-
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris led to the next big event, the Revolutionary War. The British were angry at the colonies for not helping them pay for their own defense. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was the first tax on the colonies. It was a tax on sugar imported from the west indies This act taxed more foreign goods. This act represented significant change in policy. -
Stamp Act
British parliament passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765. This new tax required all American colonies to pay tax on every piece of printed paper they used. The Stamp Act was used to help pay for the cost of defending and protecting the American frontier. What made this act so outrageous to the colonies was because of the standards it set. This act was viewed as a direct attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without approval from the colonial legislature. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was an act in which British increased tax on tea.This act was for British to save the East India Company. The Tea Act, however, was not a new tax act for the colony. The colony had repelled all act except for the Tea Act. -
Boston Tea Party
Because of the Tea Act, colonies showed they didn't want the tea by dressing up as Native Americans and dumping the tea overboard. This caused tension between British and the colony -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord happened on April 19, 1775. This battle was the first battle and began the American revolutionary war. On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere, arranged to alert colonists in Charlestown about the British troops. When the British moved, so did he. He galloped over the countryside spreading the news. In Lexington, he was joined by Dr. Prescott. When Revere was stopped by British patrols, Prescott kept going and carried the message to Concord. -
Thomas Paine, "Common Sense"
Thomas Paine, an immigrant from England, wrote the, "Common Sense," to help convince Americans that a complete break from the Britain was needed. He believed that Americans should follow their own destiny. It was published in January of 1776 and became a success as it sold more than 100,000 copies in three months. This caused a roar for independence. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson all contributed to the document but it was Jefferson who wrote it. He was chosen to write it because he was an excellent writer and came from Virginia. The members knew that they needed Virginia's support or the movement couldn't succeed. Because of this document, America had declared it's independence. Now they only had to win their freedom on the battlefield. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown started on Sep. 28 of 1781 and ended on Oct. 19, 1781. George Washington, along with 17,000 French and Continental troops began the battle against British General, Charles Cornwallis, and 9,000 British troops at Yorktown. This was the most important battle of the Revolutionary War. On Oct. 17, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered to Washington, ending the war for Independence. The surrender ceremony was held on Oct. 19, 1781. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed by U.S and British representatives on Sep. 3, 1783. It ended the Revolutionary War and recognized America's independence. It established boundaries between U.S and Britain. Because of the Treaty of Paris, U.S ideas about the government changed, such as not letting a king, but people rule.
