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House of Burgesses passes its first slave code
The Virginia House of Burgesses passed its first comprehensive slave code. It included laws such as: children of enslaved women would be born slaves, conversion to Christianity would not give freedom, and owners could not free their slaves unless they transported them out of the colony. -
The Stono Rebellion
Eighty slaves from South Carolina marched toward Fort Mose, a fort on the Florida-Georgia border, while carrying a banner that read "Liberty!". They burned plantations and killed planters along the way. They were defeated by the local militia, and they were executed or sold to work in the sugar plantations of the Caribbeans. -
Currency Act of 1751
The Board of Trade restricts usage of paper bills in the American colonies. -
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The Seven Years War
Also known as The French and Indian War, was a war between Britain and France that came to include much of the world. France gave Britain all of the land east of the Mississippi River. It ended with the treaty of Paris and Hubertusburg. -
The Battle of Fort Ticonderoga
This battle was a French victory due to assistance from Native American allies. -
Annus Mirabilis (Year of Miracles)
The tide of the war turned to Britain's favor as they won many battles, including the capture of Montreal. -
King George III takes the throne
King George III, a supporter of the tories, takes the throne. -
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Pontiac's War
Pontiac, an Ottawa leader, was inspired by a prophet named Neolin who preached that the only way for Native Americans to go to heaven was for them to expel the British from their land. -
Currency Act of 1763
The Board of Trade restricts usage of paper bills in the American colonies. -
The capture of Fort Michilimackinac
The natives started a game of lacrosse outside of the fort, then chased the ball into the fort, took weapons that were procured by native women, and seized the fort. -
Royal Proclamation of 1763
The British government declared that all lands west of the Appalachians as Native American land. -
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Native Americans capture the fort at Detroit
Pontiac and three hundred soldiers planned on a surprise attack, however, when they failed, they started a six month siege of the fort. -
The Sugar Act
Britain levied a tax on sugar in the colonies. They brought the price of the tax down, but they started enforcing it and stamping out smuggling. Smugglers also no longer had the right to a trial by jury. -
The Stamp Act Congress
Delegates from nine colonies gathered in New York City to decide what to do about the Stamp Act. Notable attendees included Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, Thomas Hutchinson, Philip Livingston, and James Otis. They created a "Declaration of Rights and Grievances" that is very similar to the Virginia Resolves. -
The Virginia Resolves
The House of Burgesses pass anti-Stamp Act resolutions known as The Virginia Resolves. They state that they are entitled to the same treatment and respect as those living in England. Some later editions put in some more radical additions, such as stating that the government of the colony was the only one with the right to tax the colony and that whoever opposed this was an enemy of the colony. -
Parliament repeals the Stamp Act and passes the Declaratory Act
Due to heavy resistance from the colonies, parliament was forced to repeal the stamp act. However, in order to keep their authority over the colonies, they passed the Declaratory Act. It stated that parliament could still enact whatever taxes they wanted to on the colonies. -
The Townshend Acts
Parliament passed this group of custom duties on common items being shipped to the colonies. It also included a new American Board of Customs Commissioners and more vice-admiralty courts to try smugglers. -
Parliament repeals the Townshend Acts
Parliament repealed all but one of the Townshend Acts. They leave a tax on tea in order to maintain authority. -
The Boston Massacre
Britain sent soldiers to reinforce the Townshend Acts in Boston. A crowd of people gathered around the customs house that was guarded by soldiers. The crowd began to insult and throw snowballs at the soldiers, particularly a young sentry. The crowd became more aggressive as reinforcements came to assist the sentry. The soldiers shot at the crowd and killed five people, including former slave Crispus Attucks. The soldiers were let off free due to their defense John Adams. -
The Regulatory Act
The East India Company was in debt and laden with tea, so in this first act, the British government effectively took over the company. -
The Tea Act
In this second act to save the failing East India Company, Britain allows the company to sell to the American Colonies directly and skip import taxes, thus lowering the price of the tea. The colonists opposed it on the grounds of principles, that if the colonies submitted to this, parliament would use it as precedent for them to submit to any tax. -
Boston Tea Party
Several members of the Boston branch of the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawks, sneaked onto three ships and threw 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. -
The Provincial Congress
Massachusetts patriots create The Provincial Congress in retaliation to the Intolerable Acts. -
The Coercive/Intolerable Acts
The Coercive Acts (Which came to be known as The Intolerable Acts in America,) was a set of acts passed to enforce British law and authority and to punish dissenters, particularly those in Boston. -
The Boston Port Act
This first act of the Intolerable Acts closed the port of Boston so that there would be no trade in or out of the city. -
The Massachusetts Government Act
Part of the Intolerable Acts, The Massachusetts Government Act placed all local government under direct British control. -
The Administration of Justice Act
Part of the Intolerable Acts, The Administration of Justice Act let any British official who was charged with a crime be tried in British courts instead of Massachusetts courts. -
The Quartering Act
Part of the Intolerable Acts, The Quartering Act allowed the British Army to quarter new soldiers in colonists' homes. This was the only portion of the Intolerable Acts that was enforced throughout the colonies, not just in Massachusetts. -
The First Continental Congress
