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Start of French and Indian War
The French and Indian war soon triggered the American Revolution. This war lasted 7 years. France's expansion into the Ohio River valley brought it with conflict with the British colonies. The French soon won a string of victories but in 1756 the British declared war. After the British won and the treaty of Paris ended the war, the British couldn't recover from what they paid the colonies. This eventually led to them taxing the colonies and ultimately the American Revolution. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed in 1765 and repealed in 1766. It was passed to help replenish their finances after the costly Seven Years War. The colonial resistance to the act mounted slowly. Patrick Henry submitted a series of resolutions to his colony’s assembly. These resolutions denied Parliament’s right to tax the colonies. The colonists took matters into their own hands while the congress was issuing petitions and passing resolutions. -
Boston Massacre
A deadly riot that occurred on King Street in Boston. It began as a street brawl between the Americans and the British but escalated into a chaotic bloodbath. Private Hugh White was guarding the King’s money when colonists joined him and insulted him. White fought back and the colonists pelted him with snowballs, ice, and stones. As the assault continued, he called for reinforcements. Soon, one of the soldiers fired his gun, causing other soldiers to open fire. This killed five colonists. -
Boston Tea Party
An American political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts. American Colonists, angry at the taxations, dumped 342 chests of tea that were imported by the British East India Company into the harbor. This showed Great Britain that Americans wouldn’t take taxation and tyranny without fighting back. -
First Continental Congress
Because of the British Parliament's Coercive Acts, the first session of the Continental Congress met at the Carpenter's Hall. 56 delegates were chosen from all the 13 colonies except Georgia. They drafted a declaration of rights and elected Peyton Randolph as the first president of the Congress. It ended on October 26, 1774. -
Shot Heard round the World
On April 18, 1775, British troops set off towards Concord to seize weapons from the colonists. The next morning, the British reached Lexington, where approximately 70 minutemen had gathered on the village green. When someone fired a shot, the battle started. This is considered to be the start of the American Revolution. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Tensions were building between the Americans and the British. On April 18, hundreds of British troops marched to nearby Concord to seize an arms cache. Paul Revere and others rode to sound the alarm. The british were soon quickly retreating when they were confronted by colonial militiamen on the Lexington town green. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
A battle on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston. The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts. The British had won the battle and the Charlestown Peninsula fell firmly under British control. The battle was a significant morale-builder for the Americans. It convinced them that patriotic dedication could overcome superior British military might. -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were measures passed by the British that taxed goods imported to the Americans colonies. The Americans saw the acts as an abuse of power. The British sent troops to force them to obey these unfair laws. This made the tension between Great Britain and the colonies larger. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document approved by the Continental Congress. It was approved on July 4, 1776. It announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. This is why on July 4th we celebrate the Fourth of July or Independence day as a national holiday. -
George Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware River
On the Christmas of 1776, George Washington started crossing the Delaware River after organizing a surprise attack against Hessian mercenaries. Washington understood that surprising the enemy would be the only way he and his army stood a chance against them. However, the freezing temperatures tired the Continental Army and they assembled on the Jersey shore. Despite these conditions, Washington secured the Continental Army's first major military victory of the war. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was an event during the second year of the American Revolution. It included two battles which were fourteen eighteen days apart. It was a decisive victory for the Continental Army and was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The First battle was on the abandoned farm of John Freeman. The fight lasted several hours but neither side gained significant ground. They were eventually forced to withdraw when the Americans got wind of the movement. -
Monmouth
George Washington and his subordinate, General Charles Lee, planned and launched an attack on the rearguard elements of General Sir Henry Clinton's British Army. The American army outnumbered them but lacked confidence. Washington removed Lee from command after panic stricken troops were fleeing the enemy. Washington continued to attack the British. They planned a counterattack on the British right. The fighting lead kept bouncing from both sides until 6:00 P.M. when they had enough. -
Baylor's Massacre
The Baylor Massacre was a British ambush that was led by Colonel George Baylor against the 4rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons. It happened in present-day town, River Vale, New Jersey. Out of 116 Continental officers and men, 69 of them were killed, captured, or wounded. Two officers died, two were wounded, and 15 total had died. -
DeWint House
The DeWint house is one of the oldest surviving structures in Rockland County. It was built with bricks and stone by Daniel Declark. This house became a temporary headquarters for George Washington while he was Commander-in-Chief during the American Revolution. The DeWint house is now residing in present-day town Tappan. -
Execution of Major John Andre
Major John Andre was a major in the British Army. He would soon be sentenced to death since he was a spy for the British. Washington ordered Andre to be held at Tappan and found him as a spy. He was hanged on October 2, 1780. Witnesses said he placed the noose around his own neck and fastened his own blindfold. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the US. It was started in 1777 but progress was slowed by central authority and extensive land claims. The Articles of Confederation named the new nation and Congress was given authority to make treaties and alliances. The only issue was the government lacked the ability to levy taxes and regulate commerce. -
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown ended on October 19. 1781. It was a battle between the American Continental Army and a British army. Cornwallis, the Lieutenant General, was eventually ordered to build a defensible deep-water port. The Americans and French built their first parallel and started a bombardment. On October 14, 1781, George Washington sent two columns to attack the last major outer defense. On October 17, Cornwallis asked for capitulation terms. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was a treaty that formally ended the American Revolutionary War. It was negotiated by the British, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. In 1782, the newly elected Prime Minister, Lord Shelburne, thought American Independence was an opportunity for a lucrative trade alliance. Because of this, the Treaty of Paris’s terms were very favorable to the US. The treaty, signed by Franklin, Adams, and Jay, was finalized on September 3, 1783, and ratified on January 14, 1784.
