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Sugar Act
In 1764 British Legislation passed an act to try to end the British colonies smuggling of sugar and molasses from the Dutch West India Company (because they sold it at a lower price than Britain). It increased taxes on key goods in the colonies. This is one of the reasons for the "No taxation without representation" saying. -
Stamp Act
In 1765 the Stamp Act was imposed on the colonies. This meant certain materials like newspapers and legal documents had to have a stamp on them to show the tax for them was paid to Britain. -
First Continental Congress
12 of the 13 delegates from the British Colonies got together and discussed how the colonies could respond to the British government' actions. They decided to boycott British trade and drew up a petition to the king asking to repeal the Intolerable Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
Boston Port Act - Boston Harbor Closed until all the tea spilled was paid for Massachusetts Government Act - replaced the local council with an appointed council, enhanced the powers of the military governor, abrogated the colony's charter, and forbade town meetings without approval Administration of Justice Act - Britain's accused of crimes in the colonies are tried in England Quartering Act - People in colonies were forced to house British troops. -
Declaration of Independence
The Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence (written by Thomas Jefferson) on July 4, 1776, declaring American independence from the British Empire and formally starting the American Revolution. -
Yorktown
General Cornwallis surrendered to French and American forces at Yorktown, with the effect of the British deciding to end the war. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed and recognized the Independence of the American colonies. -
Constitutional Convention
Delegates met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to revise the Articles of Confederation and created a federal system where the state government and national governments shared power.