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The French and Indian War Begins
The French and Indian War was a battle between the French and English over the rights to the colonies. The French and English were competing for natural resources in America. The native americans sided with the French during the war while the English colonists worked with England. This was the American part of the Seven Years war that was happening in Europe.
http://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/FrenchIndianWar -
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Revolutonary War Unit
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Treaty of Paris
The treaty of Paris was a document signed between Enlgand, Spain, Portugal, and France. this Document was a peace treaty that ended the seven years war in Europe as well as the French and Indian war in America.
http://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/TreatyofParis -
The Royal Proclamation
This was a law made by King George III that stated that the colonists in North America couldn't cross the Appilation Mountains. This was land that was claimed by England after the French and Indian war. However the King wanted to have peace with the Native Americans so he made this law which gave them the land.
http://tm112.community.uaf.edu/unit-1/royal-proclamation-of-1763/ -
Sugar Act
The British put taxes on sugar and other goods in order to make more money of the colonists. They needed the money to give the colonists protection. However most of the money profited England. This made them only able able to trade with England and decreased the money that they recieved.
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/suact.htm -
Stamp Act
The stamp act was another tax put on the colonists from the British. THis act made them pay a tax for the paper that the used. Any paper used from legal documents to books all had a tax on them. The money collected here was also suded to defend the colonists. The idea however angered them because the tax was just another way for England to make money of the colonists.
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchcrsta.cfm -
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Stamp Act Congress
The colonists were angry that the British were repeadidly taxing them without their say."No taxation without Representation!" This meant that the British shouldn't tax them without their say.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/10a.asp -
Townshend Acts
This act was proposed by Charles Townshend to tax the goods that would enter the colonies. The people in the colopnies would then raise prices so that they would still make profit. The tax was called indirect because it didnt effect the colonists. However since store owners had to raise prices it did end up hurting them.
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/outlines/history-1994/the-road-to-independence/townshend-acts.php -
Boston Massacre
Colonists were bullying a British soilder by throwing snowballs which may have contained some ice and rocks. THe soilder called for reinforcements but it didnt stop anything. Getting angry, the soilders fired at the colonists, killing five.
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/revolut/jb_revolut_boston_3.html -
Boston Tea Party
The East India Company had a surplus of tea. They decided to give it to the colonies. The tea however still arrived. The colonists decided to take action. They dressed as Native Americans and climbed on the ship. They took the tea and threw it into Boston's Harbor. The East India Company lost a lot of money and the King closed Boston's port as a punishment.
http://www.masshist.org/revolution/teaparty.php -
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First Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress met up in Philidalphia to discuss the Intolerable Acts. A representative was sent to the meeting from each of the colonies (except Georgia). They cut off trade with Britain until the acts were repealed.
http://www.usfca.edu/fac_staff/conwell/revolution/congress.htm -
"Give Me Liberty"
Patrick Henry of Virginia wanted to creat an American militia. He proposed the idea of putting an infantry in all Virginian towns. When he went to propose the idea, his closing words were "Give me liberty or give me death!"
http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Paul Revere was told to ride to Lexington in order to tell Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the Redcoats were coming. He then went to Concord with William Dawes and Samuel Presscott. They each took different rootes to reach the men that were hiding weapons to warn them of the approaching enemy.
http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/real.html -
Lexington and Concord
The redcoats were coming to Lexington and Concord in order to capture weapons stored for the militia. However the militia was able to findout and minuteman prepared to fight the British. When the two sides met on the Lexington green, a shot from one side was fired. After that, the battle began. 7 minuteman were killed and the British weren't slowed down. As they moved on to Concord, more militia came and soon the British retreatred, as they left, the militia killed 125 Redcoats.
http://www.ushis -
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga was on the coast of Lake Champlain. Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys along with Benedict Arnold attacked the British stationed their by suprise. The Militia easily took control and the capturing provided artillary for them. They recieved cannons that were greatly beneficial.
http://www.history.com/topics/capture-of-fort-ticonderoga -
Second Continental Cngress
The Second Continental Congress met after the battles of Lexington and Concord. Representatives met in Philidalphia and discussed what was happening. Some of them wanted independence while others didn't. As they were meeting Ethan Allen had captured fort Ticonderoga. Eventually the Congress decided to leave Britian and put the colonies in defense. They formed the Continental Army.
