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Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was the first of many taxes placed specifically on the colonists. These taxes placed on them angered them and caused rebellion. The Sugar Act put a tax on sugar, molassous, and other important products. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the second tax put on the colonists specifically. It required that they pay for a stamp on all paper products they bought. -
Townshend Act of 1767
Parliment passed laws that put taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The Townshend Acts took power away from colonial government, which angered the colonists. -
Boston Massacre
Some local colonists in Boston Massachutses went to the local customs house to express their anger about the new taxes that parliment had recently passed. Chaos started when one colonist insulted a guard and the guard responded by hitting him. Soon a group of colonists gathered around the guards throwing insults at them. The guards grew angry and scared, and eventually one fired his gun followed by the other guards. Three colonists fell dead instantly, others were injured. -
Tea Act of 1773
Parliment passed a law that allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonists, which lowered the price of tea. The colonists were concerened that they would go out of business. -
The Boston Tea Party
As a result of the acts the British had been passing, the colonists protested in many ways. When the Townshend Acts were repealled, the British left the tax on tea. In their anger, colonists dressed up as Indians, went to Boston Harbor, and dumped all of the tea off the British ships. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts was what the colonists called the Coersive Acts. They were a result of the Boston Tea Party. The Intolerable Acts closed the Boston Harbor, required quartering of solciers, brought the Boston government directly under British control, British officials would be trialed in Britian, and gave the French Quebec. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a gathering of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies to discuss their reactions to the acts recently passed and what they wanted to do about them. During the First Continental Congress, they wrote the Declaration of Rights and Grievences to send to the king and Parliment. They planned to meet again, the following May to discuss the king's reaction to their declaration. -
The Declaration of Rights
The Declaration of Rights was the colonist's way of expressing the rights they believed they deserved. They wrote them out and sent them to the king. They hoped in doing this, the king and Parliment would repeal their unfair acts, give them representation in Parliment, or at least show them a bit more respect. -
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Siege of Charleston
Britain targeted Charleston S.C. after they took over Savannah, Georgia. They suceeded in capturing Charleston, and it was one of their biggest wins of the whole war. -
Lexington and Concord
Around midnight two messengers rode out into the night to warn citizens of Lexington and Concord Massachutses that the British Army was marching their way. Upon hearing this news about 70 men gathered in Lexington to try to stop the British. They, however, failed. The British marched straight on through to Concord. When they arrived at Concord they found there to be no weapons (which they were after). Angered the soldiers started burning buildings down. The citizens chased them back. -
Second Continental Congress
Twelve delegates from the thirtieen colonies met in Philidelpia, PA to discuss what actions they wanted to take next. Some delegates wanted peace, others wanted to break away. The one thing they all did agree on that the ultimate decision had to be unanimous. They eventually agreed on breaking away from Britain completely. They formed the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as the Commander. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British General Gage wanted to take Charleston penincula, which was an important spot since it looked over Boston and Concord. The colonists heard of this plan and knew they needed to take action. They decided to fortify Breeds Hill. The British woke up on the morning of June 17 to see Breeds Hill fortified. They took a stand at the bottom on the hill, and worked their way up. The colonists ran out of ammonition and were forced to retreat, but prooved that they would not be easy to defeat. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Second Continental Congress wanted peace with Britain. The Olive Branch Petition was a final attempt to make up with the British. The King, however, refused to read it. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petiton was congresses last attempt to restore peace with Britain. When they sent it for the king to read, he refused and came up with new ways to punish the colonies. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote a 47 page pamphlet and anonymously distributed it in Philidelphia Pennslyvania. The pamphlet expressed his ideals about the King and Parliments laws. Word spread quickly and he helped convince colonists they needed to break away from the British crown. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson as the official declaration of independence from Great Britian. Up until this point in time, the war was in hopes of being treated fairly as British citizens. At this point, the Patriots had decided they wanted freedom from British rule. -
Battle of New York
The British navy decided to capture Brooklyn Heights, the highest point in New York. Whoever controlled the Heights controlled the city. British General Howe led troops to New York and killed 2,000 American troops and some wepondry. This battle almost ended the war, but thankfully the Americans escaped by way of fog. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the American Revolution. Burgoyne led troops to Saratoga to attack the Americans. The plan was to gain the unfortified Bemis Heights. Gates was prepared with troops and drove them out, although short on supplies. The French and Spanish heard about this and decided to help the colonists because they were giving their enemy trouble. -
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Valley Forge
Valley Forge was a Patriot camp. No battles actually took place, however, the soldiers greatly suffered from lack of food and clothes. Many soldiers marched with no shoes. George Washington tried to get more supplies, however the Continental Congress couldn't supply. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty of Paris was a huge step in colonial history. Britain finnally reconized the colonies freedom. It also set America's boundaries. The king reconized that the colonists could settle west of the original colonies.
