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Slave Code
The House of Burgess passed the first comprehensive slave code. The code stated that slave owners could not be convicted of murder for killing a slave. Also, any black Virginian who struck a white colonist would be severely whipped. -
The Great Awakening
A group of New England ministers published a collection of sermons titled Early Piety. The result became known as the Great Awakening. The Great Awakening provided a language of individualism, reinforced in print culture, which reappeared in the call for independence. -
Native American Slavery
From 1670-1715 between 24,000 and 51,000 Native Americans were forced into slavery throughout the Southern Colonies. -
Yamase War
The Yamasee tribe began attacking English settlers in Carolina. In 1717 the English defeated The Yamasee while at the same time strengthening a bond with the Cherokee. -
Printing
William Parks sets up a printing shop in Annapolis and gives the Chesapeake a stable trade in printing and books. -
Seven Years War
A global war that spanned five continents. In America, militiamen fought for the British against the French Catholics and their Native American allies. -
Pontiacs War
Neolin, a prophet, began to wage war against European settlers. Pontiac followed suit. Disease and shortage of supplies ended the war in July 1766. -
Royal Proclamation of 1763
During Pontiacs War, the British Crown issued a Royal Proclamation which stated that the line marking the Appalachian Mountains was to be the boundary between Indian Country and the British Colonies. -
Stamp Act
The Act required that many documents be printed on paper that had been stamped to show the duty had been paid , including newspapers, pamphlets, diplomas, legal documents, and even playing cards. -
Sons of Liberty
Resistance to the Stamp Act came in three forms. Legislative resistance by elites, economic resistance by merchants, and popular protest by common colonists. As a result the Sons of Liberty were formed. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act was I acted in June of 1767. The Act imposed customs duties on common items, like lead, glass, paint, and tea, instead of direct taxes. -
War for American Independence
The war began at Lexington Concord in 1775. British forces and American Colonies warred over US independence. The Continental Army defeated Burgoyne’s men at Saratoga, New York. This battle would prove to be a major turning point of the war convincing France that the colonies were capable of winning. France began waging war abroad in support of the colonists. Peace negotiations took place in France, and the war came to an official end on September 3, 1783.43 -
Declaration of Independence
Adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4,1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Declaration announced that the thirteen colonies at war with Great Britain would now regard themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states. -
Articles of Confederation
Known as the original constitution the Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781 and replaced by the US Constitution in 1789. -
The US Constitution
The drafting of the US Constitution began in May of 1787 when the Constitutional Convention met to revise the Articles of Confederation. The ratification process began that day and ended in 1790 with Rhode Island being the last state to ratify.