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/ccs.htm -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Colonists went to Bunker Hill to get an advantage. The hill would help them attack Beritish ships and troops. However they went to Breed's Hill. The British General decided to go up the hill at the Americans. The Americans fired an caused the British Regulars to retreat. They tried a second time but failed and gained more casualties. By the third charge the americans were out of ammo and had to retreat. However the British lost over 1000 men.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/11d.asp -
"Common Sense" Published
Thomas Paine published the book common sense because he didn't like how the British government was working. He challenged them and talked about why the colonists should leave them. When he wrote it, he made sure that it was written in a way that any colonist could get the book and understand it. This book was read by many colonists and could have changed their view on the Revolution.
http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/ -
British Evacuate Boston
The Continental Army was able to move cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Hieghts. These were overlooking Boston and were a threat to the British. 11,000 troops left boston along with 1,000 loyalitsts. They went north to Nova Scotia.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-evacuate-boston -
Decloration of Independence
Even though battles over freedom were occuring, not all colonists wanted to be free. However aftern the British tried to stop Radicals like John Adams, many started to believe in it. They made a five man comitee in order to write the document. They wrote the decloaration of Independence saying the the colonists are seperating form the British.
http://www.history.com/topics/declaration-of-independence -
"The Crisis" published
The American Revolution began to die. Many battles were lost and the soldiers didn't belive in the cause anymore. However Thomas Paine came out with his panphlet "The Crisis". It was read to the soldiers and it added a spark in them to continue on. The crisis helped save the American Revolution and kept it alive.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-paine-publishes-american-crisis -
Wawshington Captures Trenton
After crossing the Deleware River, George Washington led his troops to Trenton, Mew Jersey. There was terrible weather but the men still continued. They finally made it and them attacked the city. They suprised the Hessian Army. The Continental Army surronded Trenton, cutting of routes for retreat. They defeeated the Hessians. They captured many sopldiers along with their weapons, ammo and more.
http://www.mountvernon.org/node/5099 -
British defeated at Saratoga
A british army of over 7000 lead by Burgoyne went out to take Albany, Ney York. However the Continental Army was positioned in the way. They met near the town of Saratoga. Burgoyne's army was defeated and the great majority of his army was captured by the American troops. After a few defeats this battle helped the army get a new spark. This battle also convinced the French to work with the Americans.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/11g.asp -
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Winter at Valley Forge, PA
The Continental Army couldnt take back Philidalphia. He took his army to Valley Forge. However there was a shortqage of food, clothes, and other nessesities. His men were cold, tired, sick, and hungry. They had to sleep ion log cabins while the British in Philidalphia were able to sleep in homes. Nearby farmers made them pay high prices for food. The soilders suffered from the conditions. However eventually conditions improved and soilders became experienced.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/11f.asp -
Benedict Arnold Plans found out
Benedict Arnold was a General for the ontinental Army. He began making deals with the British. He was mad at the Continental Army for not including him and also wanted the money. He became a spy for the British. He decided to turn over West Point to the British which was a strategic military fort. He was writing letters with a British General who was captured. They found the letters and stoped him. However he was able to escpae.
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/barnold.htm -
John Paul Jones defeats the Serapis
An American ship wins against the Engligh of the coast of England. He was sailing when he ran into the Serapis, a British ship. The british told him to surrender but he refused and fought back. Eventually it was the Serapis that had to surrender.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-paul-jones-wins-in-english-waters -
Cornwallis Surrenders
General Cornwallis bropught his troops to Yorktown and waited for ships to come and bring him back. However the ships ended up never showing up. This forced General Cornwallis and his 8000 men to surrendor to the Continental Army and George Washington.
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/revolut/jb_revolut_yorktown_1.html
