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Sugar Act
It was a revenue-raising act passed by Parliament. It listed specific goods which could only be exported from Britain. -
Stamp Act
It was a direct tax from Parliament imposed on the British colonies. It said that many paper products in the colonies had to be produced on stamped paper made in London. -
Townshend Acts
They were designed to collect revenue from the colonists in America by putting customs duties on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The colonials boycotted and protested against them. -
Boston Massacre
A fight between colonists in Boston and British soldiers broke out one night, ending with five en being killed by the soldiers and six being injured. Arguments broke out on both sides about whether it was self defense on behalf of the soldiers or the slaughter of innocent citizens. -
Tea Act
It's main objective was to reduce the massive surplus of tea help by the East India Company. It was supposed to convince the colonists to purchase Company tea on which the Towshend duties were paid. -
Boston Tea Party
In an instant of anger, American patriots dressed as Indians and dumped 342 chest of tea into the Boston Harbor. It was done as an act of punishment for the British-imposed taxes on tea. -
Intolerable Acts
They were passed as the Coercive Acts, but deemed intolerable by the colonials. Three of them were designed specifically to punish Massachucetts for the Boston Tea Party. -
First Continental Congress
It was a convention made up of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies. It was called in response to the Intolerable Acts. -
Lexington and Concord
This battle marked the beginning of the Revolution. It was the "shot heard 'round the world." -
Second Continental Congress
The second Congress managed the colonial war effort. It began moving in small steps toward independence. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Rebels fired at close range from behind cover at Redcoat lines. They soon began retreating as the Redcoats crossed over their fortifications. They went to Bunker Hill, where they sustained most of their casualties that day. -
Common Sense
This pamphlet was written by Thomas Paine, who wrote for independence and an immediate end to all ties with Britain. It sold thousands of copies in its first days of publication. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is the contract stating that America is free from Britain's rule. The American Revolution gradually convinced colonists that it was necessary. -
Battle of New York
General Howe's original plan was to pin down the Americans' right flank and send a strong force around their left, like he'd been going to do at Bunker Hill. With their plan in action, they won. -
Battle of Trenton
Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Day, 1776, and attacked the next day, completely surprising the British. It was the first American victory of the war, and helped to restore American morale. -
Battle of Brandywine Creek
When the British appeared on the American right flank, Washington realized that he had been outmaneuvered. In the confusion caused by the surprise, the Americans were unable to successfully defend their position. -
Battle of Saratoga
With 5,000 men, Burgoyne began to retreat from the approaching army. Gates, with 20,000, surrounded the British at Saratoga and forced their surrender. -
Valley Forge
Washington's army was barely surviving in the harsh conditions that winter had brought. Most of them abandoned him or became mutinous. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Allies closed in on Yorktown on 28 September, and began making plans to take control. By 17 October, Cornwallis and his 8,000 men had surrendered. -
Treaty of Paris
It ended the Revolutionary War. It is famous for being "exceedingly generous" to the United States in terms of enlarged boundaries.
