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John Locke dies
John Locke (August 29, 1632, to October 24,1704,) was and influencial writer. He said that people had rights that no one could take away. He was neither patriot or loyalist because he never lived in the colonies, but his ideas carried over to patriots seeking freedom. -
Proclamation of 1763
The western fronteir was still a point of conflict, so the British set a limitation on western colonization. This became the Proclamation of 1763. It was a law that said colonists couldn't settle past the line pictured to the left. They hoped it would end conflicts. Instead it angered colonists which thought they should settle on the land which they fought so hard to get in the French and Indian war. -
Townshend Acts
The British parlament released a series of taxes on glass, tea, paper, lead and paint only in the colonies. In response, a lawyer in Pennsylvania released a series of articles called "Letters From a Farmer", which enticed the idea of rebelion and freedom. -
Boston Massacre
In response to recent articles and taxes, colonists start protesting against British soldiers in the area. There was a group of soldiers in Boston which found themselves surrounded by a mob throwing snowballs filled with rocks and seashells at the group. They are ordered to hold their fire but then a British Private is hit with a club and knocked to his knees. He got up afraid and angry firing a shot. Other soldiers followed up and killed five. -
Boston Tea Party
In response to all the taxes on tea, including a tax on tea making the economy even harder to deal with for colonists, members of a freedom group called The Sons of Liberty dressed as Native Americans and dumped an entire load of British tea into the Boston harbor. This was a leading step to rebelion and caused the British to strike back with more force and restrictions. -
Intollerable Acts
In response to the Boston Tea Party, the british government released a slew of laws against the colonies in outrage against the money they had lost in the tea shippments. This included closing the Boston Harbor, banning of town meetings in the colonies, more rights to British soldiers, and a stronger Quatering act which gave British soldiers a substantial reign over whatever they needed or wanted. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Paule Revere road ahaead to warn colonists the night before that fateful morning that the redcoats were marching in land from the sea. A group of minute men met them at Lexington but they were quickly overcome. When the British came to Concord they were met with many colonists and suffered 250 casualties. This ended in a Colonial win against the British. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
On a hill near Bunker Hill, which was actauly Breed's Hill, A Colonial malitia set up fort in Massachusets to defend from the British. There the British attacked and eventualy overcome the fort, which led to a British Victory, but patriots saw that they losed over a thousand soldiers and saw it as a small win. -
Thomas Paine writes "Common Sense"
Thomas Paine is a patriot political activist who was also a good author and speaker. He lived from February 9, 1737, to June 8, 1809. As a political author, he wrote his most famous work "Comon Sense" to convince the common people to stand up against the injustices being directed towards them. -
Thomas Jefferson is appointed to write The Declaration of Independance
Thomas Jefferson was a founding father who helped in writing the Decaration of Independance. He started as a very quiet man on the continential congress, but had many ideas of liberty. He lived from April 13,1742, to July 4, 1826. He never fought in battle, but instead with ideas and lead the political fight for the partriots during the Revolutionary War. -
Benjamin Franklin Helps Write Declaration of Independance
Benjamin Franklin lived from January 17, 1706, to April 17, 1790. Benjamin owned a print shop and was also a man of words and of Ideas. He helped write the Declaration of Independance and lay the foundation for the Articles of Confederation. He was definately a partiot and lead many ideas to congress and other congregations. -
John Handcock Signes the Declaration of Independance
John Handcock (January 23, 1737 to October 8, 1793,) was the first to sign the Declaration of Independance and the one to write his name the biggest. This is so supposedly so that the king could even read it without his glasses. A strong Patriot, the man was also the govener of Massachusets twice. He was a leader and symbolic activist. He lead Massachusets durring the war and during points before and after. -
Battle of Trenton
On Christmas morning, General George Washington surprised a Hessian group which was drunk and hungover from celebrating Christmas Eve. After crossing the Delaware river under fridgeid temperatures the group nearly instantly surrendered after being caught off guard leaving another victory to the Patriots. -
Battle of King's Mountain.
In South Carolina, Loyalists and Patriots fought a battle. With colonists on both sides, it seemed like a battle no one wanted to fight, but the Patriots annihilated the Loyalist forces, which lead to overwelming Patriot pride and helped the cause for Independance. -
Seige of Yorktown
The Seige of Yorktown was lead by George Washington to take back Yorktown. French allies and Americans invaded the fort and lead the British out. The newly gained allies was an important part of the war.
