-
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris effectively ended the French and Indian War, and it stated that all the French territories that belonged to France now belonged to the British. The port of New Orleans and the Louisiana territory west of the Mississippi was given to Spain and Quebec and the Ohio Valley territories stayed with the British. (Information retrieved from U.SHistory.org and the photo was retrieved from google images). -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a modified version of the Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733 that lowered the tax on molasses for 6 pence to 3 pence. The Sugar Act of 1764 added more imported good to the list of taxed items. Some of these goods included sugar, wine, coffee, pimento, and printed calico. This and the Currency Act is what really set the stage for the revolt of the Stamp Act. (Information retrieved from U.SHistory.org and the photo was retrieved from google images). -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the first direct tax on the colonies. This act stated that all legal documents had to be on a special stamped paper to prove that it had been properly purchased. These documents included wills, marriage certificates, deeds, newspapers, dice, and playing cards. After the Stamp Act was passed, the colonists began to boycott British goods. (Information retrieved from U.SHistory.org and the photo was retrieved from google images). -
The Townshed Revenue Act
This act was created and presented to Parliament by Charles Townshed. Townshed wanted to tax the colonies again, but this time on items like lead, tea, paper, and glass. This act broke a "truce" that Britain and the colonies had and in 1768 the British troops arrived on American soil. (Information retrieved from U.SHistory.org and the photo was retrieved from google images). -
The Boston Massacre
The colonies were angry about the Townshed act, but the citizens of Boston were fuming and soon the tension between them and the British troops boiled over. On March 5th, 60 townspeople descended on the British guard. When the British called for backup, chaos broke out. In the midst of the melee the British soldiers fired their weapons without a command and killed 5 men and injured others. (Information retrieved from U.SHistory.org and the photo was retrieved from google images). -
Boston Tea Party
The repeal of the Townshed duties did not placate the colonies like the British hoped because to much had happened already, and taxes were still being levied. With the British East India Company going under, Lord North decided to create a monopoly by selling tea to the colonists cheap, but the colonists saw through this flimsy plan. In December, Bostonian's disguised as Native Americans, stormed 3 ships that had brought tea into the harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water. -
Bunker Hill
On June 16,1775, American troops entrenched themselves on a rise overlooking Boston to attack the British. They were suppose to be at Bunker Hill, but entrenched themselves on Breed Hill, which was closer to the British. Upon awakening, the British were suprised to find the threat of the American troops, and General William Howe decided to lead his troops uphill to try and force a retreat. This plan did not work and the American troops attacked the British, killing hundreds of troops. -
The Battle of Lexington & Concord
On April 19, 1775, British troops planned to head to Lexington to capture Colonial leaders, Sam Adams and John Hancock, before going to Concord to seize the gunpowder supply. Spies leaked the British plans and horseback riders, like Paul Reverie, took off across the countryside to warn the colonies. That morning, 240 British troops and 70 minutemen stood on Lexington Green. While watching each other, a shot rang out, and the battle began. -
1776 Cont.
Video for the Declaration of Independence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrSeCYSnj5Y -
Thomas Payne & The Common Sense
Thomas Payne wrote the pamphlet named "Common Sense" in 1776. The Common Sense challenged the British government and royal Monarchy's authority. It was written for the "common people of America (ushistory.org)". It was also the first document to ask Britain for its independence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwJAaaglXsk -
The Declaration of Independence
On June 7, 1776, a resolution was introduced to Congress by Richard Lee, that declared the 13 colonies would be "free and independent states". Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and two other men were chosen to carefully word the declaration, and on July 4, 1776, the colonies approved the document. John Hancock, the president of Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration. (Information retrieved from U.SHistory.org and the photo was retrieved from google images). -
Articles of the Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were created in 1777 when Congress realized that they needed a set of written rules for how they would be organized. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPLA_VPMsUg -
The Battle of Camden
On August 16, the Battle of Camden began between Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis's British troops and Major General Horatio Gates' America troops. Gates and his troops suffered a humiliating defeat that lead to Gates never holding a field command position again. In this battle it is estimated that 900 American troops were killed or wounded and 1000 were captured, while on the British side 68 were killed 245 wounded, and 11 were missing. -
Yorktown and the Surrender of Cornwallis
Lieutenant General Cornwallis was settled in Yorktown, Virginia hoping to keep his troops there until reinforcements and supplies could arrive, the the American and French troops had other plans. General Washington began to march his troops 300 miles south while the French navy headed north from the West Indies. Once Washington reached Yorktown, the French Navy aided them in forcing Cornwallis to surrender his nearly 8,000 troops. -
1783 Treaty of Paris
