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Stamp Act
"The Stamp Act was passed by Parliament, igniting a major cause of the American Revolution -- taxation without representation. The act levied a tax on all newspapers, legal documents, pamphlets, almanacs, playing cards and dice by requiring that they bear a stamp. The money from the tax was to be used to pay for the defense of the colonies. American opposition was intense, merchants refused to buy British goods, stamp agents were threatened and official stamps were destroyed." -
The Sons of Liberty are Formed
"Secret organizations known as the Sons of Liberty, based on a term used by Colonel Isaac Barre in a speech against the Stamp Act in the House of Commons, formed in the provincial towns to lead the protest against the Stamp Act and other unpopular British legislature." -
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Delegates protest the Stamp Act
"Delegates from nine of the thirteen colonies gathered in New York City to formally protest the Stamp Act." -
Stamp Act is Repealed
"The British Parliament repealed the infamous and notorious Stamp Act." -
Parliament passes the Declaratory Act
"Parliament passes the Declaratory Act, asserting the right of Parliament to make any laws it wished regarding the American colonies." -
British Troops Arrive
"British troops arrived in Boston to quell the growing unrest in the American colonies." -
Boston Massacre
"Building tension between American colonists and British troops came to a head after a day of rioting in Boston. British officers, surrounded by an angry mob, fired into the crowd killing 3 men outright and mortally wounding 2 others. The Boston governor, Lt. Gov. Hutchinson, avoided further confrontation by removing all British troops to islands in Boston harbor." -
Tea Act
"The Tea Act was passed in Parliament to save the East Indian Company, a British company based in England's Indian colonies, from bankruptcy.The act remitted all British duties on tea while retaining the tax on tea exported to America, enabling the company to cut its prices and undersell colonial competition.The British company's unfair advantage led to the near destruction of the American tea merchants trade." -
Boston Tea Party
"In protest over the Tea Act, members of the Sons of Liberty dressed as Indians boarded three British ships in Boston harbor and threw the valuable tea overboard." -
Quartering Act
"Parliament passed the Quartering Act, requiring American colonists to provide shelter to British troops and horses when requested." -
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First Continental Congress
"Twelve colonies, all but Georgia, sent 56 delegates to Philadelphia to participate in the First Continental Congress. The purpose of the First Continental Congress was to debate and plan a unified response to British policy and actions. It was the first time many of these influential men had met face to face." -
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Start of the War
"General Gage ordered his troops on a practice march around Boston. The Massachusetts Provincial Congress at Concord viewed the British march as an act of open hostility. They issued formal grievances against the British government and adopted fifty-three articles of war against the British army." -
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
"General Gage planned a secret night march on Concord to seize the colonists' store of weapons. Paul Revere immediately rode out over Boston Neck towards Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams, fellow members of the Sons of Liberty. After Revere reached Lexington, he went to Concord where he was caught and questioned by six British officers.The officers left Revere horseless and stranded near Lexington." -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
"In Lexington, 130 minuteman, warned by Paul Revere, met the British troops in attempt to stop the army from reaching Concord.The American patriots were outnumbered and began to disperse. However, a shot was fired and the British troops killed eight colonists and wounded ten.The British troops continued for Concord where they were met by 150 minuteman. The patriot minuteman raced ahead of the British army, hiding behind objects alongside the roads. The British were easy targets for snipers." -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
American militiamen approached Bunker Hill at night to build fortifications by digging trenches and raising walls. The British tried unsuccessfully to stop the colonists from their ships in the Charles River. British troops were also sent in formation to attack the militiamen. They are repelled twice by the colonists, suffering heavy causalities. By the third attempt, the American militia had run out of ammunition and were killed or captured. The British won the battle, but at a heavy cost," -
Declaration of Independence
"The amended Declaration of Independence was approved without dissent. The declaration was first publicly proclaimed on July 8 in Philadelphia, and was read before George Washington and his troops on July 9 in New York City." -
Surprise Attack
"George Washington mounted a surprise attack on Hessian troops at Trenton by crossing the icy Delaware. He returned to Pennsylvania with his prisoners, crossed the river a third time, and reoccupied Trenton on December 30." -
Princeton
"William Howe sent troops toward Trenton and Princeton after he heard about the Trenton defeat. George Washington's troops, however, gained a victory at Princeton." -
Howe's Letter
"William Howe sent a letter to John Burgoyne to tell him that he would invade Philadelphia rather than move up the Hudson River to join John Burgoyne's northern army." -
To New York
"William Howe embarked from New York with 15,000 troops, sailed up Chesapeake Bay, and landed at the Head of Elk on August 23. In the meantime, George Washington and his 10,500 men chose a defensive position on the eastern side of Brandywine Creek." -
Clinton's Letter
"Click here to view the letterHenry Clinton sent a letter to John Burgoyne expressing his concerns about William Howe's movements, his lack of troops, and his intention to move up the Hudson if British reinforcements arrived to assist Burgoyne." -
Washington's Defeat
"William Howe defeated the American troops, under George Washington, at the Battle of Brandywine. The American army was forced toward Philadelphia." -
Fleeing Congress
"William Howe and his troops occupied Philadelphia. Congress left Philadelphia on September 19 for Lancaster, and fled to York on September 30." -
Second Battle of Freeman's Farm
"The patriots won the Second Battle of Freeman's Farm against Burgoyne. Burgoyne retreated toward Saratoga, where he eventually surrendered. On October 17, Burgoyne's army laid down their arms according to the terms of the Saratoga Convention." -
Retiring for Winter
"George Washington's army retired to winter quarters at Valley Forge." -
Alliance with France
"The United States and France signed an alliance. The treaty included an alliance in case of war between France and Britain." -
Change in Positions
"Sir Henry Clinton replaced William Howe as Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in America." -
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Joint Opperation
"French and American troops mounted a joint operation against the British garrison in Newport, Rhode Island." -
To Rhode Island
"American troops, under the leadership of General John Sullivan, and the French troops, led by the Marquis de Lafayette, withdrew as Clinton sent a great number of men and ships to Rhode Island." -
Clinton Advances
"Sir Henry Clinton decided to attack the South, because he thought he could gain more loyalist support there. General Robert Howe landed near Savannah, Georgia and captured the town." -
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Britain Makes Progress
"The British made progress in the South against the Americans. On March 3, the British were victorious at Briar Creek, Virginia. On May 10, the British captured and set fire to Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia." -
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Change of Tide
"The British made progress in the North against the Americans, but the Americans also won some battles. In May, Sir Henry Clinton led 6,000 men up the Hudson River and seized American forts at Stony Point and Verplanek's Point. The British also preyed on the coast of Connecticut. However on July 15, American forces recaptured Stony Point. Patriot forces also defeated bands of loyalists and Native Americans who were attacking settlements in New York and Pennsylvania."
