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The American Revolution
The American Revolution was a political upheaval during which the thirteen American colonies broke from the British empire and formed an independent nation, the United States of America. Britain still made the colonies pay taxes even thought they were not being represented in Parliament. It was unfair treatment that the King did not acknowledge so the thirteen colonies decided they had had enough and wrote the Declaration of Independence. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was created by the Britain Parliament and forced the colonies to print printed materials on stamped paper produced in London that had an embossed revenue stamp. Some such printed materials included legal documents, magazines, playing cards, newspapers and other papers used throughout the colonies. The stamp tax had to be paid in valid British currency, not colonial paper money. The money was to pay for troops stationed in North America who were no longer needed. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an incident in which British Army soldiers killed five civilians and injured six others. The soldiers had been stationed in Boston since 1768 to protect and support crown-appointed colonial officials attempting to enforce unpopular Parliamentary legislation. A mob formed around a British sentry leading to eight soldiers coming to his aid who were all subjected to verbal and physical abuse. Without orders, the soldiers fired into the crowd. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest against the Tea Act of May 10th 1773. The Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Native Americans and destroyed an entire shipment of tea from the East India Company. The tea was thrown from ships into the Boston Harbor, ruining the tea. The British government was infuriated and responded harshly. The Tea Party is an iconic event of American History. -
The Battles At Lexington And Concord
The Battles at Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements in the Revolutionary War. They were fought in a few places, some of those being Lexington and Concord. These battles marked the start of the open arms conflict with Britain. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Common Sense was a pamphlet that inspired the thirteen colonies to fight for their independence from Britain. It explained the advantages of independence and why the colonies needed it in clear, simple language so that many could easily read it. The book was distributed widely and became instantly popular. -
The Signing Of The Declaration Of Independence
The Signing of the Declaration Of Independence didn't actually happened until a month after it was declared on July 2nd, 1776. The Declaration was approved by Congress on July 4th, 1776. It stated that the thirteen American colonies viewed themselves as newly independent sovereign states and no longer a part of the British Empire. Instead, they were the United States of America. -
The States Pass The Articles Of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation served as the United States first constitution. Its drafting began in mid-1776 and the formal ratification of it was completed in early 1781. The weakness of the government created by the Articles became a matter of concern and on March 4th, 1789, it was replaced by the U.S. Constitution which provided a stronger federal government with a chief executive, courts, and taxing powers. -
Surrender At Yorktown
The Surrender at Yorktown, Virginia was a momentous victory by a combined force of American troops led by General George Washington and French Army led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by British Lord/Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis. The siege was the last major land battle in the Revolutionary War because it led to the capture of Cornwallis and his remaining men forcing the British government to negotiate an end to the conflict. -
Treaty Of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War between Britain and the thirteen colonies.
