The American Revolution

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1756

the British Parliament passed the “Stamp Act” to help pay for British troops stationed in the colonies during the Seven Years' War.

Intolerable Acts

Sep 5, 1774

the British Parliament passed a series of laws collectively known as the Intolerable Acts, with the intent to suppress unrest in colonial Boston by closing the port and placing it under martial law. In response, colonial protestors led by a group called the Sons of Liberty issued a call for a boycott.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

the Congress voted to declare independence from England. After two days of debate and some changes to the document, the Congress voted to accept the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This action represented a formal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain.

Siege of Yorktown

Sep 28, 1781

After three weeks of non-stop bombardment, both day and night, from artillery, Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in the field at Yorktown on October 17, 1781, effectively ending the War for Independence.

Treaty of Paris

Sep 3, 1783

This treaty, signed on September 3, 1783, between the American colonies and Great Britain, ended the American Revolution and formally recognized the United States as an independent nation.

Constitutional Convention

May 25, 1787

The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September of 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation.

United States Bill of Rights

Dec 15, 1791

The United States Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.