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Stamp Act
Who: British Parliament and American colonists.
What: The Stamp Act was passed.
When: March 22, 1765.
Where: Britain and the American colonies.
Why: To raise revenue to help pay off Britain’s war debt from the French and Indian War. -
Punishing Massachusetts
Who: British Parliament and American colonists.
What: The Intolerable Acts were passed.
When: 1774.
Where: Mainly in Massachusetts, but affecting all American colonies.
Why: To respond to the Boston Tea Party by punishing Massachusetts and reasserting British control, leading to increased colonial unity and resistance. -
Declaring Independence
Who: American colonists and the British government.
What: The Declaration of Independence was adopted.
When: July 4, 1776.
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Why: To declare the American colonies independence from Britain and to assert their right to self government. -
Battle of Yorktown
Who: American and British forces, including General George Washington and General Cornwallis.
What: The Battle of Yorktown occurred, leading to British surrender.
When: October 19, 1781.
Where: Yorktown, Virginia.
Why: The decisive battle that ended major fighting in the American Revolutionary War and led to the eventual British recognition of American independence. -
Treaty of Paris
Who: American and British representatives, including Benjamin Franklin.
What: The Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolutionary War.
When: September 3, 1783.
Where: Paris, France.
Why: To formalize the end of the war and recognize the United States independence, establishing new boundaries and terms of peace. -
The Constitutional Convention
Who: Delegates from the American states, including George Washington and James Madison.
What: The Constitutional Convention took place, leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
When: May to September 1787.
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Why: To address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger, more effective central government. -
Bill of Rights Ratified
Who: The U.S. Congress and the American people.
What: The Bill of Rights was ratified.
When: December 15, 1791.
Where: Across the United States.
Why: To guarantee fundamental rights and liberties for individuals, addressing concerns about the potential for government overreach and securing support for the new Constitution. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
Who: American farmers and the U.S. government.
What: The Whiskey Rebellion occurred.
When: 1794.
Where: Western Pennsylvania.
Why: Farmers protested a federal tax on whiskey, which they felt was unfairly burdensome. The rebellion highlighted the challenges of enforcing federal laws and the strength of the new federal government under the Constitution.