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Sugar Act
Set dutuies on molasses and sugar imported by colonists. The first act passed specifically to raise money in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
Required colonists to pay for an official stamp, seal, when they bought paper items. The tax had to be paid on legal documents, licenses, newspapers, pamphlets, and even cards. Colonists who refused to buy stamps could be fined or sent to jail. -
Townshend Acts
Placed duties on glass. lead, paints, paper, and tea. Colonists responded to these acts by boycotting many British goods. -
Boston Massacre
The people saw the British troops as threats and arguments, name-calling, and fights between Bostonians and the soldiers were common. A lone British soldier had a agrument with a colonist and struck him which caused a crowd to gather around the soldier and throw snowballs, sticks, and rocks at him. Crowd said " Fire if you dare". A soldier fired into the crown and so did the other soldiers killing five people. -
Boston Tea Party
On the night of December 16, 1773, colonists disguised as Indians sneaked onto the three tea-filled ships and dumped over 340 chests into Boston Harbor. -
Tea Act
Allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonists. MAny colonial merchants and smugglers feared that the British East India Company's cheap tea would put them out of business. -
Intolerable Acts
LOrd North, the new British Primw minister, was furious when he heard about the Boston Tea Party and decided to punish Boston. First,Boston was closed until Boston padid for the ruined tea. Second, Massachusetts's charter was canceled. Thirdly, Royal officials accused of crimes were sent to Britain for trial. Also, a new Quartering Act required colonists to house British Soldiers. Lastly, the Quebec Act gave a large amount of land to the colony of Quebec. -
First Continental Congress
A gathering of colonial leaders who were deeply troubled about the relationship between Great Britain and its colonies in America. At Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, the leaders were in debate. Patrick Henry and others believed that violence was unavoidable. Delegates from Pennsylvania and New York had strict orders to seek peace. The delegates wisely compromised. They encouraged colonists to continue boycotting British goods but told colonial militias to prepare for war. -
Lexington & Concord
British troops arrived at the town of Lexington, near Concord, where 70 armed minutemenwaited for them. When the first shot rang out the fighting began. After eight minutes the battle ended revealing 8 of the badly outnumberd minutemen lay dead and 10 were wounded. Samuel Prescot warned the citizens of Concord, since Revere had been arrested. Most of Concords weapons were hidden, but the few that were left were concealed. British soldiers were frusterated because the stockpile had disappeared. -
Second Continental Congress.
Since King George III had refused to address the concerns in the Declaration of Rights< 12 colonies met again in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress. This second group of delegates from the colonies was still far from unified, but represented the first attempt at a republican goverment for the colonies. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Colonial forces dug in at Breed's Hill, a point overlooking north Boston. The Redcoats would have to cross Boston Harbor and fight their way up hill. As the patriots climbed the exposed hillside, the British soldiers were cut down and retreated twice but returned for a third try. Colonists were out of ammunition and retreated. Patriots lost but proved they could take on the British. To win, the British had to sacrifice double the number of Patriot soldiers. -
Battle of Brandywine Creek
Americans were unable to successfully defend themselves and were forced to retreat because of the hillside position. The defeat did not moralize the men. They believed the defeat was not the result of poor fighting but rather because of not knowing with landscape and poor information. -
Common Sense
Was a 47-page pamphlet that was distributed in Philadelphia in January 1776. The author was Thomas Paine who argued that citizens, not kings and queens, should make laws. It really changed the views of many colonists and soldiers. -
Declaration of Independence
Formally announced the colonies break from Great Britain. The main author was Thomas Jefferson who arguedd three main points in the document, that all people posses unalienable rights, including the rights of " life, liberty, and the pursiut of happiness". -
Battle of New York
This was a brutal and sad lost to the British. Genersl Howe's army of 32,000 defeated General Washington's 23,000 in a series of battles. In the end Howe took alot of Patriots and supplies. -
Battle of Trenton
Was one of the very important victories for the Patriots. The day after Christmas Washington and his men crossed the icy Deleware River looking for the Hessians and thier men. The next moring they sprang upon them and took over 900 prisoners with them. -
Battle of Saratoga
Took place in New York state and was the turning point of the war. British General Burgoyne and his men marched through forest when out of nowhere Patriots from all around surrounded them and they were forced to surrender. -
Valley Forge
This is a place know for its suffering and its courage. Washington setteld his 12,000 men here about 20 miles north of Philidelphia. Here they didn't have much food, supplies, or hope. But, they still trained to be better soldiers and got through the harsh winter. They lost about 2,000 men there. -
Battle of Yorktown
This was the very last battle of the war. General Washington had cut off all escape routes in Yorktown, Virginia hoping to beat the British. On October 19th General Cornwallis had to surrender his army to the Patriots after almost losing. -
Treaty of Paris
After two years of coming up with an agreement delegates came up with the treaty. In the document it recognizes the independence of the United States from Great Britain. It also sets the boundaries of America, British, and Spain's borders.
