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Proclamation of 1763
England acquired the land to the west of the Appalachian mountains from the French & Indian War, they place this proclamation ordering them to not pass it as a way of appeasing the Natives by telling colonists to not invade their homes and that they weren't going to protect them if they trespassed. It was also a way of keeping control over the colonies since it kept them closer to the coast. Colonists don't obey the law since they were mad because they felt they rightfully deserved the land. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a way for the British to try to eliminate illegal sugar trade with the French and Spanish West Indies for them to have a more successful trade outcome by taxing the New England merchants. The colonists experimented with boycotts in Boston since they felt deprived of their rights due to accused smugglers not receiving local juries because of the new vice royalty program. -
Currency Act
The Currency Act was placed by the British as a way to way to require the stopping of issuing paper money. Britain didn't want the colonists to use their own money since it gave them a chance to practice power. This angered the colonists because they wanted to conserve the liberty of paper money and they had gotten used to using it. -
Stamp Act
Britain imposed this tax upon written documents as an effort to reapply mercantilism and tighten their administration in the colonies. They also used it as a source of revenue. Colonists responded with petitions, boycotts, or violence from groups like the Sons of Liberty spun from the belief that this was a gateway tax used to just raise money. And as a result of taxing all colonists without their consent, they felt they should only be required to pay taxes that their administration placed. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act (also known as Mutiny) was the forcing of the responsibility to feed, and shelter the British Troops stationed in the colonies (Boston). The colonists did not like this, since they have been doing this since the French and Indian War and didn't like the idea of this being forced on them. While this resulted in protest in the colonies, the British found this as reasonable, and a way to reduce their costs. -
Repeal of Stamp Act/Declaratory Act
England finally repealed the Stamp Act because they figured if they didn't obey it, they wouldn't obey any laws. In the midst of the colonists celebrating, the British passed the Declaratory Act as a way to assert their authority as a sweeping declaration of power. The colonists ignored this being passed because they were so overjoyed that they thought they were finally free from being taxed. -
Townshend Duties (July 15th to July 2nd 1767)
The Townshend Acts were a series of taxes on paper, lead, tea, and glass. Charles Townshend had hoped this would lower imperial expenses in the colonies. But colonists just saw this as an abuse of power on taxation. Parliament eventually repealed these duties, except for the tax on tea. This also introduced external taxes, and caused the disbandment of New York Assembly to gain control. And not to arouse all the colonies at once. -
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End of Townshend Duties
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Tea Act
The British used this to their advantage as it helped Britain’s tea income by lowering the price of tea while removing the competition. England’s actions revived the Americans passions about being taxed without any representation. Merchants also thought that they were being replaced and going to go bankrupt leading the colonists to respond through protest and boycott and even allowing the Boston Tea Party to take place. -
Intolerable Acts
After the tea act, the colonists wouldn't pay for the damage from the Boston tea party. So England created these acts on Massachusetts: they closed the Boston port, reduced colonial self-government, permitted royal officers from other colonies to be trialed in England, and quartering troops. (This didn't settle with colonists, and led to boycotts, and the convening of the first continental congress) -
Battle at Lexington & Concord
In the first war, the British march to Concord to take supplies, but all the supplies were moved. They move towards Lexington, but then Prescott makes the midnight ride in time to alert the local Militia about the British. The British make it, but the colonial militia fight like the French and Indian War. Colonists take shots at them from the sides down below the road. British were better shots, but the colonists had better technique. This was a huge morale boost for the Colonists. -
Second Continental Congress
Most notably for their meeting in the Pennsylvania courthouse in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 to sign the American Declaration of Independence from Britain. It was a convention of the Thirteen delegates from all colonies, and soon after warfare they declare the Revolutionary War officially. -
Battle at Bunker Hill
An early revolutionary battle fought with Israel Putnam and William Prescott who led colonial forces to Charleston Peninsula. And although they had lost against the British this event resulted in the Americans taking several British Casualties, giving them a much needed confidence boost. (Also known as “Breeds Hill”) -
Declaration of Independence
This changes the course of History forever, leading the way for other countries to declare their own independence. The members of the Second Continental Congress get together to draft a document that would declare the independence of the thirteen colonies of America from Britain in Philadelphia. -
Battle of Saratoga (September 19th to October 7th, 1776)
The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point for the war taking place in Saratoga County near Albany, New York since the American victory proved they weren't weak and convinced the French to join their cause. The first of these two battles was when the colonists attacked the British at Freeman's Farm. The second was at Bemis Heights led by Horatio Gates where the British retreated upon assault from colonists leading to the surrender of Burgoyne and his men and to a victory for the colonists. -
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End of Battle of Saratoga
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The Battle of Yorktown
The war ended due to George Washington along with Count Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau & Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse trapping Cornwallis at Yorktown. Despite showing resistance, he surrendered on October 17 when he sent someone to surrender the British army of 7000 plus while being "ill" leading to success for the colonists. Although the British surrendered, they still held ports like Savannah, Charles Town, Wilmington, & New York City allowing them to stay close to the colonies. -
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End of Battle of Yorktown
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Treaty of Paris of 1783
The Treaty of Paris was negotiated between the United States and Great Britain for what would later become North America. This ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American Independence. The Continental congress appointed a five member committee of: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Laurens, and John Jay. These many would eventually negotiate the treaty of Paris.