Delegates of Committees of Correspondence from every colony except for Georgia convened and created documents, including a "Declaration of Rights and Grievances" to voice their complaints to Britain. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The colonists set up a fort on Breed's Hill. When the British tried to take the fort, the militia resisted. The battle was misnamed. -
Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition
King George III issued this document because he believed that the colonists were being misled by their leaders into declaring war with Britain. -
Lord Dunmore's Proclamation
Lord Dunmore proclaims that all indentured servants and slaves could gain freedom if they joined the British army. Although based solely in practicality, this was the first mass emancipation of slaves in American history. -
Second Continental Congress
The delegates reconvene to continue the discussion of the colonies' relationship with Britain and whether or not they should support the Massachusetts militia. They came to the compromise to support the militia and create a continental army under the command of Virginia delegate George Washington. They also created a “Declaration of the Causes of Necessity of Taking Up Arms” to explain their armed resistance and the "Olive Branch Petition" to make amends with Britain. -
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The War for Independence
The war fought between the American colonies and Britain for America's independence. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
British soldiers marched to Lexington and Concord to seize the local militia's arm and powder stores. They were met by the local militia in the Lexington Green where the battle broke out. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense is published
A recent immigrant from England publishes a pamphlet to advocate for America's independence. -
Lee's Resolution
Richard Henry Lee proposed that the colonies should sever their ties to England and become independent. On July 2, the resolution was voted on and passed nearly unanimously, with only New York abstaining to vote because of British threat of invasion. -
The Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Congress, this document was the culmination of Enlightenment thinking, the Great Awakening, and mistreatment by the British government. It originally included anti-slavery sentiment, claiming that the British began the slave trade and that they stifled abolitionists in the colonies. South Carolina, Georgia, and Northern states that profited from the slave trade opposed this, so Jefferson took it out. -
Battle of Trenton
George Washington plotted a surprise attack on a Hessian camp in order to boost morale for the war. He crossed the Delaware River in the dead of night on a ferry, bringing several hundred soldiers with him. This was a decisive victory for the colonists. -
Battle of Saratoga
General Burgoyne was supposed to meet up with a detachment of General Howe's army, however, when the detachment decided to take Philadelphia instead, Burgoyne was left vulnerable to the colonists. The colonists won the battle, which helped to convince France to lend America support. -
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The winter at Valley Forge
The brutal winter at Valley Forge showed the colonists' dedication to their cause. Over 2,500 of Washington's men who were stationed at Valley Forge during the winter died of the cold and disease. -
France signs a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the American colonies
After the success of the Battle of Saratoga, France decided that the American revolution was worth supporting. They signed this treaty, which sparked fighting between the French and the British in Europe and India. -
The Continental Congress ratifies the Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress ratified the first national government of the United States. The Articles of Confederation created a very weak government that was unable to collect taxes, regulate commerce, or create a federal judiciary. -
Battle of Yorktown
General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown when he realized he was surrounded by the colonists and the French Navy. This was the last major battle of the War for Independence. -
The Treaty of Paris
In this treaty, Britain recognized America as an independent nation, and marked the end of the War for Independence. -
Shays' Rebellion
A group of financially struggling farmers led by Daniel Shays rebelled against their creditors to prevent foreclosure on their property. Eventually a former revolutionary general Benjamin Lincoln captured many of the protesters and reopened the courts. Many were indicted for treason, some were sentenced to death, but most received pardons. While some, like Thomas Jefferson, thought the rebellion was good, most believed this was proof of the weakness of the current government. -
The Constitutional Convention
Delegates from every state except for Rhode Island gathered in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. They decided instead to create an entirely new government. -
The Constitution goes into effect
After being ratified by the majority of the states, the Constitution is put into effect as law. -
George Washington is sworn into office
After a unanimous vote, George Washington is elected and sworn into office. -
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George Washington's presidency
George Washington was unanimously voted in as the first president of the United States. -
The Bill of Rights is created
While the Anti-Federalist did not succeed at stopping the ratification of the Constitution, they did succeed in creating ten amendments to the document in order to secure certain rights. -
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The Whiskey Rebellion
Many farmers, outraged at the tax on whiskey that was hurting their profits, attacked tax collectors and marshals. The violence became so much that troops were called out to stop the farmers. George Washington became the only president to lead troops into battle, although he quickly turned the troops over to Governor Henry Lee. -
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John Adams' Presidency
John Adams was the second president of the United States. He was not well liked after his passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts during America's spell of Francophobia. -
Election of 1800
Called a "bloodless revolution" by the Democratic Republicans because the constitution didn't make provisions for political parties, thus the Democratic Republicans believed that they were battling to keep aristocrats out of power.