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1754–1763 (French and Indian War)
The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War, As a result of the war, France ceded all of its North American possessions east of the Mississippi River to Britain. The costs of the war contributed to the British government’s decision to impose new taxes on its American colonies. -
1764 ( The Sugar Act )
April 5th, 1764 Although it reduced the tax on molasses, the Sugar Act was strictly enforced, so colonist ended up paying more taxes. -
1765
April 1765 Those who opposed the British taxes called themselves “Patriots” and the Sons of Liberty was born with Sam Adams as its leader. -
1765 (Stamp Act)
March 22nd, 1765 The Stamp Act was the tax on printed items was the first direct tax on the colonists. It added a fee to printed materials such as legal documents and newspapers. -
1765 (Quartering Act)
March 24th, 1765 Following the French and Indian War, Britain maintained a standing army in the colonies. The Quartering Act required colonial assemblies to house and provision soldiers -
1765
Aug 13th, 1765 A Mob led by the Sons of Liberty tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector -
1766 (Declatory Act)
March 18th, 1766 The Declatory Act repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament’s right to rule the colonies as saw fit -
1767 (Townshend Acts)
A series of four acts, the Townshend Acts were passed by the British Parliament in an attempt to taxes the colonists. -
1770 (Boston Massacre)
March, 5th, 1770 A group of colonist hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists -
1773 (Tea Act)
May 10th, 1773: The Tea Act was created to save the East India Tea Company. Although it lowered the price of tea, it gave the company a monopoly and threatened the business of colonial importers. -
1773 (Boston Tea Party)
Dec. 16, 1773: Boston Patriots dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships laden with tea and Dumped the tea into the harbor. The event became known as the Boston Tea Party. -
1774 (Intolerable Acts)
Jan 1774 The Intolerable Act officially called the Coercive Acts, these laws were meant to force Massachusetts to pay for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The laws closed Boston Harbor and forced colonists to house British soldiers in their homes -
1774 (First Continental Congress)
Sept 5th, 1774 The First Continental Congress meets. Agree to boycott British goods. -
1775
March 1775 Patrick Henry, gives his most famous speech, in the House of Burgesses. “Give me Liberty or give me Death" -
1775
July 1775 Congress sends an “Olive Branch” to King George III. He rejected the petition and sent more troops to Boston. -
1775 (Lexington And Concord)
April 19th, 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord -
1775
May 10th, 1775 Second Continental Congress meets. Congress names George Washington commander of Continental Army -
1775
June 17th, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill -
1776 (Thomas Paine’s Common Sense published)
Jan 9th, 1776 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense -
1776
July 4th, 1776 Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence was approved. -
1776 (Nathan Hale Killed)
Having penetrated the British lines on Long Island to obtain information, American Capt. Nathan Hale was captured by the British. He was hanged without trial the next day. Before his death, Hale is thought to have said, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country,” -
1776 ( Washington crosses the Delaware)
Having been forced to abandon New York City and driven across New Jersey by the British, George Washington and the Continental Army struck back on Christmas night by stealthily crossing the ice-strewn Delaware River, surprising the Hessian garrison at Trenton at dawn, and taking some 900 prisoners. -
1777-1778
Winter 1777-1778 Baron Von Steuben trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Penn. -
1777 (Battle of Saratoga)
Oct 17th, 1777 Patriots win in Saratoga -
1778
Feb. 6th 1778 France signs an alliance with the United States. -
1779 (John Paul Jones)
The U.S. battleship the Bonhomme Richard was getting the worst of its battle with the British vessel HMS Serapis off Flamborough Head, England, when the American commander, John Paul Jones, refused to surrender, proclaiming, “I have not yet begun to fight!” Jones ultimately triumphed, but he lost his ship in the process. -
1780
May 1780 General Clinton captures 3000 Patriot soldiers as he takes Charlestown, South Carolina. -
1780 (The Traitor)
Benedict Arnold turns traitor -
1781 (Yorktown)
Oct 19th 1781 General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown -
1781 (Articles of Confederation ratified)
The Articles of Confederation, a plan of government organization that served as a bridge between the initial government by the Continental Congress and the federal government provided under the U.S. Constitution of 1787, -
1783 ( Treaty Of Paris)
Sept. 3rd, 1783 Treaty of Paris signed.
