-
This marks the beginning of the ongoing struggle between the British and the French.
-
With the Treaty of Paris, the British formally gain control of the Canada and all the French land east of the Mississippi. This officially ends the Seven Years War.
-
British troops fire into a mob, killing five men and leading to intense public protest.
-
A group of colonial patriots disguised themselves as Indians and boarded three ships in the Boston harbor. They dump more than 300 crates of tea overboard to protest the British tea tax.
-
The first Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia. There were 56 delegates representing every colony except Georgia.
-
The War of Independence is fought between Great Britain and the British Colonies.
-
Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.
-
Tired from battle, the Continental army suffers a brutal winter. Of the 11,000 soldiers at Valley Forge, hundreds died from disease.
-
Great Britain acknowledges American independence in the Treaty of Paris. This officially brings the war to an end.
-
Farmer’s from along the east take up arms to protest high state taxes and stiff penalties for failure to pay.
-
George Washington is unanimously elected president of the United States in a vote by state electors.
-
U.S. Constitution goes into effect, after being ratified by nine states.
-
-
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are ratified.
-
Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin greatly increases the demand for slave labor.
-
-
John Adams is inaugurated as the second president of the United States.