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North American Colonial Society and Revolution
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Establishment of Detriot
The city of Detroit was founded on July 24, 1701, by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. With a pledge of patriotism, to demonstrated community ideals and the courage to foster them. Detroit started as a fur trading post and grew into a frontier military station. -
Queen Anne's War Begins
Queen Anne's War was fought between France and England over control of North America. Native American tribes sided with both nations, and Spain sided with the French. Also known as The War of Spanish Succession, Queen Anne's War was the bloodiest war between France and England over North America, and lasted for 11 years. -
Boston News-Letter, is published
John Campbell, the postmaster of Boston, published the first issue of the Boston News-Letter. This paper was only a single sheet that was printed on both sides, this consisted of gossip and new of what was happening in Great Britain -
Tuscarora War Begins
A Native American rebellion in North Carolina opposing the settler's arrival occured and led to the war between the Tusacora Native American tribe and the settlers, marking the beginning of truly unfriendly relations between Native Americans and the colonists. When the war ended on February 11, 1715, most of the Tuscarora tribe fled to New York, while the remaining signed a treaty granting the colonists 56,000 acres of land. -
Carolina Splits into North and South Carolina
Carolina split into two colonies, because they had a constant dispute involving their differences of culture and religeon. -
Treaty of Utrecht Signed
The Treaty of Utrecht ended Queen Anne's War between England and France. France ceded the Hudson Bay territory, Newfoundland, and Novia Scotia to England. The Native Americans were completely ignored in the treaty as well, laying the foundation for future conflict. -
Tea is Introduced for the First Time in the American Colonies
Tea was first introduced to the American Dutch colonies. Then, it was introduced to England. In England it quickly became very popular, especially amongst the wealthy, but also throughout society as a whole.Subsequently, in 1714, England introduced tea to the American English Colonies; and its imports attrached high costs. -
New Orleans was Founded
The French Mississippi Company, founded the settlement in order to extend French fur trading routes. -
Baltimore was Founded Under Maryland
The colony, named after Maryland governer Lord Baltimore, was founded as a port for tobacco trading. The establishment played many important roles in colonial history, including becoming a large enemy against the British and becoming the meeting point of the Second Continental Congress. -
Hat Act Passed by the British Parliament
The Hat Act placed limits on American manufacturing, sale, and exporting of hats. This meant that Americans were forced to buy hats from Great Britain that costed about 4 times as much as normal hats, and began to stress relations between the colonists and Great Britain. -
Molasses Act Passed by the British Parliament
The Molasses Act placed a tax of 6 cents per gallon of molasses imported from non-British colonies. The act was designed to stimulate the British economy by cutting off other sources of the product, especially in the French West Indies. The act upset the colonists greatly, who felt they were being used by Britain with no authority, and contributed to growing tension between the two sides. -
The Zenger Trial Occurs
John Peter Zenger, the famous publisher known for his voicing against the government and their actions, is ruled not guilty. Zenger's lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, helped to convince the judge in his ruling and worked to bring up the issue of freedom of the press. -
Sugar Act
Parliament, knowing that the Sugar and Molasses Act was about to expire, issued a new Act on the colonies. Thr colonists were to pay 3 pence per gallon of a number of items including sugar, wines, coffee, pimiento, printed calico, and it regulated the buying of iron and lumber. -
Stamp Act
This Act taxed every printed piece of paper that the colonists bought. It included taxing ship papers, licenses, newspapers, legal documents, and even playing cards. This Act was to raise money for the stationed troops at the Appalachian Mountains, but it didn't raise a lot of money; the tax only upset the colonists. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were meant to raise money for Great Britain. These Acts places taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. All the taxes were repealed except for tea (see Tea Act). -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre ended with only five dead, but it was made out to be a massacre by the colonists. Tension was very high, and when the colonists and Royals clashed, it ended with a brawl. The Boston Massacre was made up of colonists tormenting soldiers, and when the scurry started, more and more people joined in on the fight. