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Boston Tea Party
When British tea ships arrived in Boston Harbor, many citizens wanted the tea sent back to England without the payment of any taxes. They eventually grew tired that no changers where wanted to be made so a group of men disguised as Indian boarded the ships and dumped all the tea in the harbor. -
Declaration of Right and grievances is passed
The British Parliament passed a series of laws they referred to as the Coercive Acts. The Acts weere primarily designed to punish the colony of Massachusetts for defying British policies. -
First Continental Congress meets
The first Continental Congress came to meet in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, from the time of September to October of the year 1774. Many of the colonies that were presented there wanted to show a combined authority to Great Britain but their aims were not uniformed at all. All of the other colonies voices were defensive of their own rights, but evenly divided between those who sought legislative parity. -
Revolutionary War Begins
Massachusetts leaders, meeting as a Provincial Congress, voted to resist violation of colonial rights. This determination was secretly backed up by the formation of Committees of Safety in key communities of the colony. Their task was to collect munitions, persuade members of the militia to join the cause, and organize a force known as Minutemen, to answer a call to arms at a minute's notice. -
2nd Continental Congress meets
This meeting occured because the British government began to ignore the 1st Contiental Congress. Their purpose was to discuss governmental duties and to unite the colonies- preparing them for war. Among the new delegates attending this meeting were: Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock. -
Declaration of Independence is signed
The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence and used it as an announcement that the thirteen American colonies would no longer be part of the British empire. Since then we now celebrate this independece each year on July 4th. -
Articles of Confederation is signed
It came into effect after approval by Maryland by March 1781. These Articles seved as a bridge between the initial government by the Continental Congress. After the Decleration Congree began to work on the task of drawing up a document that would provide a legal work frame for that Union. -
Revolutionary War Ends
It wasn't untill the Treaty of Paris was signed that the Revolutionary War ended. About 250,000 men served. Historians have estimated that approximately 40-50% of the colonists supported the rebellion, while another almost 20% remained loyal to the colony. -
Constitutional Congress opens
It opened at the State House in Philadelphia, the same place as the Declaration of Independence had been signed. There were 55 delegates present from several states to frame a Constitution for a federal republic that would last. -
Final Draft of the Constitution is signed
Members of the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution in Philadelphia, This group came in response to dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation and the need for a strong centralized government, Although the vote was close in some states, the Constitution was eventually ratified and the new Federal government didnt come into existence until 1789.
