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French and indian war
The war started in 1756 May 28th because Great Britain declared war on France. -
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The 7 year war
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The end of the 7 year war
This war lasted 7 years and the French lost most of its north American colonial possessions -
Stamp act of 1765
This was a tax on various forms of paper, documents and playing cards that was passed without colonial legislative approval in order to pay for British troops during the 7 years war. It was also to be paid for using British sterling which was hard to come by instead of colonial currency. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/stamp-act-1765#:~:text=11)%20On%20March%2022%2C%201765,%2C%20documents%2C%20and%20playing%20cards. -
Townshend act
This act was to use the duties paid on imported British goods to pay the salaries of colonial governors and judges to ensure the loyalty of America's officials to the British crown. This prompted action by the colonists to boycott British goods. Click here for more information -
Boston Massacre
This was a deadly riot that occurred on King street in Boston. What started as a brawl between a colonist and a British soldier escalated into a chaotic bloody slaughter. This energized the anti-British sentiment paving way for the American Revolution. -
Boston tea party
Frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation,” dumped 342 chests of tea, imported by the British East India Company into the Boston harbor. This was the first major act of defiance of British rule over the colonies. This showed that Americans wouldn’t take taxation and tyranny sitting down, while rallying American patriots across the 13 colonies to fight for independence. -
First Continental Congress meets
The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in Carpenter's Hall, which was the seat of Pennsylvania's congress. Delegates were sent by all the colonies except Georgia, these were either elected by the people or by by the committees of correspondence of the respective colonies. https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/congress.html -
Second Continental Congress meets
Just a month after shots were fired at Lexington and Concord the Second Continental Congress met inside Liberty Hall. A continental army was established and George Washington was elected as Commander in Chief. The Olive Branch petition was also drafted and sent to King George https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/resources-declaration-secondcontinentalcongress.htm -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
These battles started the Revolutionary war. Tensions were building for years between England and the 13 colonies. The night of April 18 1775 British soldiers marched to Concord from Boston to seize an arms cache. The alarm and colonial militiamen assembled and intercepted them. a confrontation broke out on the Lexington town green and started the fighting. Soon the British were retreating hastily under intense fire. -
Olive Branch Petition sent to England
This petition was adopted by congress July 5 1775 to be sent to the king. It was a last ditch effort to avoid war being formally declared. This petition emphasized their loyalty to the British crown and right as British citizens. It was rejected by the king. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense published
The 47 page pamphlet was first published in January 1776 in Philadelphia. In it Paine made compelling and eloquent arguments for Independence. Saying Americans had a unique opportunity to change the course of history by creating a new sort of government in which people were free and had the power to rule themselves, because even after fighting had broken out some prominent colonist still proclaimed themselves loyal subjects even in the face of tyrannical laws and unjust taxation. -
Declaration of Independence adopted
A committee of 5 was chosen to draft the document. Jefferson wrote most of it then submitted it to Franklin and Adams who made some changes then it was adopted on the afternoon of July 4th. IT was printed and distributed on the 5th. On august 2nd the engrossed copy was signed by all present delegates and eventually all 56 delegates. -
Articles of Confederation created
The articles of confederation was the document that gave the new nation form what direction it would take. it was adopted November 15 1777 and served as the first constitution for the new nation. It was in effect from March 1 1781-1789 when the constitution as we know it went into effect. -
Battle of Yorktown
Yorktown was the decisive battle that determined the war, After nearly a month of fighting the British surrendered. This forecast the end of British rule in the colonies and the birth of a new nation—the United States of America. This led to negotiations for peace with the British and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. -
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Constitutional Convention
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Bill of Rights adopted
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the constitution. It spells out Americans' rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual-like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It set rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States.
