From Empire to Independence

Zenger Trials

Aug 4, 1735

http://www.ushistory.org/us/7c.asp<a
Being a news reporter in his time, he was charged with libel but the case was resolved in with the press acutally getting more freedoms (freedom of press)

Albany Congress

Aug 31, 1754

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/albcon.htmIt took place in New York and 7 of the 13 colonies participated. The main point was to figure out how to deal with the Natives and set up common defences against the French

Seven Years War

Period: May 15, 1756 to Feb 1, 1763

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-seven-years-war-beginsAlso known as the French and Indian war, was between the French, Indians, and British. The French and Indians were allies and although their united front was a great tactic, they ultimately lost to the heavily funded British and were expelled from North America.

Treaty of Paris

Feb 17, 1763

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=6
This ended the American Revolutionary War. Gave British more territory in the colonies.

Pontiac's Rebellion

Period: Mar 1, 1763 to Jan 1, 1764

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0839671.htmlBecause of the Native's resentment and feeling of loss that resulted from the Seven Year's War, an Indian chief named Ponitac launched a plan for war against the British. It ended in the Proclamation of 1763 which seperated the borders of the Indian and British.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sugaract.htmTaxed the importation of molasses. Molasses was used for rum and since the tax increased for molasses the rum industry in the colonies suffered.

Stamp Act

Apr 22, 1765

http://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchcrsta.cfmPlaced a tax on all papers that were to be used by the colonists. This was the first act for the use of collecting money and not regulating commerce, angering the colonists.

Repeal of the Stamp Act

Mar 17, 1766

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/parliament-repeals-the-stamp-actThe act was repealed because of boycotts and protests form the colonists.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/massacre.htmA riot had begun in Boston, with 5 people killed by British soldiers.

Tea Acts

May 10, 1773

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/teaact.htm
The British East India Company was given a monopoly on allt ea imports to America by lowering the tax on tea, but colonists still refused to buy it in protest of there being a tax in the first place.

Boston Tea Party

Nov 28, 1773

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h646.html
colonists threw all the tea from the British East India Company into the Boston harbor.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Continental_CongressThe Congress was made to develop a plan in response to the Intolerable Acts. They also discussed plans of defense against the upcoming American Revolutionary War.

Intolerable Acts

Sep 7, 1774

http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/inacts.htmThe Boston Port Bill: Closed the harbor of all commerce activity until the British East India Company is compensated.
Quartering Act: Colonists were required to house British troops
Administration of Justice Act: British Officials could not be tried in colonial courts for crimes. Instead they were to brought to Britain.
Massachussetts Gov't Act: ended self government in Boston
Quebec Act: extended Canadian borders.

Lexingotn and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Lexington_and_ConcordFirst military engagements of the American Revolution.

Fort Ticonderoga

May 9, 1775

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_TiconderogaColonists siezed controll of the fort in a surprise attack.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

http://www.ushistory.org/us/10e.aspThe second Congress managed the colonial war effort, and moved incrementally towards independence. They raised armies, directed strategy, appointed diplomats, and made formal treaties

Battle of Bunkerhill

Jun 17, 1775

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bunker_Hill
It was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War and although the British won, they suffered huge losses while the colonists suffered few losses.

Olive Branch Petition

Jul 5, 1775

http://www.learner.org/workshops/primarysources/revolution/docs/olive.htmlThis was an attempt to avoid going to war with Britian. It stated the rebellion of the colonies and was formally rejected de facto.

Common Sense

Jan 10, 1776

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Sense_(pamphlet)Written by Thomas Paine, it presented the American colonists with an argument for freedom from British rule at a time when the question of seeking independence was still undecided.

Declaratory Act

Mar 18, 1776

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Declaratory+ActAccompanied the repeal Stamp Act and stated that Parliment had the power to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatsoever.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

Jun 12, 1776

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Declaration_of_RightsIt was to proclaim the inherent rights of men, including the right to rebel against "inadequate" government.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence
Announced that the 13 colonies were independent from Britian.

Battle of Long Island

Aug 27, 1776

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_IslandIt was the first battle that occured after the colonies' independence.

Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom

Sep 9, 1777

http://www.religioustolerance.org/virg_bil.htm It promoted religious freedom for the state of Virginia.

Battle of Saratoga

Oct 17, 1777

The turning point of the American Revolution where 5,895 British and Hessian troops surrendered their arms.

Valley Forge

Period: Dec 9, 1777 to Jun 9, 1778

http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/valleyforge.htm
Valley Forge was an encampment of the Continental Army in Pennsylvania. Low on supplies, arms, and wages, the men at the Forge learned discipline.

Ratification of the Articles of Confederation

Mar 1, 1781

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articles_of_Confederation
The first constituiton of the independent colonies.

Battle of Yorktown

Oct 19, 1781

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_YorktownThe last major land battle of the American Revolution where the surrender by Cornwallis of his army prompted the British government to negotiate an end to the conflict

Treaty of Paris

Sep 3, 1783

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_(1783)Ended the American Revolutionary War.

Land Ordinace of 1785

May 20, 1785

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Ordinance_of_1785It was a resolution written by Thomas Jefferson (delegate from Virginia) calling for Congress to take action.It established first major funding for public education. It decided regions for states (not specific).

Northwest Ordinance

Jul 13, 1787

It established the precedent by which the federal government would be sovereign and expand westward across North America with the admission of new states, rather than with the expansion of existing states and their established sovereignty under the Articles of Confederation.

George Washington Inauguration

Apr 3, 1789

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_George_Washington
Marked the first 4-year term for Washington. It was the first inaugaration ever.