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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a time in the 17th and 18th centuries when people started valuing reason and science more than tradition and religion. This movement led to big changes in how we think about politics, society, and human rights. -
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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a conflict between France and Britain in North America from 1754 to 1763, with different Native American tribes also getting involved. It ended with Britain winning and gaining control of a lot of French territory, which set the stage for future tensions leading up to the American Revolution. -
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The Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a group of American colonists who fought against British taxes and policies in the late 1700s. They organized protests and sometimes used extreme tactics, like the Boston Tea Party, to challenge British rule and push for independence. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765 was a British law that required colonists to buy and use special stamps on all kinds of paper documents, like newspapers and contracts. This made many Americans really angry and was a big factor in the growing push for independence from Britain. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre happened on March 5, 1770, when British soldiers shot and killed five colonists during a heated confrontation in Boston. This event was a major turning point that increased tensions between the colonists and Britain, pushing them closer to revolution. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party took place on December 16, 1773, when American colonists, protesting the Tea Act, dumped tons of British tea into Boston Harbor. This act of defiance was a big deal and helped fuel the growing movement for American independence. -
The First Continental Congress meets
The First Continental Congress met in 1774 as a gathering of colonial leaders to discuss their response to British policies and unfair laws. They ended up coordinating a boycott of British goods and preparing for possible future conflicts with Britain. -
The Battles of Lexington & Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord happened on April 19, 1775, and were the first fights of the American Revolution. The skirmishes showed that the colonists were serious about standing up to British rule and kicking off the fight for independence. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill happened on June 17, 1775, and was one of the first big fights in the American Revolution. Even though the British won, the Americans proved they could put up a strong fight, which gave them a big morale boost. -
The Olive Branch Petition sent to England
The Olive Branch Petition was a letter sent to King George III by the American colonists in 1775, asking for peace and a resolution to their problems with Britain. It was basically a final attempt to avoid war, but the king rejected it, which led to the full outbreak of the Revolutionary War. -
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense published
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, published in January 1776, was a pamphlet that argued strongly for American independence from Britain. It was super popular and helped convince many colonists that breaking away from Britain was the right move. -
The Townshend Act of 1776
The Townshend Acts of 1767 were laws that Britain passed to tax goods like tea, glass, and paper imported to the American colonies. This upset the colonists and led to more protests, which eventually contributed to the growing push for independence. -
The Articles of Confederation created
The Articles of Confederation were the first set of rules for the U.S. government, made in 1777. They created a very weak central government with limited powers, which led to problems and eventually the need for a stronger Constitution. -
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise, made in 1787, was a plan that helped settle the debate at the Constitutional Convention by creating a two-house Congress. It combined ideas from both big and small states, giving each state equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives. -
The Bill of Rights adopted
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that guarantee basic freedoms and protections for individuals, like freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial. It was added to protect citizens’ rights and make sure the new government couldn’t abuse its power.