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Navigation Acts
These acts were established October 9, 1651 and were in use until 1854. It regulated trade by allowing certain ships to travel to specific countries or colonies. Eventually, the act’s enforcement in the colonies strengthened and added to the unrest that led to rebellion. -
French & Indian War Ends
Being the winner of the war, Britain emerged from it—along with the rest of the Seven Years’ War—as a global power. They were also in a large debt because of the costly wars, and King George III resorted to taxing the colonies to pay their ‘fair share.’ This caused the many acts of taxes on imported goods. -
Stamp Act
The first of many taxes on the colonies taxed the colonists on anything deemed as commercial or legal papers, along with some other items. These taxed item included newspapers, cards, almanacs, dice, and playing cards. The colonists rebelled against and despised the stamps; the Sons of Liberty was formed. -
Boston Massacre
A series of events with built up pressure caused British soldiers to fire their weapons on civilians who were taunting and jeering them. The event was drawn and posted around the city, named by the creator as the Boston Massacre. It was quiet misleading, as only 5 people were killed from the event, but it rallied the people to want to do something about their mistreatment. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was made because members in Parliament who owned a share of the East Indian Tea Co. wanted to earn more money from them. They shipped the tea directly to the colonies, making the price cheaper than normal, but the tea still had taxes on it that went into England’s pocket. The ships with the tea were unable to leave until the tea was taken off. The people didn’t want it. This led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty, in response to the Tea Act, sunk onto British ships with tea under the guise of Native Americans and dumped all of the tea into Boston Harbor in a single night. The king was furious and rushed to make more acts, those of which he believed would keep the colonies under control. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
A series of acts—collectively named the Coercive Acts by the British and the Intolerable Acts by Americans—including the Quartering, Massachusetts Gov., Administration of Justice Acts, and the Boston Port Bill. The acts caused the First Continental Congress to occur. -
First Continental Congress
Representatives from 12 of the 13 colonies met and discussed how to respond to the Intolerable acts. They sent a petition to Parliament establishing to them the rights they had and also included the phrase, “No taxation without representation.” -
Lexington/Concord
These two battles became known as the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” They are the first physical battles in the American Revolution and also was a huge issue to tackle in the Continental Congress. -
Second Continental Congress
The Congress made decisions on many issues, including Lex./Con., who to lead the American army, and created a postal service and making a navy. They came to terms that war was the only solution to cease the struggle with Britain. -
Declaration of Independence Adopted
The Declaration was presented to the people and signed by the members of the Continental Congress. It officially declared the colonies of America to be “free and independent states,” which also, in turn, declared war on Great Britain. -
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Battle of Saratoga
These were considered the turning point for America in the American Revolution. It persuaded the French to lend its assistance to the cause. -
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Winter at Valley Forge
The harsh winter tested the morale and military discipline of the American forces. The troops were in desperate need of supplies, money, and food and suffered until June when the French arrived and provided the things needed. -
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Battle of Yorktown
The battle cornered a major British army on the Yorktown peninsula and prevented it from escaping by sea with the French navy. The British surrendered and gave the Americans the victory in the American Revolution. -
U.S. Constitution written
The document was written in the Constitutional Convention and made laws with compromises and agreements that formed the country’s first constitution. -
US Constitution adopted
The adoption of the document not only emphasized that America was a new country, but also emphasized that it was the United States of America. The people were no longer Virginians or New Yorkers or Pennsylvanians, but Americans.