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Navigation Laws 1763
Prime Minister George Grenville ordered for the Navy to enforce the Navigation Laws. These laws regulated treated between England and the colonies. Only ships were allowed to carry goods from the colonies to other places. These laws ensured that only Britain would benefit from the trade. -
Sugar Act of 1764
The first law ever passed by that body (parliament) for raising tax revenue in the colonies for the crown. It increased the duty on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies. -
Stamp Tax 1765
A tax was placed on all paper product items. Englanders were taxed even more that the colonists. This was meant to raise revenue for the military force. -
Quartering Act of 1765
Certain colonies were expected to provide food and shelter for British troop members. -
Stamp Tax Congress 1765
This was a crucial step toward colonial unity. It expressed the colonists’ rights and grievances. It pleaded for parliament to repeal the stamp tax act. -
Stamp act was Repealed 1766
The stamp tax was repealed, so the colonists no longer had to pay taxes for paper products. This act hurt the British economy since they needed the money to pay the debt of the French and Indian War. -
Declaratory Act 1766
Parliament passed this act to remind the colonies that they had control over them. The British government affirmed they had unqualified sovereignty over the colonies. However, the colonies wanted their self government. -
Townshend Act 1767
It imposed a light duty of paper, glass, tea, and white lead. It was a duty that could be paid at American ports, but the colonists refused to pay any taxes without representation. -
British troops came to Boston 1768
After colonists didn’t take the new light tax seriously, and smuggled tea, British troops landed two regiments in Boston in 1768 to enforce order. -
Boston Massacre 1770
British troops and patriots fought. This clash caused 5 deaths, including the death of Crispus Attucks. Both sides shared blame. However, only the redcoats were found guilty. -
Committees of Correspondence 1772
Boston and another eighty towns organized committees of correspondence. They all opposed the British rule and twelve other colonies joined the effort after Virginia paved the way in 1773. This became known as the first American Congresses. -
The British East Indian Company 1773
The British East India Company produced a surplus of tea, which forced them to lower the prices. However, the colonists believed this was a trick to making them pay taxes, so the ships loaded with tea had to sail back to England, -
First Continental Congress 1774
Twelve of the thirteen colonies (Georgia did not attend) met in Philadelphia. They agreed to boycott British trade, which would negatively impact the British economy. George Washington, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Patrick Henry, and 55 other men were part of the first Continental Congress. This lasted 7 weeks. This was considered more of a convention rather than a congress. The Declaration of Independence was created. This consultative body sought to repeal ay offensive legislation. -
The Second Continental Congress 1775
The Second Continental Congress created the Continental army. George Washington, a Virginian, was chosen to lead this army. The Olive Branch Petition was developed and it urged the king to prevent further hostilities and find a peaceful resolution. However, the King did not accept this person. -
Lexington and Concord 1775
British commander ordered for troops in Boston to Lexington and Concord for gunpowder. Samuel Adams and John Hancock were supposed to be arrested by the troops. During the battle, 8 Americans were killed and several were injured. Britain lost several troop members when they reached Concord. This was one of the most significant battles that marked the start of the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Bunker Hill 1775
Colonists seized Bunker Hill, which was actually Breed’s Hill. The British launched a frontal attack with 3000 men. After running out of ammo, the Americans ran away from the British. After this British victory, they got control over the Charlestown peninsula. -
Common Sense 1776
Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense in order to persuade the American Colonists that reconciliation with Britain was not their goal. Their goal must be to gain their independence. They could not hope for foreign assistance without independence. -
Congress appointed a committee 1776
A Virginian, Richard Henry Lee, moved that the colonies should be free and independent. Congress appointed a committee for their independence to be formally written. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. -
The Declaration of Independence 1776
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and it was approved by Congress. The Declaration of Independence inspired the Revolutionary movement. In it, Jefferson mentioned the natural rights of mankind and the several tyrannous misdeeds that King George III could have possibly done. -
General Washington at Bay 1776
George Washington recrossed the Delaware River and he captured 1000 Hessians. A small British force was also defeated at Princeton by Washington. -
Treaty of Alliance 1778
France secretly supplied the American side to seek revenge on the British. France offers a treaty of alliance to America, which offered everything the British offered and agreed to recognize their independence. Americans decided to agree on the alliance. -
Cornwallis Surrendered 1781
De Grasse joined the Americans against Cornwallis at Yorktown. De Grasse blockaded sea and Washington beset British land. Cornwallis surrendered entire force of 7000 men. -
Treaty of Paris, 1783
Ended the French and Indian War. Great Britain now has control over the Ohio River Valley and doubled the size of its colonies.
