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The Revolution
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Treaty of Paris (French and Indian War)
The Treaty of Paris ended the 7 Years' War. The countries that were involved was France, Britain, and Spain. The Treaty ended France's power in North America. -
The Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation stated that colonists could not settle west of the Appalachian mountains. This made sense to the English who wanted to keep the peace between the Native Americans and the colonists, but angered the colonists who felt that they deserved the right to settle where they wanted. Many ignored the law. -
Sugar Act
This act put taxes on sugar, molasses and other products. It called for extreme enforcement on the punishment of smugglers. This made colonial merchants and other upset and led to the saying “No taxation without representation!” -
The Stamp Act
This act was passed in 1765. The Stamp Act required every document to have a stamp on it showing a tax had been paid on it. This tax fell directly on the colonists, which was something they were not used to. The colonists protested this because they feared what Britain would tax next if they let the Stamp Act go unprotested. -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
The pamphlet “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine was a key component in persuading the public of the colonies that independence from Britain was necessary. It pointed out the faults in the arguments against breaking all ties with England. Because of “Common Sense”, the public was overwhelmingly more welcoming to the idea of independence. -
The Townshend Acts
In 1767 Parliament passed the Townshend Acts because it needed to pay for troops and other things in the colonies. It was also passed because the Quartering Act wasn’t working and the New York assembly wouldn’t house the soldiers. The first part of the Townshend Acts disbanded the New York assembly until the colonists housed the soldiers. It also taxed people indirectly on things like paint, paper, lead and tea. The people were upset about the taxes and their rights being threatened. -
The Boston Massacre
On March 15, 1770, the tensions between the British soldiers and the colonists turned violent. Colonists and soldiers traded insults, the colonists started throwing things at the British and the British fired at them. This event was used as propaganda for the Sons of Liberty who called the incident “The Boston Massacre”. To a lot of colonists the Boston Massacre was a symbol of the British dictatorship. -
Tea Act
Tea Act: In 1773 Parliament passes the Tea Act. This act gave Britain control over American tea trade and taxed regulated tea. This act made people very angry because they did not have to previously pay taxes on the before popular smuggled tea -
The Boston Tea Party
- Boston Tea Party: December 16, 1773 A group of colonial men dress up as Native Americans, board a British tea ship and destroy 342 chests of British tea. The colonists believed that this would finally show how upset they were about taxation without representation. This occurred in the Boston Harbor and was organized by the Sons of Liberty.
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Intolerable Acts
In 1774 Parliament passes the “Intolerable Acts”. These acts close the port of Boston until the tea that the colonists destroyed is paid for, they ban the committees of correspondence, and allow the soldiers to live anywhere they want in the city. They also allow British who have been accused of crimes in the colonies to be tried in Britain. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met in . Because of it, the colonies started training troops and banned trade with England. This was an important step in creating a separate government from Britain, even though none of its members had independence in their thoughts yet. -
Lexington and Concord
April 19,1775 at Lexington there was a standoff between a small militiamen force that ended up firing at each other. The British marched to Concord where they were forced back to Boston by 4,000 militiamen and Minutemen. These were the first battles of the Revolutionary War and forced people to choose sides. -
Second Continental Congress
On May 10th of 1775, the Second Continental Congress started meeting again. It authorized the printing of money and included many of our founding fathers. It also made the Declaration of Independence, declaring America’s independence from Britain. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
In the June of 1775 Militiamen seized Bunker Hill and Breeds hill. The British attack them but they have good position and shoot down at them from their fortifications. The British come at them again and again and finally drive them away, but 1,000 of them had either died or were wounded. The militia only had 400 people injured or killed. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th in 1766. It was written mostly by Thomas Jefferson though others made edits and changed phrases. The declaration explained why it was breaking away from Britain and it was the tipping point in the American Revolution. Each man signing the document knew that if the colonies did not win the war against Britain, they would be executed for treason. -
Battle of Brooklyn
On August 27th, 1776 the colonies suffered a great loss. It gave Britain control of New York and was the first conflict after the colonies declared independence. It also included the most soldiers of any battle yet. -
The American Crisis
This pamphlet was written by Thomas Paine and was read to troops during the winter of Valley Forge on December 23, 1776. It contained thoughts and hints that the British were assuming rights that only belonged to God, and that rebellion against the British was not only right, but necessary. It was used to boost the morale of both patriot troops. -
The Battle of Trenton
On December 26, 1776, Washington attacked and defeated the hired Hessian troops by crossing the Delaware River. This was needed because the moral in the army was low, and there was a fear that a lot of the soldiers wouldn’t come back once their year contract was up. The battle was a huge encouragement to soldiers and patriots everywhere. -
Battle of Saratoga
These battles were led by Benedict Arnold and General Horatio Gates. It made General John Burgoyne’s army retreat and finally surrender. This victory finally convinces European nations that the Americans had a chance in the war. It also made Benedict Arnold a traitor because he didn’t feel that he was rewarded enough for his actions. -
Winter at Valley Forge
This event took place during the winter of 1777-1778. The soldiers go to spend the winter in Valley Forge and find the supplies that they had stored there gone- taken by the British. ¼ of the soldiers die from starvation or disease, and all throughout the winter they are short on supplies. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of York Town: this was the last huge battle in the thirteen colonies. Washington traps the British on a peninsula in Chesapeake Bay. The English army finally surrenders in October 19, 1781. British leaders soon have to construct a peace treaty with the colonies. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War. America had the upper hand in a lot of the ending terms. These included that it would be its own separate country, it would reserve some fishing rights, and others. AMERICA IS NOW INDEPENDENT.
