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Yale University
The Colony of Connecticut passes an Act for Liberty to Erect a Collegiate School at Saybrook. It would eventually become Yale University. -
Siege of St. Augustine
The Siege of St. Augustine was one of the initial confrontations of Queen Anne's War, the second of four French and Indian Wars fought between New France and the English colonies, this time with New Spain on France's side. -
The attack on Massachussets
During Queen Anne's War, Deerfield, Massachusetts is attacked by French and Indian forces with fifty-six killed and over one hundred captured and carried off. -
Virginia Slave Code
Virginia Slave Code is passes in the Virginia House of Burgesses. -
Great Snow of 1717
The Great Snow of 1717 begins, dumping up to five feet of snow over the colonies of Virginia and New England. -
Dummer's War
Dummer's War begins with a declaration of war following clashes earlier in the year between New England colonists and the Wabanaki Confederacy, which is supported by New France. It lasted three years, from December 15, 1725 to December 15, 1725. -
The birth of George Washington
George Washington is born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. -
French Raid Saratoga
The French assault Saratoga, New York, and then attack Fort Massachusetts on August 19-20, in two of King George's War's deep forays into the Massachusetts Bay Colony. -
Benjamin Franklin and the Lightning rod
Benjamin Franklin invents the lightning rod after earlier in the year proving that lightning was electricity by using a kite. -
Attack on Fort Duquesne
George Washington and his army attack Fort Duquesne, the first action of the English-French War, which began after French forces built and captured Fort Duquesne in Pittsburgh and ignored instructions to leave Virginia territory. -
Sugar act
The Sugar Act imposes a levy on a variety of items in the British colonies, including lumber, food, molasses, and rum. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act rules are passed by the British Parliament to pay for British troops in the American colonies and to reimburse debts accrued during the French and Indian War. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred when British forces open fire on a Boston mob protesting British troops at the customs commission. Crispus Attucks, a runaway slave and merchant seaman in the front, was the first to fall, followed by four more men among the forty-fifty patriots. This action was later acknowledged as the first combat of the American Revolution, which began five years later, and was utilized to support the colonists' cause of revolt. -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts, which imposed tariffs on items like as lead, paper, glass, and tea three years earlier, were repealed by British parliament, with the exception of the tea duty, which remained unpopular in America. To demonstrate their dominance, British Prime Minister Lord North and Parliament kept the tea tariff in place. -
Victory at Princeton, New Jersey
At Princeton, New Jersey, General Washington and the 7,000-man Continental Army defeat British General Charles Cornwallis. This fight, along with the one at Trenton a week earlier, convinced other European nations that the Americans could defeat the British Army. -
1st President of the United States
The Electoral College unanimously elects George Washington as the first President of the United States. On March 4, the First Congress convenes at Federal Hall in New York City for the first time, with regular sessions resuming two months later on April 6. Frederick A. Muhlenberg is installed as the first Speaker of the newly created House of Representatives. -
George Washington's death
George Washington, the first leader of the American Revolution and President of the United States, dies at his Virginia mansion.