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Proclamation of 1763
King George III of England was wary of the cost of defending the colonies in America, so he prohibited settlements west of the Appalachian mountains. The fact that he would interfere with the colonies offended colonists, since they believed they had had an exclusive right to govern the lands of the thirteen colonies. This started some resentment by the colonies toward British rule. -
Passing of the Sugar Act
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Passing of the Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax imposed in the American colonies that put a tax on every piece of printed paper, including playing cards, newspapers, and legal documents. This tax was supposed to help pay for defense of the colonies at the Appalachian mountains, but Americans viewed this as an abuse of power and felt it was unfair. -
Quartering Act
This act required colonists to pay for supplies to British garrisons. It also required Americans to provide provisions and housing for British troops. American colonists felt this was an invasion of privacy in rights, and the New York assembly refused to comply. This was influential because it would later result in the third amendment to the Constitution. -
Sons of Liberty Founded
On this day in Boston, Massachusetts, the secret society dubbed the sons of liberty is founded. This society was created in order to fight British rule and taxation. They would later play a major role in fighting ending the Stamp Act of 1765. They would later inspire more colonists to fight for their freedom against English rule. -
Declaratory Act
After reconsideration and fighting from representatives of the colonies, Parliament removes the Stamp Act in the colonies, however; they stated that they still had a right to tax the colonies. This created anger about taxation without representation of the colonies within Parliament. The thirteen colonies wanted representatives in the house of Parliament if they were to be taxed. This inspired a basis of the U.S., that representatives would be elected if a state/province was to be federally t -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of tariffs on glass, paint, lead, tea, and paper. Colonists are outraged with this since they pay taxes but have no voice in the English government. This causes unrest throughout the thirteen colonies. These were all items that the colonists needed often, and an imposed tax on these goods had a negative economic effect. -
Boston Massacre
American colonists were angered by the presence of English troops in the colonies, so they crowd harassed a group of soldiers outside the Boston customs house. A shot was fired by one of the soldiers, and this started a volley of shots into the crowd, killing 5 civilians. This event helped to unite American colonists against the British occupation in the colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
During the Boston tea party, colonists rebelled against the British tax on tea by boarding ships carrying British tea and dumping it overboard into the Boston Harbor. This was important because it was a symbol that the American colonists would not take unjust taxation lightly. This act resulted in Parliament passing the Intolerable Acts, and Boston Harbor was closed to commerce. This is a very well known historical event and it is a symbol of America’s plight against the British. -
Intolerable Acts
After the Boston Tea Party, England imposed laws on the Massachusetts that eradicated the self-government and independence of the colonies. After this, the colonies boycotted British goods. These acts only caused more unrest in the colonies. -
Meeting of the First Continental Congress
Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies meet to make demands to King George III. After this, they begin gathering weapons and ammunition and building an army. British troops were then sent to Concord, Massachusetts to seize the weapons, but fighting occurred with them in Lexington, and the American Revolution began. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
These battles were the first of the American Revolutionary War. British troops were then sent to Concord, Massachusetts to seize weapons that America had been gathering, but fighting occurred with them in Lexington, and the American Revolution began. This impacted the future because it started the fight for America’s freedom. -
George Washington appointed commander-in-chief
George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the United States Continental Army, and issued $2 million to build the army. Washington later became the first president of the United States. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
At this battle, 1054 British lives were lost opposed to the Americans’ 367. During the siege of Boston, American soldiers made a strong fortification on Breed’s hill. After two assaults, the Americans were forced out of their fortification and they retreated to Cambridge, and the British had control of the Peninsula. This was the first major battle of the Revolutionary War. -
U.S. sends Olive Branch Petition to King George III
The Second Continental Congress meets and sends requests to King George III, who rejects all of them. As a result of this, they sent him the Olive Branch Petition, which was a request to meet him and compromise. King George denies this as well, and sets up a naval blockade on the entire Eastern American coast. This was impactful because the uncompromising nature of King George III caused anger amongst the colonists. -
Thomas Paine publishes “Common Sense” Pamphlet
As a result of the meeting of the Second Continental Congress and the rejections by King George III, the pamphlet “Common Sense” is written, which advocated for American independence from Britain. This was impactful on the future because it inspired unrest in the colonists to fight for their independence. This is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history. -
French aid to America
After an agreement was formed between the American colonies and France, France provides aid to the American war effort. France was bitter after losing the Seven Years’ War with England, and wanted to take advantage of the American Rebellion. This assistance greatly helped the Americans, and may have resulted in the victory by America. The impact on the future that this had was helping America win its independence. -
Advise by Congress
Congress advised the thirteen colonies to form governments within themselves, thus creating independent states rather than British colonies. This started a separation between federal and state powers, which is a part of the current U.S. democratic form of government. -
Declaration of Independence written
The Second Continental Congress, along with Thomas Jefferson, wrote the Declaration and sent it to King George III. The purpose of this document was to demand the independence of the colonies from Britain. This was important to America because it was a crucial step toward making us an independent democratic nation forever. -
British Occupation of Philadelphia
During these years, British troops occupied Philadelphia. Many American prisoners of war died, and they pillaged the city. This was impactful because it would result in the Articles of Confederation being written by the Second Continental Congress. -
Ratification of the Articles of Confederation
After almost a year of debate, the Second Continental Congress ratified the Articles of Confederation, which established the U.S. as a confederation of sovereign states. This was impactful because it would act as the first constitution of the United States. -
Britain recognizes the independence of the United States
On this date Great Britain recognizes America as a free and sovereign country by signing the Treaty of Paris in Paris, France. All territory west of the Allegheny Mountains to the Mississippi river is given up by the English. This was beneficial to the United States because it resulted in a huge increase in U.S. territory. This was impactful on the future because it gave the U.S. much more land to explore and colonize. -
Shay’s Rebellion
Shay’s Rebellion was the name for protests by American farmers who were against enforcement of tax collections and judgements on debt. This created widespread fear in the colonies. This resulted in a need to reevaluate the Articles of Confederation for the U.S. This was impactful on the future because it was considered when writing the U.S. constitution. -
Signing of the United States Constitution
At Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the Constitutional Convention ran from May 25-September 17. This was significant to all of America and still is because this set up a constitutional government for the United States and placed the nation on a path for democracy. This has served as the basis of our government for more than 200 years. -
Ratification of the United States Constitution
Even after the signing of the constitution, it had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states in order to go into effect. When New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the constitution, it became binding on this date. This was when America truly became a democratic nation.