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Colonial Times
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The French and Indian War Begins
The French began building forts to back up their claim to the land between Lake Erie and the Ohio River. This got the attention of the Virgina Colony, which had claimed the Ohio River too. They sent a surveyor with the Virginia militia. His name was George Washington and they went to warn the French to leave, They denied his request and that was the start to a long war. -
Pontiac's War
Pontiac and his western Native American allies attacked british forts and settlements throughout the area. The destroyed at most 6 british western settlements. And 2,000 backcountry settlers were also killed. But Britain retaliated with viciousness and killed Native AMericans who never even attacked them. -
The Sugar Act
This was one of the new acts that Britain was imposing on the new colonies. It put tax on many products, mainly sugar and molasses. It also made it so smugglers got harsh punishment. -
The Stamp Act
This very unpopular act made colonists buy tax stamps to put on anything they were trading. And basically anything else like newspapers, wills, licenses, insurance policies, land titles, contracts, etc. Many protested and in 1766 it was repealed. -
The Quartering Act
This act required colonists to house, and give them food and other supplies.The colonists did not like this at all. -
The Declaration of Independence
The first official document that announces the Natural Rights, List of Grievences to the English King, and the Resolution. Basically a document stating how the colonies want freedom. It was written by Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin and John Adams added some changes to it. -
Valley Forge
Washingtons army suffered through the cruel winter of 1777-1778. It was a hastily built camp with little supplies. They were lacking in clothing and food supply. At a certain point of the 11,000 soldiers being there 1/4 of the soldiers were sick with the chills, fever, or worse. When other Americans found out about the conditions at Valley Forge they sent help. The women collected a variety of things including food, medicine, and warm clothes. -
Saratoga: A Turning Point
The battle of Saratoga was a major turning point in the war. The American victory extinguished Britains hopes of an easy win. It raised hopes for the patriots, which they really needed that at the time. This also made Europeans think that the Americans had a chance of wining. -
Help From Overseas!
After the battle at Saratoga, France openly agreed to support American Independence. On February officialy made an alliance with the United States. They were the first to ever make an alliance with the United States. -
Making Peace With Britain - Treaty of Paris
Even though the king wanted to keep fighting after the battle in Yorktown, Parliament voted to make peace. Peace Talks began in paris. The American delegation included Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Britain really wanted peace, so America got most of what they wanted. -
Treaty of Paris
britain recognizes the Independence of the United States. From this the boundaries of the new nation were set. The Atlantic Ocean on the east, Canada on the North, the Mississippi River to the west, and Florida to the south. Even though Florida was given back to Spain. The United States agreed to give back the rights and property taken from the Loyalists during the war. The war was then, finally declared over. -
Washington's Farewell
Washington and his high ranking officers met for one last meal together at Fraunces Tavern in New York City. Each man embraced washington as they left. This was when Washington left the battlefields. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Congress needed a system for land sales and settlement. Surveyors had to devide the public lands into townships, 6 miles on each side. This made a grid of squares. Within each township there would also be a grid, 1 mile on each side. These 36 sections would be sold for no less than $1 an acre. Each township set aside one section for a school. -
Shay's Rebellion
When the economic depression hit the farmers they started to get angry from the unfair treatment. They couldn't get their crops selling and some had to sell their farms in order to pay for their taxes. Some farms were being taken. Daniel Shay had enough of this He led an uprising of 1000 Massachusetts farms to seize guns form a state warehouse. This attempt failed, but they still made congress realize they need to revise the Articles of Confederation. -
The Great Compromise
This was when the two plans for congress had to come together. The New Jersey Plan and the Virginia plan both wanted two different things. The New Jersey Plan supported smaller states that wanted equal representation. The Virginia Plan wanted to have their representatives number for each state depend on its population. In order for the constitution to pass, they had to agree with some parts from each plan.
