-
Sugar Act
This act was an improvement to the former "Molasses Act"... which brought prices of molasses to 6 pence per gallon. Since this act was not successful, the Sugar act was created...cutting the price in half, to three pence per gallon to discourage smuggling and encourage sales. -
Stamp Act
An act passed by British Parliament required almost all paper documents including legal documents, magazines, newspapers, etcetera to be marked with a special embossed revenue stamp put on the paper products in London. -
Townshend Act
These were importation duties placed on glass, paint, paper, and tea. Suggested by a man named Charles Townshend after the Stamp Act was a failure. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was started when a colonist began taunting a British soldier on duty in town. The soldier struck the man over the head with his gun. The man left only to return with more colonists who then started a riot. Shouting, throwing things, etcetera. The soldiers (defending themselves) shot into the crowd of people, killing 3 instantly...and five total. -
Tea Act
The British allowed the East India Company to pay lower taxes they had to pay to the British government. Which in turn, made the tea cheaper to the colonists...and Dutch tea as well as any others were consequently priced at a higher rate. -
The Boston Tea Party
Anti-British "sons of liberty" lead by Samuel Adams...dressed up like indians and entered British ships. They dumped the tea chests into the water. The tea was worth around one million dollars in today's money. -
Period: to
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable acts were acts passed by Great Britain to punish the colonists after the Boston Tea Party. It was made up of five parts. The five parts said, one, that the Boston Harbor would be closed, two, Massachusetts colonial charter would be rovoked, three, trials of royal officials will be held in Great Britain, four, the quartering act was passed, and five, the province of Quebec would be enlarged. The colonists were overall very upset with these acts and many were ready for war. -
Period: to
First Continental Congress
Delegates from the colonies met in Carpenters Hall in Philidelphia to talk about the taxes and acts that Great Britain was putting on the colonies. The delegates met and discussed and argued for many hours on what they should do. In the end they made a document of rights and grievances to send to King George the II. In case the document was not to pass with the king, the colonists set another date to meet in May. -
Lexingon & Concord
The British marched to Concord where the American arms depot was located on April 19. Soldiers were told not to shoot unless shot upon. No one knows who shot first...but an unexpected shot was fired, known as the shot heard 'round the world. As a final result, the arms depot was protected, and the British were forced to retreat. -
Second Continental Congress
In fear that the King would not approve the colonist's first attempt to create peace, the colonists set a second date to meet. The delegates did need to meet once more for the second continental congress on May 10 of 1775. The second continental congress accomplished three main things. First, they created a continental army, second, they chose George Washington to command the continental army, and third, they sent the Olive Branch Petition to Great Britain in a last effort to make peace. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
American troops were stationed at Breed's hill on June 17. Despite the American advantage... the British decided to fight the Patriots from lower ground. As the British moved uphill, Americans shot many Redcoats to keep them from advancing. In the end, the American's ammunition was depleted, and they lost the battle. -
Common Sense
"Common Sense" was the name of a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776. The small book challenged the authority of the royal monarch as well as British Government. As a result, the book was the seed planted in the minds of colonists regarding revolution. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was one of the most important documnets ever written. The colonists were angry with Great Britain and wanted their freedom. Thomas Jefferson was the main author of this documnet and it basically is saying that all men should have their rights, they stated what they disliked about the King's law, and finally their actual declaring their independence. Without this document the United States would most likely still be part of Great Britain. -
Battle of New York
Washinton moved his troops to New York expecting the Britsh arrival. The British troops, led by Howe, marched to New York and caused Washington to retreat to Long Island. The Redcoats continued to attack the Americans untill they retreated back into New Jersey. Howe's army had many more soldiers than Washington and they were better supplied. The British captured prisoners and supplies defeating the Americans. -
Battle of Trenton
Washington's new plan was to go on the offensives. He planned to attack the Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey. On Christmas night 1776 Washington ad his 2,400 soldiers rowed across the Deleware River. The men then marched in the snow to the enemy camp.The Hessians had celebrated the night before and were not ready for Washington's attack. The American soldiers took 900 prisoners making the Battle of Trenton a very important Patriot victory. This victory was very much needed. -
Battle of Brandywine Creek
Washington thought that British General Howe had divided his troops but Washington then persisted that the British were sending their entire force against his line at Chadds Ford. When the British arrived, Washington realized he had been outmanuvered and ordered his troops to higher ground. Confused by the surprise the Americans could not defend their area. The colonists did fight valliantly but were unable to beat the British. The colonists ended up retreating giveing the British a victory. -
Battle of Saratoga
British General John Burgoyne had a well thought out plan that required excellent timing. However, his co-commander General Howe, accidentally took control of Philadelphia instead of parts of New England. Once he was completely out of options, and surrounded by Patriots in New England, Burgoyne surrendered almost all of his troops to Patriot General Horatio Gates. France and Spain joined the American side as a result. -
Winter at Valley Forge
The winter at valley forge lasted into Jan. of '78. Noramlly winter was a time of rest for the troops and a time to regroup. However, for Washington, this was a time to rebuild and become stronger. Many soldiers were without clothing and shoes and they were low on food but Washington was unable to get either for his troops. Still the troops drilled and worked. About 2,000 soldiers died of disease or malnutrition.It was a time of suffering, many can look back on it as a period of couragesness. -
Period: to
Battle of Yorktown
Washington had combined his troops with the troops commanded by French officer Comte de Rochambeau. The Americans and French cut off all of the escpae routes for Cornwallis and prevented them from getting any help. The fighting went on for weeks and the British forces were slowly wearing down. Washinton was ready to plan a major final attack but on October 19, Cornwallis surrendered. The Americans had taken 8,000 prisoners and had won the American Revolution. -
Treay of Paris
Treaty of Paris official ended the American Revolution. Great Britian recognized the 13 colonies as an indpendent country. The British also agreed to removed their troops from the colonies and extend the boundaries almost doubling the land. The United States did agree to some terms also.The Americans agreed to, first of all, let the troops in the U.S leave and pay all of the existing debts owed to Great Britain.The colonists let all who left the U.S return & wouldn't persecute the loyalists.
