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Yale College is founded
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Carolina splits into North and South Carolina
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Uprising in the British Province of New York of 23 enslaved Africans. They killed nine whites and injured an additional six before being stopped. 70 were arrested and jailed
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The Great Awakening was a religious revival that started unexpectedly in the New England church. Johnathan Edwards was one of the first to witness astounding results from his preaching. Other preachers such as George Whitfield would soon follow with the same zeal as Edwards
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A slave rebellion in the colony of South Carolina. Largest uprising in British Mainland Colonies resulting in 25 whites and 35 to 50 black people kileld
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War that put colonies of British America and New France against each other.
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The Seven Years' War began earlier in the colonies than it did in Europe. It started in 1754 when some English colonists and Native Americans lead by George Washington killed a French Diplomat. The French fought back at the colonies. Europe finally joined the war in 1756, where England overcame early defeats to end the war in North America in 1760. The continued to fight Spain until 1763.
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In June of 1754, representatives from seven colonies met with 150 Iroquois Chiefs in Albany, New York. They met in order to try and secure the support and cooperation of the Iroquois in fighting the French.
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Another reason for the Albany Congress was to form a colonial alliance based on a design by Benjamin Franklin.
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End of open hostilites between Great Britain and the colonies. Great Britain was requiring raw materials icluding hemp, tar, copper, and turpentine. Exact date unknown
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Encouraged by a Native prophet, Pontiac, an Ottawa leader, rose up against the colonists. Though they Natives did not win, the peace agreement forced the British to realize they would have to protect the Natives if they wanted to keep peace in the West.
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One of the first acts that truly upset the colonists was the Sugar Act. The duty was cut in half, but it was enforced much more strictly. Additionally, smugglers would be tried by vice-admiralty courts instead of juries.
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The Currency Act made Parliament in control of the colonial currency system. The act prohibited the issue of any new bills and the reissue of existing currency.
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The Sons of Liberty were a group of men who organized resistance against the stamp collectors
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The purpose of the Quartering Act was to punish the colonists for mutiny and desertion and for the better payment of the army and their quarters.
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The Stamp Act was the first act to actually create a new tax. It required all paper to have stamps in order to show the proper duty had been paid. It affected a wider range of colonists than the Sugar Act.
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Parliament repeals the Stamp Act
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The Declaratory Act was an act by Parliament which was accompanied by the repeal of the Stamp Act. This declaration stated that Parliament's authority was the same in America as in Britain.
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The Townshend Acts were new duties on items such as lead, glass, paint, and tea. While in theory they were not taxes, many colonists viewed them as such since they were designed to gain revenue from the colonies.
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Several young men began throwing things at a British sentry. When soldiers who came to help quell the riot shot into the crowd, they killed five people. It was quickly labeled as a Massacre despite the fact it was nothing of the sort.
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A group of men led by Abraham Whipple and John Brown, attacked, boarded, looted, and torched the Hannah at Gaspee Point. This was a significant event that led to the Revolutionary War.
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The Tea Act launched the final spark to the Revolutionary movement in Boston. This act was not intended to raise revenue like many other acts and in fact imposed no new taxes.
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Three ships were waiting in the Boston Harbor. Before the tea was able to be taxed, a group of radical Bostonians stormed the ship and tossed 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.
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One of the Intolerable Acts, this act shut down the Boston Port for any activity at all. This was enacted in order to punish the Bostonians for the Boston Tea Party.
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One of the Intolerable Acts, this act was designed to suppress dissent and restore order in Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party.
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Delegates from every colony except Georgia met and drafted a “Declaration of Rights and Grievances.” Their main complaint was that they should be treated as native Britons. They could not be taxed without representatives and they had the right to trial by jury.
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The colonies presented at the First Continental Congress were united in determination to show a combined authority to Great Britain however they were not uniform in their aims.
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The American Revolution resulted in the colonies becoming a separate nation from England. It was the birth of the United States of America.
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"The Shot Heard Round the World" The battle of Lexington and Concord was the beginning battle of the Revolutionary war where the Redcoats and Minutemen clashed.
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The colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss most important, how the colonies would meet the military threat of the British.
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Under the orders of Artemas Ward, Americans moved out of their camp towards Bunker Hill.Their plan was to bombard the town and British ships in the Boston Harbor.
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Written by Thomas Paine, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British Government and the royal monarchy. The plain language used byThomas Paine spoke to the people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain.
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Congress agreed to declare independence from England
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This battle took place after the famous crossing of the Delaware by Washington. The hazardous weather made it easier for the Americans to capture the Hessians at Trenton.
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The Battle of Brandywine was the largest engagement of the Revolutionary War. It was fought between the Continental Army and the British.
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The battle was an American defeat although it served as a boost of morale and self confidence of the soldiers and Americans. They believed the defeat was due to bad luck and not poor tactics.
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Turning point of the Revolutionary War. Burgoyne surrenders to American General Gates at Saratoga New York.
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Alliance between the French and America. The treaty provided for a defensive alliance to aid France should England attack.
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Also known as the Battle fo Monmouth Courthouse, this battle improved the military reputations of Washington, Lafayette and Anthony Wayne, but ended the career of Charles Lee.
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Patriot Morgan overwhelmingly defeats British Col. Tarleton at Cowpens, South Carolina.
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Battle at King's Mountain, South Carolina. The battle lasts for 65 minutes. American troops were led by Isaac Shelby and John Sevier.
