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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement that emphasized reason over superstition and science over blind faith. It dominated the world of ideas in Europe. -
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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was the bloodiest American war in the 18th century. The war was the product of an imperial struggle, a clash between the French and English over colonial territory and wealth. -
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was a secret revolutionary organization that was founded by Samuel Adams. It was used to advance the rights of the European colonists and to fight taxation by the British government. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
The British Parliament passed the stamp act to help pay for the 7 years' war. The act required the colonists to pay tax by a stamp on forms of papers, documents, and playing card -
The Boston Massacre
Click here for link The Boston Massacre was a street fight that was between a patriot mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks. Several colonists were killed and this led to a campaign by speech-writers to rouse the ire of the citizenry. -
The Boston Tea Party
Click here for link The Boston Tea Party was a political protest that occurred at Griffin's Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing taxation without representation dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)
Click her for link The Intolerable Acts were punitive laws passed by the British Parliament after the Boston Tea Party. The laws were meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their defiance in the Tea Party protest in reaction to changes in taxation by the British Government. -
First Continental Congress Meets
Delegates from each of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia as the first continental congress to organize colonial resistance to Parliament's Coercive Acts. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord kicked off the American Revolutionary War. On the night of April 18 1775, hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to nearby Concord in order to seize an arms cache. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense Punlished
Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet "Common Sens," setting forth his arguments in favor of American independence. This advocated independence for the American colonies from Britain and is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history. -
Treaty of Paris Signed
The Treaty of Paris was signed by King George III and the representatives of the United States of America in Paris officially ending the American Revolutionary War. Details included fishing rights and restoration of property and prisoners of war. -
The Great Compromise
The great compromise of 1787 was an agreement made between large and small states which partly defined the representation each state would have under the United States Constitution, as well as in the legislature. -
The Constitution is Ratified
The constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when the New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. Hamilton and James Madison led the lobbying efforts for votes in favor of ratifying the constitution. -
Bill of Rights Adopted
It is the first 10 amendments to the U.S Constitution, confirming the rights of American citizens. The new United States of America adopted them.
