Marching for Independence

  • Sugar Act enforced

    Although it reduced the tax on molasses, the Sugar Act was strictly enforced, so colonists ended up paying more taxes.
  • Sons of Liberty formed

    Those who opposed the British taxes called themselves "Patriots" and the Sons of Liberty was born with Sam Adams as its leader.
  • Stamp Act passed

    Stamp Act passed
    The Stamp Act was the tax on printed items was the first direct tax on the colonists. It added a fee to printed materials such as legal documents and newspaper.
  • Quartering Act passes

    Quartering Act passes
    Following the French and Indian War, Britain maintained a standing army in the colonies. The Quartering Act required colonial assemblies to house and provision solders.
  • Sons of Liberty

    Sons of Liberty
    A mob led by the Sons of Liberty tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector
  • Stamp Act repealed

    The Declatory Act repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament's right to rule the colonies as saw fit.
  • Townsend Acts

    Import taxes on a variety of goods were collected to support royal officials in the colonies, removing the responsibility from the colonial assemblies. The Townsend Acts were so unpopular that all the taxes were repealed, except the one on tea.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    A group of colonists hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists
  • Tea Act Established

    The Tea Act was created to save the East India Tea Company. Although it lowered the price of tea, it gave the company a monopoly and threatened the business of colonial importers.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Patriots dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships laden with tea and dumped the tea into the harbor. The event became known as the Boston Tea Party.
  • Intolerable Acts passed

    Intolerable Acts passed
    Officially called the Coercive Acts, these laws were meant to force Massachusetts to pay for tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The laws closed Boston Harbor and forced colonists to house British soldiers in their homes.
  • First Continental Congress

    Agree to boycott British goods
  • Olive Branch Petition

    Olive Branch Petition
    Congress sends an "Olive Branch" to King George III. He rejected the petition and sent more troops to Boston.
  • Speech delivered in House of Burgesses

    Patrick Henry, gives his most famous speech, in the House of Burgueses. "Give me Liberty or give me Death"
  • Battles of Lexington and Concord

  • Second Continental Congress

    Congress names George Washington commander of Continental Army
  • Battle of Bunker Hill

  • Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense

    Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
  • Dec. of Ind. approved

    Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Deceleration of Independence was approved
  • Steuben trains Continental Army

    Baron Von Steuben trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Penn
  • Patriots win in Saratoga

  • France joins with United States

    France joins with United States
    signs an alliance
  • Victory at Charlestown

    General Clinton captures 3000 Patriot soldiers as he takes Charlestown, South Carolina
  • General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown

    General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
  • Treaty of Paris signed

    Treaty of Paris signed