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The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest that occurred on December 16, 1773, at Griffins Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing taxation without representation, dumped 342 chests of tea, imported by the British East India Company into the harbor. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775, the famous 'shot heard 'round the world', marked the start of the American War of Independence (1775-83). Politically disastrous for the British, it persuaded many Americans to take up arms and support the cause of independence -
The Declaration of Independence is Signed
the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. -
The Winter at Valley Forge
The Continental Army's transformative experiences at Valley Forge reshaped it into a more unified force capable of defeating the British and winning American independence during the remaining five years of the war. -
Article of Confederation are Ratified
he Articles of Confederation also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote in Congress. Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion. -
The Constitution is Ratified
On June 21, 1788, the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The journey to ratification, however, was a long and arduous process. -
The Battle of Yorktown
Sep 28 - Oct 19, 1781. The Battle of Yorktown proved to be the decisive engagement of the American Revolution. The British surrender forecast the end of British rule in the colonies and the birth of a new nation—the United States of America. -
Presidential Inauguration of George Washington
With this inauguration, the executive branch of the United States government officially began operations under the new frame of government established by the 1787 Constitution. -
Washington’s Farewell Address
George Washington's Farewell address, delivered on September 19, 1796, remains a a towering statement of American political purpose. -
The Death of George Washington
December 14, 1799, George Washington died, Reflected contemporary public and private traditions of the time period and served as a catalyst for Americans from diverse backgrounds to unite. -
Election Day, 1800
The election in 1800 resulted in the first peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another in United States history. -
Marbury vs. Madison
Marbury v. Madison established the power of judicial review for the U.S. Supreme Court