Events That led up to the American Revolution

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 1, 1763

Forbade colonists to settle west of the Appalachains

The Suagr Act

Apr 5, 1764

Colonial merchants had been required to pay a tax of six pence per gallon on the importation of foreign molasses.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

A new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

A street fight occuring with a patriot mob and some Brritish soldiers. Several colonists killed and 2 British soldiers chrged for man-slaugher.

Tea Act

May 10, 1773

The tea act was designed to hold up the East India Company which was (floundering financially) and burdened with eighteen million pounds of unsold tea. This tea was to be shipped directly to the colonies, and sold at a bargain price.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Following the tea act this act led to colonists rejecting the tea and on December 16, 1773, Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty boarded ships in the Boston harbor and threw 342 chests of tea overboard.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 31, 1774

Term for the series of laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea party.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

A meeting of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies to present that they were united in a determination to show a combined authority to the British.

Patrick Henry's Speech

Mar 23, 1775

Presented resolutions to raise a militia, and to put Virginia in a posture of defense.On the 23rd, Henry presented a proposal to organize a volunteer company."Give Me Liberty OR Give Me Death"

Lexington & Concord

Apr 19, 1775

Britain's General Gage wanting to capture Colonial leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock, then Concord,where they would seize gunpowder.Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott galloped off to warn the countryside that the British were coming.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

The second Congress managed the colonial war effort, and moved into independence, adopting the United States Declaration of Independence

George Washington Commander in Chief

Jun 15, 1775

The continental congress issued Washington over the other delegates to be the commader of the Continental Army from past experience.

Battle at Bunker Hill

Jun 17, 1775

British defeated Americans on Breed's hill referred to Bunker Hill in Massachusetts.Even though they lost if boosted their confidence and left British with fighting not easy.

Benedict Arnold Failed to sieze Quebec

Dec 30, 1775

The Battle of Quebec was the first major defeat of the Revolutionary War for the Americans. Costed Montgomery his life and didn't win Canada for the support.

Common Sense Published Thomas Paine

Jan 15, 1776

Published in 1776, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy.

First Virginia Constitution

Jun 29, 1776

Drafted in 1776 to establish a basis for government after declaring independence from Great Britain.

Congress declares Independence

Jul 2, 1776

Continental Congress voted to approve a Virginia motion calling for separation from Britain.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

The declaration was formally adopted by 12 colonies after minor revision.August 2nd it was signed.Thomas Jefferson,John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston to draft a declaration of independence.