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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Charter
Precedent for the idea that all people had certain rights that the King couldn't take away
Limited the actions the king couldn't take without the consent of the nobles.
This set the precedent that the king's power was not unlimited. -
English Bill of Rights
Declared the rights and liberties of the people who lived in England and the people who were under the rule of the King. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a war between France and Great Britain that ended with Britain taking over all French lands in North America. It was the last war fought between the Americas and Great Britain before the Revolutionary war. Ended with the Treaty of Paris being signed. -
The Sugar Act
This act was passed by the King of Britain. Its purpose was to tax the colonists on sugar and their important items so the king would have more money for stuff, like to pay the armies and personal luxeries. -
The Stamp Act
This tax, taxed the colonist on all printed items. Some of the taxed items were, legal documents, newspapers, playing cards and other types of paper used throughout the colonies. -
Quartering Act
Required every colonist to house British soilders and give them anything they wanted. They could not say no to them because they had a gun and other soilders with him. -
Organization of the Sons of Liberty
Patriot shop keepers banned together to protect the right of the colonists. -
Repeal of the Stamp Act
The British repealed the Stamp Act because the colonist had been protesting and boycotting British goods. The merchants profits were decreasing, so they convinced parliament in Britain to repeal the Stamp Act. Soon after, parliament passed the Declaratory Act which said that they could still tax the colonists on whatever they wanted to. Even though they repealed the Stamp Act, they were trying to tell the colonists they wouldn't get away with everything. -
Townshend Acts
It was a series of four acts passed by the British Parliament to show their autority over the colonists. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5th, 1770, in Boston, Massachusutes, the patroits and the british were arguing. As the argument grew bigger, a british soilder, under the command of Capt. Thomas Preston, struck a patriot. Then, the british started firing randomly into the crowd of patroits killing a few and wounding many. After this was over, it caused propaganda to be spread through the colonies. It made the colonist want independance, and it drew attention to the issues between the colonies and Britain. -
The Tea Act
It was a tax to make English tea marketable in America. -
The Boston Tea Party
A planned incident in which 342 chests of tea belonging to the British East India Company were thrown into the Boston Harbor by American patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians. The Americans were protesting both a tax on tea. Taxation without representation. -
Closing of the Boston Harbor
This harbor closed because the colonists dumped out 360 boxes of tea into the harbor. It wouldnt reopen until the colonists repaid Britain for the moeny losted. -
The Intolerable/ Coercive Acts
The British were infuriated and passed the acts that did the following: closed the boston harbor, the massachusuts charter was chancelled, officials accused were sent to england, quatering act was passed. The british government called these acts the coercive becuase they fcrced it onto the colonists but the colonists called it the intolerable acts beause it was unbearabul. -
Massachusetts Charter cancelled
Took away Massachusetts' righ to fish and their right to explore beyond the Appalachian Mts. -
The First Continental Congress
A group or delegats from each of the 13 colonies met to disscus what they need to do about the king and whats best for the people. -
Declaration of Rights Draft
A rough draft of the colonists rights. -
Patrick Henry's speech
At the capitol in Williamsburg, he said a speech disagreeing with the Stamp Act. The act was a money making law requiring colonial paper and documents to have a legal british stamp. He also stated resolutions stating the right of the colonies to be independant from Britain, and he supported these resolutions with great force. Famous words he said in his speach: Give me liberty or give me death! -
The Ride of Paul Revere
He arranged to signal the patriots by having lanterns placed in Old's North Church steeple: “One if by land, and two if by sea.” Two days later he rode out from Boston on his most famous ride to alert the colonists that British troops were coming. He rode through the streets yelling, "The british are coming, the british are coming!" -
Governor Gage’s seizing of colonist’s stockpile of weapons
Governer Gage was a loyalist, so he gather up men and stole the weapons the colonists had. -
Battles at Lexington and Concord
On April 19, 1775, at Lexington and Concord, Patriot Captin John Parker led the patriots into battle against the Britsih. At Lexington, the British won then marched onto Concord. General Thomas Gage orded the british troops to seize the patriots weapons. The patriots won respect and this launched the Revolutionary War. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congresses purpose was to finalize what the first Continental Congress did and also continue its work because it fell apart. Created the Continental Army. -
Benedict Arnold's Ticonderoga Fort seizure
On May 10th, 1775, in Fort Ticonderoga, New York, Benedict Arnold led the patrots to capture Fort Ticonderoga. Once the patriots had possesion of it, the fort blocked easy transportation for the british troops, and it had supplies. -
Governor of Massachusetts changed by king
King George didn't like what the governor was doing so he replaced him with one of his british officials so he could decide what was going to happen. -
Forming the Continental Army
The Continental Army was organized by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, to help the local militia forces in the American Revolution. It was under the control of a five-member civilian board, and U.S. military forces have remained in thier control. -
