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Treaty of Paris, 1763
The treaty marked the end of the French and Indian war. The British gained control of the Ohio River valley. -
The Proclamation of 1763
Issued by the London government, this proclamation prohibited any settlement west of the Appalachian mountains. The purpose was to stop the encroachment of the Indians in attempts to prevent another group of Indians wanting to attack, like Pontiac’s uprising. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was the first law passed in attempts to raise revenue by taxing the colonists. It added taxes to the purchase of sugar and molasses. After many protests the taxes were lowered dramatically leading to less anger amongst the colonists. -
Committees of Correspondence
The purpose of this committee was to spread resistance by exchanging letters to keep alive the opposition of the British policy. Samuel Adam formed the first one in Massachusetts. Later on, more colonies adopted intercolonial committees of correspondence. Each colony used these committees to exchange ideas and information with other colonies. This was yet another step leading to colonial unity and it eventually led to the first American congresses. -
Stamp Tax
The Stamp Tax was enforced by Grenville in attempts to raise revenue for the new military force. This act mandated a tax on most paper products, a stamp showed that the tax was paid. Stamps were required on about fifty trade items along with legal documents. The British people had already been dealing with a stamp tax much heavier than the one placed on the colonies. But, the colonists were upset that they had no representation in Parliament, hence “No taxation without representation”. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required some colonies to provide food and quarters for British troops as a way to thank them for their protection. The motherland felt this was reasonable since the troops were their incase of fights with the Indians; however, the colonists were enraged. The Quartering Act is why the United States has the third amendment. -
Meeting of the Stamp Act Congress
In New York, 27 delegates from 9 colonies met and drew up a statement of their rights and demands. However, this was largely ignored in England and didn’t make much change. But, it was one of the first steps to intercolonial unity since it brought together rival colonies through discussion. -
Declaratory Act
Shortly after the Parliament was forced to repeal the Stamp Act, they passed the Declaratory Act. This act restated the country’s control over the colonies and their right to tax them. -
Townshend Acts
Charles Townshend convinced the Parliament to pass this act that added taxes to imports that were payable at American ports. This included glass, white lead, paper, paint, and most of all tea. It was estimated that 1 million people drank tea twice a day so the taxes would eventually add up. It also frustrated the colonists that the tax was going to pay the salaries of royal governors and judges in America. As a result of this act, smuggling became more popular. All but the tea tax was repealed. -
The Boston Massacre
Two regiments of troops landed in Boston. The drunken troops were consistently taunted by the colonists who rejected their presence. Around sixty people began throwing snowballs at ten officers because they were angry about the prior shooting of an eleven year old boy during a protest. The provoked officers, without orders, opened fire onto the crowd and wounded or killed eleven citizens. Only two redcoats were found guilty of manslaughter. -
Boston Tea Party
Around 100 Bosnians dressed as Indians and went onto the docked ships. They smashed open 342 chests of tea and dumped the contents into the Atlantic Ocean. The colonists had referred to tea as a “badge of slavery” making it the perfect thing to rebel against. -
The Intolerable Acts
Retaliation to the Boston Tea party resulted in new acts. One of the acts,the Boston Port Act, resulted in closing the harbor until damages were paid for and it could be ensured that the colonists would act orderly. The colonials of Massachusetts felt that their chartered rights were being stripped away. Officials who killed colonists were now being sent to Britain for trial, for a lesser sentence. A new quartering act also emerged allowing authorities to lodge British soldiers in private homes. -
First Continental Congress
As a reaction to the intolerable acts 12 of 13 colonies sent men to meet in Philadelphia to discuss colonial grievances. They wrote up multiple dignified papers including appeals to the king and the Declaration of Rights. The Association was also created to establish an absolute boycott of British goods, violators would be tarred and feathered. At this point the colonies weren’t seeking independence, they just wanted to repeal the offensive legislation. Parliament denied their petitions. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
Troops were sent to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of gunpowder and capture the rebellion leaders, John Hancock and Samuel Adams. At Lexington, 8 Americans were killed and several were wounded for not dispersing quickly. After moving onto Concord, the redcoats were forced to retreat after encountering prepared Americans. These fights eventually led to the colonists being ready to go to war with Great Britain. -
Second Continental Congress
All thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia to draft new appeals to the British people and king. They also attempted to raise money to create an army and a navy incase of future fighting. At this time, the colonies and the British were on the edge of starting a full-blown war. George Washington was chosen to head the army planning to besiege Boston. -
Bunker Hill
After the colonists seized Bunker Hill, the British attacked with three thousand men. The fifteen hundred Americans continuously shot at the British until they ran out of gunpowder and had to retreat. Although they lost, this gave Americans the courage to fight against Britain and many more people joined the army. The Congress adopted the Olive Branch Petition but King George III claimed the colonies were rebelling and committing treason. He hired thousands for German troops to fight th rebels. -
Publication of Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote one of the most influential pamphlets that became a best seller. He stated how nowhere else in the world did a smaller body control the larger one, referencing how Britain controls the continent of America despite being smaller. His piece convinces the colonists that they will be happier with independence than with reconciliation with Britain. It’s said that Paine drafted the foundational document of American Independence and policy. It called for a republic society. -
Declaration of Independence
After Richard Henry Lee stated that the colonies should be free and independent states, it was determined that a formal statement of separation needed to be written. Thomas Jefferson was given the task of making an appeal that invited assistance from foreign nations and rallied resistance in the colonies. IT discusses natural rights of humankind and misdeeds of King George III. This would go on to inspire many other revolutionary movements, such as the French Declaration of the Rights of Man. -
Battle of Trenton
The day after Christmas, Washington captured 1,000 Hessians by surprising them with his stealth. A week later he defeated another small British detachment at Princeton. Both of these victories showed “Old Fox” George Washington at his military best. -
Surrender at Saratoga
Burgoyne was heading towards Albany until his British army was surrounded by American militiamen. He was unable to move forward or retreat which forced him to surrender his entire command to Horatio Gates, the American General. This victory revived the colonies dying spirit and allowed for the foreign aid from France. Both of these helped lead America to its independence. -
French Treaty of Alliance
The French wanted revenge on Britain and figured now was the best time to strike rather than waiting for Britain to win back the colonies. The colonists were nervous because France was pro-Catholic. France offered the Americans a treaty of alliance which recognized America’s independence and lent some military forces. Both the French and the Americas agreed on waging war against Great Britain until the United States had gained its freedom. This caused the Revolutionary War to become a world war. -
The League of Armed Neutrality
Catherine the Great of Rusia created a lineup of the majority of European neutrals. The goal was to group everyone together against Britain. This resulted in the war being fought in South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. Without these countries joining the world, America may not have gained its independence. France provided the rebels with equipment and money. With all the countries joining, it was too big of a power for Britain to handle. -
The Siege of Yorktown
The British general, Cornwallis, went back to Chesapeake Bay at Yorktown to wait for supplies and reinforcements. General Washington, accompanied by a French army, traveled 300 miles on foot to Yorktown. Washington approached on land while de Grasse approached on the water causing Cornwallis to be cornered. He was forced to surrender his 7,000 men. This was one of the last decisive victories in the war and a huge turning point. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
In this treaty, the British recognized the independence of the United States and granted land boundaries to the Mississippi, Great Lakes, and Florida. They also retained access to the fisheries of Newfoundland. On the American side, Loyalists were no longer allowed to be prosecuted and Congress had to recommend that property taken from Loyalists be restored. The end of the war allowed the English to rebuild its army and navy and gave the Americans their freedom.
