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Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the first internal tax imposed on the American colonists by the British government. The act itself put tax on all paper items in the colonies. This gave money to the British because they were in debt from the 7 year war. The Stamp Act brought up the issue about taxation without representation. It was repealed in 1766 due to riots from the colonists.
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/stamp-act -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a riot in Boston between the British soldiers and the colonists. The colonists say it was the soldiers fault and that they shot at them for no reason. The soldiers say it was the Colonists fault and that they came up and beat them with sticks and threw snowballs at them. The soldiers said they were simply defending themselves.
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an act of rebellion from the colonists towards the British led by the Sons of Liberty. What they did was dump the tea from the British boats on the docks into the ocean, They did this to show their anger about taxation without representation and show Great Britain that they would fight for independence. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord was the first battles of the American Revolution. After hearing that the British were coming minute men got ready and fired at them when they got there. These battles are known as "the shots heard round the world." -
Battle of Bunker Hill
When the British were within several dozen yards the Americans fired their muskets forcing the British to retreat. After retreating the British then attacked again. It turned into hand to hand combat and the Americans were outnumbered so they were forced to retreat. The Battle of Bunker Hill, although it was a defeat, gave the patriots a confidence boost for inflicting many casualties of the British troops.
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-bunker-hill -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet Common Sense to advocate for American independence. It was the very first pamphlet to do so. It has been credited with playing a crucial role in convincing colonists to fight England.
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/thomas-paine -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written mostly by Thomas Jefferson and it stated what the colonies wanted in their new world. It was signed on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. This day is now celebrated nation wide as the birth of American independence. The declaration represented the colonies declaring their freedom from England and the king.
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/declaration-of-independence -
Battle at Trenton/Princeton
This battle was a day after Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River. Washington defeated Hessian mercenaries at Trenton and then proceeded to capture Princeton on January 3,1777. These victories reasserted American control of much of New Jersey and improved continental unity.
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battles-of-trenton-and-princeton -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the war because the French helped us win. This battle led to the British and Hessian troops surrendering their arms on October 17, 1777. British General John Burgoyne even lost 86 percent of his expeditionary force.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/11g.asp -
Continental Army wintering at Valley Forge
With a bitter cold winter ahead General George Washington had the Continental Army enter its winter camp at Valley Forge. Valley Forge was stationed 22 miles away from Philadelphia, which was currently occupied by the British. Washington chose Valley Forge so he could effectively defend a British attack.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/continental-army-enters-winter-camp-at-valley-forge -
War in the south/Charleston
In Charleston America suffered one of its worst defeats of the revolution. British captured more than 3,000 Patriots and a lot of equipment. General Cornwallis was left in charge of Charleston and this later led to his defeat and surrender to Washington in Yorktown. -
Battle of Yorktown
During the Battle of Yorktown General George Washington was commander of 17,000 French and Continental troops against British General Lord Charles Cornwallis. On September 28th Washington had completely encircled Cornwallis and Yorktown. There was 3 weeks of nonstop battle both day and night in all different ways. Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown on October 17, 1781,effectively ending the war for independence.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-yorktown-begins
