small militia with black only units -
Coercive Acts
Coercive Acts was a bill in the 1776 passed by British Parliament in response to the colonist's rebellion in Boston. This removed the power of the Massachusetts government. This was later changed into the Intolerable Act -
Redcoats push Washington's Army across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania
Britain quickly attempted to seize New York City with the force of 32000 soldiers. Many of them being Hessian. Continental Army tried to defend but couldn't because they were untrained and poorly equipped. Despite the small victory, Washington risked everything and went to Trenton, New Jersey and defeated a garrison of Hessians in a surprise attack on Christmas night in 1776. -
Washington's Christmas Night Surprise Attack
After losing New York City to Britain's early surprise attack when the Continental Army was untrained and poorly equipped, Washington and his army retreated across the Delaware River. Despite the defeat, Washington risked everything and went for a surprise attack on Christmas night with 2400 soldiers on small rowboats. They marched to Trenton, New Jersey, and defeated the Britain's Hessian in September of 1777 -
Saratoga
During the big event with Washington's attacks, one British general was marching straight into jaws of disaster. General John Burgoyne planned to lead an army down the route of lakes from Canada to Albany. As they were traveling, soldiers from the Continental Army gathered from all over New York and New England. John didn't realize that the other generals were occupied with holding Pennsylvania. From that, he surrendered on October 17, 1777. This helped increase Patriot's chances at winning. -
Valley Forge
Washington and the Continental Army who are desperately low on food and supplies, fought to stay alive at the winter camp in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. From the harsh conditions, more than 2000 soldiers died. Their endurance and suffering filled Washington's letters to the Congress and his friends. -
Friedrich von Steuben and Marquis de Lafayette
In February 1778, in the frozen winter at Valley Forge, American troops began an amazing transformation. Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian Captain and a talented drillmaster, helped train the Continental Army. Marquis also offered to help train the army. After the help of the military leaders, the Continental Army became an effective fighting force. -
British surrenders at Yorktown
Cornwallis chose to more to Virginia and tried to conquer it. He sent an army of 7500 and they camped in Yorktown. Cornwallis planned to fortify Yorktown and take Virginia and then move to Clinton's forces. The Patriots learned about their plan and headed there. A French naval force defeated the British fleet and then blocked the entrance. By late September, about 17000 French and American troops surrounded the French and defeated the British. -
French-American Alliance
After the surrender of Saratoga, it turned out to be one of the most important events of the war. French was secretly aiding the Patriot since early 1776, but after that victory, French believed that if they allied, they would win the war. In 1778, French and Patriots allied by signing a alliance and they fought besides each other. -
British victories in the South
After their devastating defeat at Saratoga, the began to shift their operation to the South. At the end of 178, a British expedition took Savannah, Georgia. Generals Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis captured Charles Town in may. Clinton left for New York, while Cornwallis kept on conquering the lands. Cornwallis attempted to conquer all of the Carolinas. -
Treaty of Paris
After British's defeat, peace talks began in Paris in 1782. The American negotiating team included John Adams, John Jay of New York, and Benjamin Franklin. In September 1783, the delegates signed the Treaty of Paris and confirmed US independence and set boundaries of the new nation.