George Washington was named Commander and Cheif
He served as a virginian delegate to the sencond continental congress in Philadelphia in 1775. He was chosen to lead because of his experience and reputation. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 17th, 1775 in Charelstown, Massachusettes, Patroit leader William Prescott led the patrots against Lieutenant General Thomas Gage and the British at Bunker (Breed's) Hill. Britain ended up winning, but the patriots were fighting to show that they were a free country. -
Olive Branch Petition
This petitons purpose was to collect signatures (aka promises) from the colonists that they will resolve conflicts with Great Britain. -
Canada Invasion
On December 1st, 1775, at Lake Champlain and St. Lawrence River Valley, patriot leaders Benedict Arnold, and Richard Montgomery led the patriots against the british leader, Guy Carleton and the british troops. It helped patriots gain confidence even though they were defeated. -
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" is published
The publication of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense disrupted this hopeful satisfaction and put independence in peoples minds. Paine’s pamphlet said what people were afraid to say. No pamphlet had ever made such an impact on the colonial opinion. -
Battle of Nassau
On March 3rd, 1776, at Nassau , Crown Colony of the Bahamas patriot leader Samuel Nicholas led the patriots against the british leader Monlfort Browne who led the british. The patriots won this battle agains the british and it marked the first instant in American military history that forces responded to the equivilence to modern command of "Land the landing force." -
Dorchester Heights
On March 4th, 1776, in Boston, Massachusettes, patriot leader George Washington led the patriots agains British leader, General Howe at Dorchester Heights. George Washington placed cannons near General Howe's camps and in the morning General Howe saw what he was up against and decided to retreat to New York. This proved that the patriots had good strategies. -
Epluribus Unum
This saying started being put onto the colonies coins. Epluribus Unum means, "Out of many, one'' -
Declaratory Act
A declaration by the British Parliament that was created at the same time as the repeal of the Stamp Act. It stated that the British Parliament’s taxing authority was the same in America as in Great Britain. -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
This document that was approved by the Continental Congress stated the separation of American from Great Britain. It explained why the Congress on July 2 unanimously agreed that it was their right to be free and have their own independance. -
Battle at Long Island
On August 27th, 1776, at Long Island, New York, patriot leader general George Washingtonled the patriots against general William Howe who led the brits. The patriot defeat at Long Island forced them into New Jersey, but they managed to escape with enough material to continue the war. -
Battle of Trenton
On December 26th, 1776, at Trenton, New Jersey, patriot leader george Washington led the patriots into battle against Colonel Johann Rall who led the british. The patriots desperatly needed to win this battle and they did! -
The Secod Battle of Ticonderoga
On July 4th, 1777, at Fort Ticonderoga, New York patriot leader Benedict Arnold led the patriots against the british leaders, Major General Baron Fiedesel, and John Burgoyne led the british. The patriots had to retreat and the british won yet another battle. -
Battle at Saratoga
On September 1th, 1777, at Saratoga County, New York, patriot leaders Benedict Arnold, Daniel Morgan, and Horatio Gates led the patriots against General John Burgoyne and the british troops. The patriots ended up winning and made this battle be the TURNING POINT in the Revolutionary War. -
Charleston
On March 29th, 1780, at Charleston patriot leadeer General Benjamin Lincoln led the patriots against Gener Sir Henry Clinton who led the british. The patriots had one of the biggest losses ever. It eliminated the continental army in most of the region. American surrended making britian own most of the southern colonies. -
Battle of King's Mountain
On October 7th, 1780, near blackburn, SC and King's Mt. NC, patriot leaders Colonel John Sevier, William Campbell, James Williams, Lieutenant Colonel Fredenick Hambright, and James Johnston led the patriots against leader Major Patric Ferguson leading the british. The patriots won and it convinced loyalists to step out of the conflict and it was setting the stage for the british to surrender at Yorktown. -
Articles of Confederation
First set of rules governing the U.S.
Too many grey areas
Eventually led to the US constitution.
Set up a weak national government so the gov. wouldn't have too much power.
Most power was in the hands of the states. -
Battle of Yorktown
On October 9th, 1781, in Yorktown, Virginia patriot leader George Washington led the patriots against british General Lord Charels Cornwalls who led the british. Thebritish finally surrendered to the patriots, ENDING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR!!! -
The Treaty of Paris
This Treaty ENDED the French and Indian war when it was signed. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Established a plan for surveying and selling the federally owned lands west of the Appalachian mountains. -
Shay's Rebellion
Farmers followed Daniel Shays
He led 1,200 men to the federal arsenal at Springfield,
The state militia swept in and forced the "Shaysites" to retreat. Though Shays' Rebellion failed, it paved the way for massive change in the government -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Creation of the Northwest Territory as the first organized territory of the United States. It contained the region south of the Great Lakes, north and west of the Ohio River, and east of the Mississippi River. -
Constitution Ratification
Once the Constitution was ratified by 9 out of the 13 states, it ensured our rights and equality as humans.