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French and American force Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown. The Battle of Yorktown is the final battle of the Revolutionary War.
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John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens travel to Paris to negotiate a preliminary peace treaty with the British which Congress then ratifies.
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Great Britain officially states that hostilities have ended in America on February 4th. Congress agrees on April 11, 1783.
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George Washington was the first president. This is a fraternal order of Continental Army officers.
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September 3: The Treaty of Paris is signed, and Spain recognizes American Independence, followed quickly by Sweden and Denmark. Russia will also recognize America's independence before the year is out.
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George Washington officially issues a "Farewell Address to the Army" in November and formally discharges the Army. He later resigns as Commander in Chief.
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The Treaty of Paris is officially ratified after being signed the previous year.
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Thomas Jefferson is made the minister to France.
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Treaty of Fort Stanwix, the Six Nations of the Iroquois give up all claims to territory west of the Niagara River. The Creek Indians also sign a treaty expanding Georgia's territory.
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He fails at negotiating commerce treaties and ensuring that the terms of the Treaty of Paris are enforced including the abandoning of their military posts along the Great Lakes. He returns back from England in 1788.
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Former military officer Henry Knox is appointed as the first Secretary of War.
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This was advocating the separation of church and state.
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The Land Ordinance of 1785 is passed providing for the division of the northwestern territories into townships with lots to be sold for $640 each.
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Shays Rebellion occurs in Massachusetts. Daniel Shays is a former Revolutionary War captain who went bankrupt and led a group of armed individuals in protest. His "Army" will continue to grow and make attacks in the state, which are not stopped until February 4, 1787. However, this rebellion reveals the weakness of the articles to provide military protection across state lines.
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Congress establishes a standard coinage system as proposed by Thomas Jefferson, the adopted Spanish dollar, with a silver weight of 375 64/100s grains of fine silver.
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Congress agrees to hold a constitutional convention on May 14th in Philadelphia to deal with the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
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May 25–September 17: The Constitutional Convention meets and results in the creation of the US Constitution. It needs nine states to ratify it for it to come into effect.
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The first of 77 essays called collectively The Federalist Papers is published in New York's The Independent Journal. These articles are written to persuade individuals in the state to ratify the new Constitution. Before the end of the year, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey ratify the Constitution.
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The Congress officially adjourned. The United States would have no official government until April 1789.
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Supreme Law of the United States of America
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Georgetown University becomes the first Catholic university founded in the United States.
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George Washington is inaugurated in New York as the first President. He is sworn in by Robert Livingston and then delivers his inaugural address to Congress. A week later, the first inaugural ball is held.
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The French Revolution begins when revolutionaries stormed the Bastille Prison, events witnessed by the American minister Thomas Jefferson.
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The Department of State (called the Department of Foreign Affairs at first) is established with Thomas Jefferson as his head.
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September 2: The new Treasury Department is headed by Alexander Hamilton. Samuel Osgood is named the first Postmaster General under the new constitution.
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The Federal Judiciary Act creates a six-man Supreme Court. John Jay is named the Chief Justice.
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Congress establishes the US Army before adjourning.
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The first national Thanksgiving Day is proclaimed by George Washington at the request of Congress.
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The Whiskey Act is signed putting a tax on whiskey. This is opposed by farmers and many states pass laws protesting the tax, eventually leading to the Whiskey Rebellion.
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Vermont becomes the 14th state, the first to enter the United States after the 13 original colonies.
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Benjamin Franklin dies at the age of 84.
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The first census is completed. The total population of the United States is 3,929,625.
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The Coast Guard is created.
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The First Bank of the United States is officially chartered after President Washington signs it into law.
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The first 10 amendments are added to the US Constitution as the Bill of Rights.
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The Presidential Succession Act is passed detailing the line of succession in the case of the death of the president and vice president.
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The national mint is established in Philadelphia.
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The New York Stock Exchange is organized.
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Kentucky enters the Union as the 15th state.
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George Washington is reelected as president in the second presidential election.
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Allowed slave owners to recapture runaway slaves.
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Thomas Jefferson resigns as Secretary of State. Edmund Randolph will become Secretary of State.
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The Naval Act is passed, authorizing construction of what would become the first ships in the US Navy.
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The Whiskey Rebellion is ended in Pennsylvania when Washington sends a huge militia force to put down the insurrection. The rebels return home quietly.
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August 20: The Battle of Fallen Timbers occurs in northwest Ohio where General Anthony Wayne defeated Indian insurgents ending hostilities in the region.
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The Senate ratifies Jay's Treaty between the United States and Great Britain. Washington later signs it into law. The acceptance of Jay's Treaty means that America and France will come close to war.
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The Treaty of Greenville is signed with the 12 Ohio Indian tribes who had been defeated at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. They give large amounts of land to America.
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Tennessee is admitted to the Union as the 16th state. Andrew Jackson will be sent to Congress as its first Representative.
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December 7: John Adams wins the presidential election with 71 electoral votes. His opponent, Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson, comes in second with 68 votes and wins the vice presidency.
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The United States, the first US naval ship, is launched.
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The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) is launched.
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The 11th Amendment, which restricts the rights of citizens to bring suit against states in federal court, is ratified.
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The Mississippi Territory is created by Congress.
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July 13: George Washington is named Commander-in-Chief of the US Army.
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George Washington dies suddenly of a throat infection. He is mourned in the United States, given honors in England, and a week of mourning begins in France.
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The Library of Congress is created. It is a research library that serves Congress and is the national library of the US.