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Stamp Act of 1765
The stamp act imposed a direct tax on the colonists. This was represented by a stamp, on various forms of papers, documents, and playing cards. (https://www.gilderlehrman.org/) -
Townshend Act of 1767
Parliament passed the Townshend Acts to help pay the expenses involved in governing the American colonies. The Townshend Act initiated taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. The colonies began to discourage the purchases British imports.
(https://www.loc.gov/collections/) -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between a "patriot" mob and a squad of British soldiers. They started by throwing snowballs, sticks, and stones. Several colonists ended up dead after this.
(https://www.ushistory.org/) -
Boston Tea Party
American colonists protested against British Parliament's tax on tea. The demonstrators would board the ships and then throw 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. They would always say, "No taxation without representation."
(https://www.britannica.com/) -
Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)
These were a series of four laws passed by the British Parliament to punish the colony of Massachusetts Bay for the Boston Tea Party. They then included a new Quartering Act that provided arrangements for housing British troops in American dwellings.
(https://www.mountvernon.org/) -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill defeated the American patriots. Although, they proved that they could hold their own against the British Army.
(https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/bunker-hill) -
Olive Branch Petition sent to England
The Olive Branch Petition was used as a last attempt to prevent formal war from being declared. This went directly to King George III to express hope for reconciliation between the colonies and Great Britain.
(https://www.battlefields.org/) -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense published
Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine, argues for American independence from British rule. Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy.
(https://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/) -
Declaration of Independence adopted
Thirteen American colonies served their political connections to Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence summarized the colonists' motivations for seeking independence. This was adopted by the Continental Congress.
(https://history.state.gov/milestones/1776) -
Articles of Confederation created
The Articles of Confederation served as the United States' first constitution. It established the functions of the government of the U.S. after it declared independence from Great Britain.
(https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/articles-of-confederation) -
Treaty of Paris
Once this treaty was signed between the American colonies and Great Britain, the American Revolution ended. The United States was then formally recognized as an independent nation.
(https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/treaty-of-paris) -
3/5 Compromise
This compromise stated that for every five slaves in a state, three could be included in the population census. The 3/5 Compromise was first brough up by James Wilson and Roger Sherman.
(https://study.com/academy/) -
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise was to ensure representation in Congress. It established the U.S. legislature as a bicameral, or two-house law-making body.
(https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-great-compromise) -
Constitution is ratified
This became the official framework of the government for the United States. This is also the longest surviving written character of government.
(https://www.senate.gov/about/origins) -
Bill of Rights adopted
On October 2, 1789, President Washington sent copies of the 12 amendments adopted by Congress to the states. Later in December, the states had ratified 10 of these which are now known as the "Bill of Rights".
(https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/)