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French and Indian War Begins
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The French were in conflict with the English because the English wanted to control land that the French owned at that time. The Amerinidians were loyal to the English, so when Washington attacked at Fort Meadows, they helped to prevent the french from escaping. -
The Treaty of Paris
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The Treaty of Paris was signed to end the French and Indian War between the British and the French. Through this treaty, the French gave up all their territories in North America. -
Royal Proclamation of 1763
linkThe Royal Proclamation of 1763 was when the King made it so that the colonists could not settle on the land that the British had gained from the French at the end of the French and Indian War. -
Sugar Act
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Great Britain passed the Sugar Act to put a reduced tax on sugar, and a few other goods, such as molasses, that were imported to the colonies. This would eventually lead to the Stamp Act. -
Stamp Act
linkBritain passed the Stamp Act, forcing all of the colonists to pay a tax on every printed piece of paper they used. Things like birth certificates, important documents, letters, playing cards, and licenses were all required to have stamps to pay taxes to Britain. -
Stamp Act Congress
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A group of delegates from most of the colonies met after the Stamp Act was passed to discuss how they would deal with the unfair taxation imposed upon them. It was agreed that if they were to be taxed by Britain, then they wanted representation in Parliament, or "No Taxation Without Representation." -
Townshend Acts
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Britain passed this act to put taxes on paint, oil, lead, glass, tea, and paper in order to raise extra money to administrate the colonies. What came of it was more hostility from the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
linkThe Boston Massacre occured when a group of young colonists where throwing sticks and snowballs at British soldiers. The soldiers got angry and shot at them, killing several colonists. The colonists were very unhappy with the British afterwards, and it caused more tension between the two sides. -
Boston Tea Party
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The colonists were angered by the taxes that Britain had put on tea. The ships carrying the tea could not leave the port until the tea was loaded off of it, so that night, colonists dressed as Indians snuck onto the ships and threw 345 crates of tea into Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
linkThe First Continental Congress met in Philidelphia, and elected delegates from each colony attended. Their goal was to communicate to the King and the colonists why they were unhappy and what problems they had with Britain. -
Patrick Henry "Give Me Liberty"
linkPatrick Henry proposed the idea to Congress that each Virginia county should organize a volunteer militia. It was a very powerful speech, and his very famous final words were "Give me liberty or give me death." -
The Ride of Paul Revere
linkPaul Revere and WIlliam Dawes were sent out on horseback to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British regulars were coming by sea to their march on Concord. Samuel Prescott met them outside Lexington on their way to Concord. They were later stopped by British Regulars, and Revere's journey ended here, Dawes was released, and Prescott was never stopped and made it to Concord. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
linkThe British general planned to march in the night to Lexington, where they would capture Sam Adams and John Hancock, then to Concord, where they would steal ammunition. The colonists found out these plans and sent men to warn each city. The colonial militia was prepared when the British arrived, and fighting started when a shot came from one side, and it is not known from which side it came. The British marched to Concord. but were defeated by the colonial troops there, and retreated to Boston. -
Fort Ticonderoga
linkFort Ticonderoga, on Lake Champlain, was a great source of ammunition and cannons, so Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys went to capture it from the British. They snuck there in the night, and surprised the British, forcing them to surrender their fort. -
Second Continental Congress Meets
linkThe congress decides they need to meet again after war breaks out in Massachusetts.They send the Olive Branch Petition to the King hoping for peace, but he won't read it. They create a continental army, with George Washington as chief. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
linkThe American troops were told to go to Bunker Hill, where they could easily defeat British troops, but mistakenly went to Breed's Hill, which was closer to where the British were. The British attacked the Americans on the hill despite the Americans' advantage of pointing down on the British. The Americans killed many British, and again when the second wave attacked. By the time the third wave attacked, the Americans were out of ammuntion and the British took the hill, but at a great cost. -
"Common Sense" Published
link Thomas Paine wrote the best-selling pamphlet of the Revolution, stating that America deserves independence, and convincing people to join in the cause against Britain. -
British Evacuate Boston
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In the winter of 1775-1776, the American troops drag cannons from New York to Boston under the command of General George Washington. They were placed on Dorcester Heights to fight off the British, who had no effect on the Americna troops. The British fled to Nova Scotia after waiting a week. -
Declaration of Independence Announced
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The Declaration, written by Thomas Jefferson, was signed and voted upon on July 4, but it wasn't until four days later that it was read to the public by Colonel John Nixon. -
"The American Crisis" Published
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When Thomas Paine served in the army, he felt he could do more for the country then fight. He wrote a series of sixteen essays called "The American Crisis." These essays helped to remind soldiers what they are fighting for and to build spirit amongst them. -
Washington Captures Trenton
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George Washington crossed the Delaware River with his army, and the next morning marched into the city, and entered from two sides. The Hessian General thought they were surrounded and attacked from inside the city. It turned out costly for him because the colonists had the high ground. -
British Defeated at Saratoga
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The British army under the command of General John Burgoyne surrendered to the Americans, which convinced the French that it was worth their efforts to help out the American troops. -
Winter at Valley Forge, PA
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The American spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge. Here they were trained in a classic European style of warfare by Baron von Steuben and others. The conditions were very bad, and mary got diseases, died, or left. They were all tortured with starvation and freezing temperatures. -
John Paul Jones Defeats the Serapis
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John Paul Jones, the commander of the Bonhomme Richard, fought against the British ships the Serapis, and Countess of Scarborough in a naval battle. His ship suffered much damage, but when asked if he would surrender, he kept fighting and the British ships surrendered. -
Benedict Arnold Plans Found Out
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Benedict Arnold had command of West Point, and contacted the British General about giving it up to them. He met with Major John Andre, and made a deal that Benedict Arnold would get a lot of money and a high position in the British army if he gave up West Point. His plans were discovered, and Andre was killed, but Arnold fled to Britain, but never got what he'd been promised. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
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The British troops moved to the south, believing there were more loyalists there. They backed themselves onto a peninsula in Virginia. The French navy defeated the English force off the coast, which cut off Cornwallis' escape by sea. The Americans and French surrounded Yorktown and Cornwallis had no choice but to surrender.
