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The Start of The French & Indian War
This not the exact date but the year is correct. This war ended in 1763. It was called the 7 year war. This war was over the land in North America. The French wanted the land to live and grow on. The colonists wanted the land to live and grow on. The colonists were okay withe the war because they thought they would be able to settle if they fought the war. -
Proclamation of 1763
Great Britain forbis the colonists from crossing the Appalachian mountains. Colonists were angered because of British presence and being told what to do. -
The Sugar Act of 1764
To pay for the recent war Great Britain imposed taxes on things like sugar and molasses. The colonists were angered at the extra money they had to spend, but they were mainly angry over the fact that Great Britain had taxed them at all. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
Breat Britain put a tax on all legal documents, things such as nexspapers, mail, basically every piece of paper used. This angered the colonists for obvious reasons and in response the Stamp Act Congress was formed to organize yet another boycott. -
Writs of Assistance
With the Writs of Assistance, British Customs Officers could search any ship at will with no limitations. Not many of the colonists were affected, but many merchants were the owners of the ships. They felt that this was an invasion of their privacy. -
Townshend Act of 1767
Great Britain put a tax on items such as paper, class, lead, silk, and tea. The result was that colonists boycotted the British through the non-importation agreement. Due to this the Act was eventually repealed. -
Quartering Act of 1770
With the colonists and the British growing farther and farther apart, the British decided to enforce the Quartering Act. This stated that Colonists were required to provide food and housing for The British soldiers that were stationed in the colonies. This was deeply hated by the colonists but little could be done to stop it. -
Boston Massacre
A rioting mob confronted British soldiers at the Boston Cutoms House, tensions soon began to heat as the colonists shout insults and throw roscks at the British soldiers in the area. In supposed "self defense" shots were fired into the crowd, killing five colonists. Samuel Adams used the opportunity to whip up anti-British feelings amongst the colonists by calling the event a "massacre". -
Tea Act
Tea Merchants in the colonies were cut out of the tea trade beause the British East India Company lowered their tea prices. The result of this was the unforgettable Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
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Intolerable Acts
With tensions between the British and the Colonies at and all-time high, the Brithish introduced the Intolerable Acts. A set of laws that stated the Colonies could not hold town meetings, and that the Port of Boston be closed imediately. The colonies were furious and in response the First Continental Congress meets, and for the first time the colonies began to unify. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1774 to discuss what the colonies response to the Intolerable Acts would be. Delegates from each colony (except Georgia) agreed to ban all trade with Britain until the acts were repealed. Each colony began to train troops, not because they were about to declare independence, but to uphold colonial rights. -
The Battle of Lexington
On April 19th, 700 British troops reached Lexington qhere only 70 militiamen were stationed. The British ordered the Militimen to drop their weapons, but they refused, and although no one knows who fired first, within minutes 8 miltiamen lay dead. This first shot was known as "The Shot Heard Around the World" -
Battle of Concord
After defeating the minutemen at Lexington, the British moved onto Concord to seize the patriots hidden supplies. But while the British were crossing a bridge that led into Concord, they were met by hundreds of Minutemen, this time the British were forced to retreat. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine tried to change public opinion through his publication Common Sense. His argument helped persuade many colonists to support the fight for independence. -
Battle of New York
Fighting turned toward the middle colonies and the British set their sights on New York City. The British attacked Washington and the colonial army on Long Island and inflicted heavy casualties. Although the colonists lost, Wahsington avoided capture and retreated into Pennsylvania. Unfortunately the British will control New York for the rest of the war. -
2nd Continental Congress
The 2nd Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776 to discuss the rebellion. In May 1776 Virginian delgate Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution that declared the colonies "Free and Independent". A comitee was created to write a decleration of independence, this comitee included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson. -
Decleration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the draft of the Decleration in only a few days, but took two weeks to refine it. Jefferson took out the section on slavery which he said was "cruel war against human nature" because the southern colonies would not signt the document. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British marched up Bunker Hill to remove the Continental Army. The Americans were low on gunpowder and due to this they were advised "Don't shoot until you see the white of their eyes". Although they put up a fight, the Colonists were to low on supplies to continue fighting and retreated. Although the British won Bunker Hill, however they lost 1000 soldiers. -
Battle of Trenton
Wahsinton launched a suprise attack crossing the frozen crossing the frozen Delaware River. He Captured over 800 Hessian soldiers without losing a single man. -
Battle of Princeton
After winning the battle of Trenton, he captured the town and moved onto Princeton where he captured another 300 Britsh soldiers. -
Battle of Saratoga
American General Haratio Gates surrounded Burgoyne's remaining forces at Saratoga. Burgoyne surrendered his entire army to Gates. Saratoga was a turning point in the war, Ben Franklin would help negotiate the treaty of alliance with the French and Spanish. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Washingto and his men spent the long cold winter of 177-1778 in Valley Forge Pennsylvania. Conditiona were terrible and the troops were in desperate need of food and warm clothing. -
Battle of Yorktown
British General Cornwallis moved his troops to Virginia to wait for reinforcements. Washington felt the time was right to set a trap and make a great push. Washington couldn't do it alone though, and to gain information he used a slave by the name of James Armistead to relay information to him. Cornwallis was not impressed by Washingtons force and opted to board British ships and sail to New York. He was stopped in his tracks though when a fleet of French battleships sailed into the bay.