John Jay, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin met with the British to try and secure a peace treaty. The British finally agreed to recognize that America was independent as far as the Mississippi River and the Americans agreed to pay debts owed to British merchants and to stop the persecution of all British loyalists. (Information retrieved from U.SHistory.org and the photo was retrieved from google images). -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion began when farmers in Massachusetts, suffering from high debt, revolted against the Massachusetts government and their high taxes. The revolt was led by former Continental Army Captain Daniel Shay. James Bowdoin, governor of Massachusetts, saw this group as a threat and gathered a military force against them. The "Shaysites" quickly fell apart and this rebellion is deemed the first major armed conflict in the post-revolutionary United States. -
George Washington is President
George Washington is elected as America's first president. Washington preferred a solid central government and made it so that the executive authority was independent. Washington also picked his own heads of departments and deemed them his "cabinet". Washington's cabinet consisted of Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, Treasurer Alexander Hamilton, and Head of War, Henry Knox. -
Kentucky Becomes the 15th State
After the Revolutionary War, Kentucky became a part of the state of Virginia. Kentucky gained statehood in 1792, becoming the first U.S. state west of the Appalachian Mountains. Kentucky did side with the Confederacy during the Civil War, but the population was deeply divided, and many Kentucky residents fought for the North. (“Kentucky State History”. Duckster.com. The photo is from google images.) -
The Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a 1794 uprising of "farmers and distillers" in western Pennsylvania who were against the whiskey tax enacted by the federal government. President Washington had to send in troops to stop what people feared could become a full-blown revolution. The tax itself was in effect until 1802. (Editors of history.com, 2017. The picture is from google image) -
Tennessee Becomes the 16th State
Tennessee became a state in 1796 during the presidency of John Adams. They were the last state to leave the Union and join the Confederacy during the Civil War. The Tennessee Constitution of 1796 actually gave the right
to vote to all free men who owned land, including African
American men. Sadly, most of the African American men were enslaved and the constitution had not outlawed slavery yet. (History.com editors, 2009. The picture is from google images.) -
George Washington's Death
George Washington retired after the end of his second term as president in 1797. He stayed at his estate in Mount Vernon in Virginia. On December 12th of 1799, Washington decided to ride over to his farms during treacherous weather. He was then diagnosed with a throat infection and the treatment he received from three doctors just made things worse. He passed away on December 14th of 1799 with his wife at the end of his bed. (Cavendish, 1999. The picture is from google images.) -
The Library of Congress
John Adams played an enormous role in the foundation of The Library of Congress. He first approved, in 1800, that the capital be moved to Washing D.C. Then $5,000 was available for books to be used by congress. Thomas Jefferson passed a law that the president would appoint someone to be the "Librarian of Congress." (History.com editors, 2018. The picture is from google images.) -
Jefferson Becomes President
Thomas Jefferson was a huge part of the Declaration of Independence, the first secretary of state, and the second vice president under John Adams. Jefferson ended up tying with Aaron Burr before it was decided by Congress in 1801 that he would be president with Burr as his vice president. (Biography.com editors, 2014. The picture is from google images.) -
The 12th Amendment
The 12th Amendment changed the process of deciding who would be the next president and vice president. It added the procedure of the presidential/vice-presidential election. -
The Embargo Act
The Embargo Act of 1807 was an attempt by President Thomas Jefferson and Congress to stop American ships from trading in foreign ports. The purpose of this was to punish Britain and France, for involving themselves with American trade while they were at war. This act drastically affected the economy, created a major decline in American exports, and really did not have much effect on Britain or France. (McNamara, 2019. The picture is from google images.) -
The War of 1812
Some of the causes of the War of 1812 include Britain trying to restrict America, the impressment done by the Royal Navy, and America's want to expand into more territories. There were many losses in this war including the capital being captured and burned. In the end, American troops were able to push back in several places. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war in 1815. (History.com editors, 2009. The picture is from google images.) -
The Creek War
The divide within the Creek was about some chiefs wanting to go back to their traditional way of life, while others did not. Americans were then fearful that the southeastern tribe would ally with the British and took it from a Civil War to a plan to completely take away Creek power. The war came to an end after Andrew Jackson had a victory at the battle at Horseshoe Bend. ("The Creek War", 2019. The picture is from google images.) -
Elbridge Gerry's Death
Gerry was the Vice President to Madison. He was also a huge supporter of the war with Britain in 1812. Whilst ill in 1813, he refused to "yield his chair" which prevented William Giles, an advocate for peace with Britain, from becoming president. He ended up suffering from a hemorrhage on his was to Senate and died in 1814. (Sheetz. The picture is from google images.) -
The Battle of New Orleans
This battle happened during the War of 1812. It was a major turning point in this war, and it is even considered the "greatest battlefield victory" of the war. The Americans were able to prevent the British from gaining control of a very important American port. This battle also brought fame to Andrew Jackson. ("New Orleans". The picture is from google images.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50_iRIcxsz0
