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Period: to
Revolutionary War 1754-1783
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Benjamin Franklin Proposes Single Government
The Albany Plan of Union was a proposal made by Benjamin Franklin, back in 1754 aimed at a formation of a strong union of the colonies under one single government and direction. The need was justified because of the necessity for defense against the threats and consequences posed by the infamous French and Indian War. It was important to the History of the American Revolutionary war, because, if Benjamin Franklin had succeeded, there might not have been the Revolutionary war. -
Stamp Act
Printed materials included legal documents, magazines, playing cards, newspapers, and many other types of paper used throughout the colonies, had tax placed on it. Like previous taxes, the stamp tax had to be paid in valid British currency, not in colonial paper money. The purpose of the tax was to pay for British military troops stationed in the American colonies after the French and Indian War. This is important because it is building more tension, which is leading up to the war. -
Quartering Act
Quartering Act is acts of British Parliament requiring local American colonies to provide the British soldiers with housing and food. They were originally intended as a response to issues that were during the French and Indian War and soon became a source of tensions between the inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies and the government in London, England. These tensions would later lead toward the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea party was a Protest by the American Colonists against the British in regards to the tea taxes that had been placed on them. The colonists had been told they could only buy tea from the British-owned East Indian Trading Company. The British had placed tea taxes through the Tea Act, and the colonists protested by wearing costumes, boarding the ships, and dumping the tea into the harbor. The Boston Tea Party was a key event that led to the beginning of the American Revolution. -
Battle of Concord and Lexington
The Battle of Lexington was a very small fight. It was barely a battle, but it's important because it's where the Revolutionary War started. When the British arrived, neither side expected to actually fight, but in the confusion a gunshot went off and the British attacked.
After the Americans fled from Lexington, the British marched to the city of Concord. The Americans had retreated to the outside of Concord. They defeated the British troops at the North Bridge. Their confidence was renewed. -
The Bunker Hill Battle
The American forces learned that the British were planning on taking over the hills around Boston to gain a tactical advantage. So, the Americans secretly moved their troops onto Bunker Hill. During the night, they prepared for battle.
The next day, when the British realized what had happened, they attacked. Although the British won the battle and gained control of the hills, they paid a heavy price. They lost hundreds of soldiers including several officers. This gave the Americans courage. -
Saratoga Battles
The first battle of Saratoga took place on September 19, 1777 on the farmland of British loyalist John Freeman. They were able to take out a number of officers before the British began to attack. At the end of the battle the British gained control of the field.
The Battles of Saratoga was one of the major turning points of the Revolutionary War. The Americans morale was boosted and the country now felt it could win the war. Also, the French decided to support the Americans with military aid. -
The Battle of Monmouth
On a hot June 28, 1778, General George Washington attacked General Sir Henry Clinton’s British Army.
Although the American army outnumbered the fleet and had done training for the war during the winter encampment, what began as a promising opportunity devolved into a potential disaster. As Washington approached the fighting, he encountered panic stricken troops fleeing the enemy. General Washington retreated. This was important because it is a battle that sank their hope, not deepening it. -
General Cornwallis Officially Surrenders
Cornwallis and his men continued falling back to the coast until they faced ultimate defeat and surrendered at Yorktown on October 17, 1781. They held ceremonial surrender, and Cornwallis claimed to be so ill he could not meet George Washington to surrender his sword; instead, he sent General Charles O’Hara, his second in command. He died in India in 1805. This is important because this is about the time when the war ends, and the Americans are stronger knowing they can do it. -
Paris Treaty
The Treaty of Paris was the official peace treaty between the United States and Britain that ended the American Revolutionary War. It was signed on September 3, 1783. This is important to the history of the Revolutionary War because the Paris Treaty stopped the war itself.