-
population
The population of the American colonies reaches
approximately 275,000 -
newspaper
John Campbell founds the Boston News-Letter, the first
successful newspaper in America -
Carolina
Carolina was divided into North and South Carolina -
tea
Tea is introduced into the American colonies -
quakers on slavery
The Quakers make a statement opposing slavery in the
United States -
calendar
Britain and the British colonies switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar -
liberty bell
The Liberty Bell is placed in the Pennsylvania State
House -
Period: to
French Indian war
The final conflict in the ongoing struggle between the British and French for control of eastern North America. The British win a decisive victory over the French on the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec.
With the Treaty of Paris, the British formally gained control of Canada and all the French possessions east of the Mississippi. -
maryland and Pennsylvania
Mason Dixon Line establishes the boundary between
Pennsylvania and Maryland -
stamp act
Nine of thirteen colonies ask for repeal of the Stamp
Act -
Ohio river
Lt. Thomas Hutchins, a British Army engineer, begins
mapping Ohio River and its tributaries, including the Cumberland
River in the Sumner County area. He called the river "Shawanoe" -
Boston massacre
Boston Massacre occurs between colonists and British
regulars in Boston -
continental congress
First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, with 56 delegates representing every colony except Georgia. Delegates include Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Samuel Adams. -
Period: to
American revolution
War of independence fought between Great Britain and the 13 British colonies on the eastern seaboard of North America. Battles of Lexington and Concord,Mass., between the British Army and colonial minutemen, mark the beginning of the war.
Dec. 19, 1777 – June 19, 1778
Battle-weary and destitute Continental army spend brutally cold winter and following spring at Valley Forge, Pa.
Oct. 19, 1781
British General Charles Cornwallis surrenders to Gen. George Washington at Yorktown, Va.
Sept. 3, 1783 -
constitution
Members of the Continental Congress sign Declaration
of Independence -
flag
Continental Congress approves the first official flag of the United States. -
articles of confederation
Articles of Confederation are signed -
end of American revolution
Great Britain formally acknowledges American independence in the Treaty of Paris, which officially brings the war to a close. -
shays rebellion
erupts; farmers from New Hampshire to South Carolina take up arms to protest high state taxes and stiff penalties for failure to pay. -
Constitutional Convention
made up of delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies, meets in Philadelphia to draft the U.S. Constitution. -
presidency
George Washington is unanimously elected president of the United States in a vote by state electors. -
constitution
U.S. Constitution goes into effect, having been ratified by nine states. -
inaguration
Washington is inaugurated as president at Federal Hall in New York City. -
population
The nation's first census shows that the population has climbed to nearly 4 million. -
bill of rights
First ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, are ratified. -
cotton gin
Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin greatly increases the demand for slave labor. -
2nd president
John Adams is inaugurated as the second president in Philadelphia.