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was not to raise money, but to boost the East India Company and sell all their extra tea. The Act said that the colonists could only buy their tea directly from the British. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was in reaction to the Tea Act. Samuel Adams led a team of 50 men to some British ships that had just brought tea to America and had them dump the tea overboard. There were 342 chests of tea split open and filling the harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts of 1774, also called the Coercive Acts, were punishment for the Boston Tea Party. The Acts stopped all trade with the colonies, only Great Britain could import and export with the colonies; it closed the Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay; it also gave Quebec a recognized religion, Roman Catholisism. -
Port of Boston Closed
British response to Tea party, also enacted british quartering of soldiers on colonist property. -
Battle of Concord
General Gage orders 700 British soldiers to Concord to destroy the colonists' weapons depot.That night, Paul Revere and William Dawes are sent from Boston to warn colonists. Revere reaches Lexington about midnight and warns Sam Adams and John Hancock who are hiding out there. After the Battle of Lexington, The British head for the depot in Concord, destroying the colonists' weapons and supplies. At the North Bridge in Concord, a British platoon ws attacked by militiamen, with 14 deaths. -
Battle of Lexington
About 70 armed Massachusetts militiamen stand face to face on Lexington Green with the British advance guard. An unordered 'shot heard around the world' begins the American Revolution. A volley of British muskets followed by a charge with bayonets leaves eight Americans dead and ten wounded.British forces then begin a long retreat from Lexington back to Boston and are harassed and shot at all along the way by farmers and rebels and suffer over 250 casualties. VIDEO -
Second Continental Congress Meets in Philidelphia
At this meeting, George Washington is appointed military leader of the Continental Army and John Hancock is elected president of the congress. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
VIDEOThe first major fight between British and American troops occurs at Boston in the Battle of Bunker Hill. American troops are dug in along the high ground of Breed's Hill (the actual location) and are attacked by a fronta. -
George Washington in Charge
Continental Congress appoints George Washington Commander in Cheif of the Continental army. -
Olive Branch Petition Drafted and Sent to King George III
The Olive Branch Petition, drafted by the Second Continental Congress, was made in hope to reconcile relations between Britain and the colonies. King George III refused to read it, and instead declared the colonies as in an open rebellion. -
Thomas Paine Writes Common Sense
In the pamphlet Common Sense, Thomas Paine convinces the colonists that British rule of America is absurd, and that revolution was inevitable. The pamphlet is a vast morale booster for the colonists, and is able to pump up the war effort. -
British Evacuate Boston
George Washington leads the Continental army to push the British out of Boston. -
Declaration of Independence Ratified
Written by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence provided for a free America from Britain control, and was ratified by the Second Continental Congress. -
Battle of Saratoga
The major turning point for the war as colonial forces defeat British forces with a small loss of 150, while Britain loses 600. This is the turning point of the American revolution, because after the Colonist victory French allied with the Colonist. There was no point of joining the colonist, the French just wanted to help humiliate Great Britain -
Congress Adopts the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were the first government of the United States, and were interpreted differently by the colonists, namely federalists and anti-federalists. It was very weak, and established too weak of a federal government compared to state governments. -
Valley Forge
George Washington and his men stayed at Valley Forge from December of 1777 to June of 1778. The Battle of Trenton was fought just across the River in 1776. The winter at Valley Forge was the hardest winter, many soldiers didnt have enough clothes or food. The winter also proved to be positive because Washington's men learned training, drills, and discipline. -
Washington's Troops Settle at Valley Forge
The conditions of Valley Forge were grueling to the colonists- freezing, starving, and tired, only one man was able to whip them into shape. Baron von Steuben of Prussia trained the men even better during their period at Valley Forge. -
Britian Surrenders at Yorktown
After a long fight between French navy forces and colonial infantry forces, Britain surrenders at Yorktown, ending the Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Paris Signed
The Treaty of Paris is signed, recognizing the United States as an independent nation and officially ending the Revolutionary War.
