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1764
April 5th, 1764 Although it reduced the tax on molasses, the Sugar Act was strictly enforced, so colonist ended up paying more taxes -
1765
March 22nd, 1765 The Stamp Act was the tax on printed items was the first direct tax on the colonists. It added a fee to printed materials such as legal documents and newspapers. -
1765
March 24th, 1765 Following the French and Indian War, Britain maintained a standing army in the colonies. The Quartering Act required colonial assemblies to house and provision soldiers. -
1765
April 1765 Those who opposed the British taxes called themselves “Patriots” and the Sons of Liberty was born Sam Adams as its leader. -
1765
Aug 13th, 1765 A Mob led by the Sons of Liberty tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector. -
1766
March 18th, 1766 The Declaratory Act repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament’s right to rule the colonies saw fit. -
1767
Import taxes on a variety of goods were collected to support royal officials in the colonies, removing the responsibility from the colonial assemblies. The Townsend Acts were so unpopular that all the taxes were repealed, except the one on tea. -
1770
March, 5th, 1770 A group of colonist hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists. -
1773
May 10th, 1773 The Tea Act was created to save the East India Tea Company. Although it lowered the price of tea, it gave the company a monopoly and threatened the business of colonial importers. -
1774
Jan 1774 The Intolerable Act officially called the Coercive Acts, these laws were meant to force Massachusetts to pay for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The laws closed Boston Harbor and forced colonists to house British soldiers in their homes -
1774
Sept 5th, 1774 The First Continental Congress meets. Agree to boycott British goods. -
1775
March 1775 Patrick Henry, gives his most famous speech, in the House of Burgesses. “Give me Liberty or give me Death” -
1775
July 1775 Congress sends an “Olive Branch” to King George III. He rejected the petition and sent more troops to Boston -
1775
April 19th, 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord -
1775
May 10th, 1775 Second Continental Congress meets. Congress names George Washington commander of Continental Army -
1775
June 17th, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill -
1776
Jan 9th, 1776 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense -
1776
July 4th, 1776 Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence was approved. -
1777-1778
Winter 1777-1778 Baron Von Steuben trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Penn. -
1777
Oct 17th, 1777 Patriots win in Saratoga -
1778
Feb. 6th 1778 France signs an alliance with the United States. -
1780
May 1780 General Clinton captures 3000 Patriot soldiers as he takes Charlestown, South Carolina. -
1781
Oct 19th 1781 General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown. -
1783
Sept. 3rd, 1783 Treaty of Paris signed.
