-
French and Indian War
It all started with the French and Indian war, or the seven years war. It was the final Colonial War, and it was a MASSIVE conflict. -
Proclamation of 1763
The French and Indian War was finally over, and it was a great cause of celebration for the colonists, since it gave them plenty of new opportunities now that some of their enemies were dead. -
The Sugar Act
Right after the Proclamation of 1763, a modified Sugar Act was passed on by the Parliament, since the real one was about to expire. Under the Molasses Act colonial merchants had been required to pay a tax of six pence per gallon on the importation of foreign molasses. But because of corruption, they mostly evaded the taxes and undercut the intention of the tax. -
The Currency Act
Would you believe? The same year, and America is still corrupting things. Right after the Sugar Act, The Currency Act was an act that helped(guess who? The Colonies!) The colonies suffered a constant shortage of currency with which to conduct trade. There were no gold or silver mines and currency could only be obtained through trade(Which they could not do, since they could not trade. See the irony?) They had to invent paper bills, which is the currency we use today! -
The Stamp Act
On February 6th, 1765 George Grenville rose in Parliament to offer the fifty-five resolutions of his Stamp Bill. The bill was passed on February 17, approved by the Lords on March 8th, and two weeks later ordered in effect by the King. -
Patrick Henry's "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death!" Speech
"No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs" Quote from Patrick Henry's Speech. -
The War at Lexington and Concord
The first shots of the Revolutionary War are fired at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The news of the bloodshed rockets along the eastern seaboard, and thousands of volunteers converge on Cambridge, Mass. These are the beginnings of the Continental Army. -
British Forms Alliances
The British governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, issues a proclamation offering freedom to any slaves of rebellious Americans who are able to enter British lines. Throughout the course of the war, tens of thousands of African Americans will seek their freedom by supporting the British. I think African Americans would gladly support the British, and this was a good alliance. -
Americans hold their own at the Battle of Bunker Hill
In the first major action of the war, inexperienced colonial soldiers hold off hardened British veterans for more than two hours at Breed's Hill. Although eventually forced to abandon their position, including the high ground of Bunker Hill overlooking Boston, the patriots show that they are not intimidated by the long lines of red-coated infantrymen. Of the 2,200 British seeing action, more than 1,000 ended up dead or wounded. -
Loyalists defeated at Moores Creek
A force of loyalists (Americans who want to remain British subjects), most of them of Scots descent, is defeated by a patriot army at the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge. This setback will largely quiet loyalist activity in the Carolinas for three years. -
America declares its independence
The Declaration of Independence is adopted by the Second Continental Congress. Following a decade of agitation over taxes and a year of war, representatives make the break with Britain. King George III isn't willing to let his subjects go without a fight, and loyalist sentiment remains strong in many areas. Americans' primary allegiance is to their states; nationalism will grow slowly. -
Washington crosses the Delaware
In a bold move, Washington moves his troops into New Jersey on Christmas night.(That sucks for the Germans, I mean, come on, Christmas night?) The patriots then surprise a force of German troops fighting for Britain at Trenton on December 26. They achieve a similar victory over British troops at Princeton on January 3, reviving hopes that the war just might be winnable. The army then encamps for the winter at Morristown, New Jersey. -
Big British setback at Saratoga
General John Burgoyne's attempt to separate the rebellious New England colonies from those farther south ends in a spectacular failure. The surrender of 6,000 British regulars at Saratoga will shock London and help induce France to enter the war on the American side. -
France enters the war against Britain
As a result of the patriot victory at Saratoga and American diplomatic efforts, France allies itself with the new American government. French financial and military aid will prove critical in winning the war. The Continental Army will learn of the French Alliance in May. -
George Rogers Clark attacks the British in the Ohio country
With barely 150 men, Virginian George Rogers Clark captures several British posts in the Ohio Territory (present-day Illinois and Indiana) and convinces French-speaking inhabitants of Kaskaskia and Cahokia to support the patriot side. Although Indians will continue to oppose white settlement for three decades, Clark's exploits pave the way for the expansion of the U.S. north of the Ohio River. -
Charleston falls to the British
The British take Charleston, S.C., capture a large patriot army, and deal the rebels one of their worst defeats of the war. The Charleston move is part of a broader British strategy to hang on to the southern colonies, at least, now that the war is stalemated in Pennsylvania and New York. -
Kings Mountain victory revives patriot hopes
Patriot militia from the Carolinas, Virginia, and present-day Tennessee surround and defeat a force of loyalists under Major Patrick Ferguson at Kings Mountain, S.C. Indicating the deep divisions within America, Ferguson is the only British soldier on the field-Kings Mountain is truly a battle among Americans about their future. -
Longest siege of the war at Ninety Six
The isolated British garrison at Ninety Six is laid siege to by patriot forces under Gen. Nathanael Greene. The approach of a British relief column leads Greene to make a final, unsuccessful assault on the fort on June 18. The events at Ninety Six underline the fact that Britain has too few troops to hold the southern hinterlands. -
Large British army surrenders at Yorktown
What better way to end than a Surrender, right? Well, this surrender was, guess who, the British! A joint French and American force traps the British army on Virginia's Yorktown peninsula. Unable to leave or receive reinforcements because a French fleet has driven off a British fleet, General Cornwallis is forced to surrender. So, after 25 years, I think this is finally over! -
Cited Sources
