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Treaty of Paris, 1763
This treaty ended The French and Indian War. The British now have control of the land all the way to the Mississippi along with the French’s land in Canada, and Florida. -
Pontiac’s Uprising
Ottawa Chief Pontiac along with several other tribes teamed up and laid siege upon Detroit and several other forts, trying to kick the British out. 2,000 colonists were killed, but it was quickly ended. A treaty was signed in 1766, Pontiac was killed in 1769 by rival chieftain. This allowed colonists to freely cross the Appalachians. -
Proclamation of 1763
British government banned settlements past the Appalachians in fear of another native uprising. Angered colonists, they refused to be restricted. Set stage for conflict -
Sugar Act
First official British tax passed by parliament on the colonies. It was a tax on molasses, was not well received. After bitter protests, the British government lowered the tax substantially, agaitation died down a bit. -
Stamp Act
Tax on all paper products to raise revenue for the military now staying in the colonies. People in England also paid this tax, but this further angered the colonists as they still had no representation in parliament. Repealed in 1766, but Britain threatened that they still had the right to command the colonies. -
Quartering Act
Required colonists to provide quarters along with provisions to British soldiers in the area. This angered colonists extremely as they saw no need for the British soldiers to be there. -
Stamp Act Congress
Meeting of 27 delegates from nine colonies to state the grievances of the colonists. They beseeched the king and parliament to repeal the acts. This was ignored in England but was a huge step for inter colonial unity -
Declaratory Act
Reaffirmed parliaments right to bind the colonies. Also declared absolute sovereignty over colonies, though the colonies wanted to measure their own sovereignty. -
Townshend Act
Tax on everyday commodities such as glass, white led, paper, paint and tea. Americans responded with a boycott of British goods and this Act was repealed except for the tax on tea. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers opened fire on colonists who were acting aggressive toward them, throwing rocks, snow, shouting, etc. 5 were killed Crispus Attucks being the first dead. -
Tea Act
Further tax on tea, though principle goal was to reduce the amount of tea held by British East India Company and help them financially. -
Boston Tea Party
Members of the Sons of Liberty dressed as Native Americans boarded merchant ships and tossed hundreds of chests of tea into the Boston Harbor as an act of protest. -
Intolerable/Coercive Act
Direct response to the Boston Tea Party, it placed Massachusetts under direct military control along with closing ports in places such as Boston until the tea was paid for. Was considered the massacre of American liberty. -
First Continental Congress
Meeting in Philadelphia between 55 delegates from 12 colonies (no Georgia). Did not call for independence, only was asking for the intolerable acts to be removed. Also created The Association which was a complete boycott of British goods. -
Concord and Lexington
This was the first major ‘battle’ of the revolutionary war, British were trying to seize gun powder and arms in Concord and Lexington, but American militia men responded and fought back. -
Second Continental Congress
Took place in Philadelphia, here they selected George Washington to lead the newly formed Continental Army, though actions were taken to try to make peace with Britain even though there was no turning back. -
Bunker Hill
This was another one of the first major battles of the war, extremely bloody. The colonists had seized this hill (Breed’s Hill) during the siege of Boston. British launched frontal attack of 3,000 men, Americans mowed them down, causing heavy casualties for the British, but they ran out have ammo and were forced to retreat. -
Olive Branch Petition
American’s last ditch effort to make peace with the British, saying they would remain loyal to the crown if their grievances were address, though this was in vain. King George refused to even open this letter, slamming the door on reconciliation. -
“Common Sense”
A book written by Thomas Paine that preached Americans should seek independence rather than reconciliation, without it, they could not hope for foreign assistance. -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson, this document declared America’s independence from Great Britain along with stating the natural rights of man kind and giving a long list of King George’s tyrannous misdeeds. -
Battle of Long Island
An attempt for the Americans to secure New York as extremely large amounts of British forces had landed in the coast of the colony. Colonists were outgeneraled and outmaneuvered, ended up being a disaster for Americans and they were forced to retreat northward across the Hudson River. -
Trenton
Huge victory for American Army. Washington stealthily recrossed the Delaware River and surprised and captured 1,000 Hessians. -
Saratoga
Huge victory for Americans and large turning point in the war. Since they were trapped, British general Burgoyne surrendered to American general Horatio Gates. This victory convinced the French to finally join the fight alongside the Americans. -
Yorktown
The last major battle of the revolutionary war, yet another major victory for the Americans. British Gen. Cornwallis was forced to surrender whole 7,000 men army after he was trapped in Yorktown, surrounded by the French by sea and French and American armies by land. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
British recognized American independence, ending the war and allowing England to rebuild. Large amounts of territory was given to the French (Canada, west of Mississippi), Florida was returned to Spanish. Loyalists were no longer persecuted and their properties were returned. British accepted defeat in NA.
