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Sugar Act
On April 5, 1764, Parliament passed a modified version of the Sugar and Molasses Act (1733), which 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 — that the English product would be cheaper than that from the French West Indies. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts were a string of laws that passed at the onset of 1767 by the Parliament of Great Britain that relates to the British colonies of North America. The act was named after the Chancellor of Exchequer Charles Townshend who drafted the proposal. The Townshend Acts involved five laws namely the Revenue Act of 1767, the Indemnity Act, the New York Restraining Act, the Commissioners of Customs Act, and the Vice Admiralty Court Act. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act, passed by Parliament on May 10, 1773, would launch the final spark to the revolutionary movement in Boston. The act was not intended to raise revenue in the American colonies, and in fact imposed no new taxes. It was designed to prop up the East India Company which was floundering financially and burdened with eighteen million pounds of unsold tea. This tea was to be shipped directly to the colonies, and sold at a bargain price. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord took place on April 18, 1775. British troops were sent out to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. the British ended up killing many minutemen and later found out that Hancock and Adams had escaped. They were sent out again in search of Adams and Hancock. While they were looking for them, they ran into a group of minutemen at Concord's North Bridge. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. It was written to formally announce the colonies' break from Great Britain. The document had three main ideas. The first was that Jefferson argued for the rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The second was accusing the king of passing unfair laws and interfering with colonial government. The third idea said that the colonies had the right to break from Great Britain. -
Battle of Saratoga
In the first Battle at Saratoga, generally referred to by historians as Freeman's Farm, the British lost two men for every one American casualty. In terms of ground gained, however, both sides fought to a draw. The second Battle, otherwise known as Bemis Heights, British losses were four to one. The rebels' victory was overwhelming. -
Valley Forge
The winter at Valley Forge took place on December of 1777 at Valley Forge. The Continental Army was running low on supplies. George Washington settled his group of 12,000 men at Valley Forge which was approximately 20 miles north of Philadelphia. They went through a hard time because they were short on food and clothing. They lacked protection from the snowy weather so it was very difficult to keep warm. -
Battle of Yorktown
The fighting at Yorktown cost the allies 72 killed and 180 wounded. British losses were higher and included 156 killed, 326 wounded. In addition, Cornwallis' remaining 7,018 men were taken prisoner. Meeting at the nearby Moore House, Cornwallis attempted to obtain the same favorable terms of surrender that Major General John Burgoyne had received at Saratoga.
