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The Stamp Act (1765)
Who: British Parliament and American colonists
What: The British government imposed a tax on all printed materials in the colonies.
When: 1765
Where: American Colonies
Why: Britain needed money to pay off war debts from the French and Indian War. The act angered colonists, leading to protests and the slogan “No taxation without representation.” -
The Boston Tea Party
Who: American colonists, Sons of Liberty
What: Protesters dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to oppose the Tea Act.
When: 1773
Where: Boston, Massachusetts
Why: Colonists were angry about British taxes on tea and the lack of representation in Parliament. -
The Intolerable Acts (1774)
Who: British Parliament, King George III, and American colonists
What: A series of punitive laws passed in response to the Boston Tea Party.
When: 1774
Where: American Colonies
Why: Britain wanted to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party by closing Boston Harbor and limiting colonial self-government. These acts further united the colonies against Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
Who: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and the Second Continental Congress
What: The document that officially declared American independence from Britain.
When: July 4, 1776
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Why: The colonies wanted to be free from British rule due to unfair taxes, lack of representation, and British military actions. -
The Battle of Saratoga
Who: American forces, British General Burgoyne
What: A crucial American victory that convinced France to join the war.
When: 1777
Where: Saratoga, New York
Why: The American victory showed that the colonists could defeat the British, leading France and other nations to support the American cause. -
The Battle of Yorktown
Who: General George Washington, British General Cornwallis, French allies
What: The final major battle of the American Revolution.
When: 1781
Where: Yorktown, Virginia
Why: The American and French forces surrounded the British, forcing Cornwallis to surrender. This effectively ended the war. -
The Treaty of Paris
Who: American and British representatives, including Benjamin Franklin
What: A peace treaty that officially ended the American Revolution.
When: 1783
Where: Paris, France
Why: Britain recognized American independence and ceded large territories to the new nation. -
The U.S. Constitution
Who: James Madison, George Washington, and other founding fathers
What: The Constitution established the framework for the U.S. government.
When: 1787
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Why: The Articles of Confederation were too weak, so a new government structure was needed to balance power between federal and state governments.