-
Period: to
American Revolution
-
Procolmation of 1763
Who: King George III What: Ordered an imaginary line down the Appalachian mountains were settlers could not cross west. Reaction: Colonists were angry over not getting access to new lands. Many colonist ignored the proclamation. -
Quartering Act
Who: British Parliament
What -Colonial assemblies had to provide supplies and housing for British troops. This included salt, vinegar, bedding, and cooking utensils
Reaction: New York decided not to vote any funds ($) for salt and vinegar. -
Stamp Act
Who: British Parliament
What:Law that required colonist to buy a stamp to be placed on all pieces of paper... ...a Tax on Paper (Newspapers, wills, licenses, playing cards, etc..) Reaction: Colonists upset they did not have a say in the new tax.
Colonists boycott paper, and get the British to repeal (cancel) the Stamp Act. -
The Townshend Acts
Who: British Parliament (Charles Townshend)
What: Series of laws (1767) passed by Parliament that placed a tax on items such as glass, paint, paper, and tea that American colonist had to pay.
Reaction: Colonists Protested and Boycotted British goods.
Repealed in 1770 (except for the tax on Tea) -
Boston Massacre
Noisy mob of colonist in Boston confront British troops. Five colonist were killed. 10 Injured. -
Tea Act
Who: Lord North and British Parliament
What: Lowered the cost of tea and gave East India Company monopoly over tea. Only Tea sold in Colonies.
Reaction: Angered Colonists. What would Britain control next..sugar, cotton? Leads to the Boston Tea Party -
Boston Tea Party
Who: Sons of Liberty:
What: On December 16, 1773
Sons of Liberty (disguised as Mohawk Indians) board British ships and dump tea into the Boston Harbor.
About 90,000 lbs dumped into the harbor.
Reaction: Angers England, causing the passing of the Intolerable Acts -
The Intolerable Acts
Who:British Parliament and the King
What: Laws passed to Punish Massachusetts
Closure of Boston Harbor until Tea was paid for
Massachusetts under strict British control (no local control of government)
Reaction: Further angered colonists. United the colonies in common cause. “An attack made on one of our sister colonies…is an attack made on all British America.”
British Solders would be tried in Britain, not colonies.
More troops sent to Massachusetts -
First Continental Congress
Who: 50 Leaders from 12 colonies (Georgia is a no show)
When/where: Philadelphia September 1774
Why important:
Colonist agree to send King George a message of colonist complaints.
Boycott British goods until repeal of Intolerable Acts.
Meet next May if Boycott doesn’t work. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Who: British Soldiers v. Massachusetts Minutemen
When/where: April 19th 1775 Lexington and Concord Massachusetts.
Why Important:
Americans demonstrate they are willing to fight and die for their rights. -
Second Continental Cogress Meets
Who: Delegates from Colonies
When/where: Philadelphia May 1775
Why important:
Create Continental Army (colonial)under George Washington’s command
Gen. George Washington goes to Massachusetts to take command of the situation. -
Battle of Bunker (Breed) Hill
Who: British Soldiers v. Boston Militia
When/where: Boston June 16 1775
Why important: British troops take the hill, but at a costly price (1,000 K.I.A or wounded, versus only 500 American causalities). Marks full scale war in Massachusetts. Shows American’s willingness to fight. -
Olive Branch Petition
Who: Second Continental Congress
When/Where: July 1775 (sent to King George in England)
Why important: Last attempt for peace by colonists. By the time the petition reaches the King it is too late. -
Common Sense is Written
Who: Thomas Paine
When/Where: January 1776 American Colonies
Why important: Pamphlet able to convince thousands of Americans that independence from England would bring a brighter future. -
Declaration of Independence
Who: Thomas Jefferson will be the main writer.
When/Where: July 4th 1776 Philadelphia Pennsylvania.
Why important: Colonies declare their independence from England. States that people have a right to change government if government abuses its powers. -
Defeat in New York
Who: British Army v. Continental Army
When/Where: August 27, 1776 Brooklyn, New York
Why important: Washington’s army gets crushed and nearly captured. This is the first of many defeats for the Colonial Army. (Lose New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania the colonial capitol.) -
Victory at Trenton
Who: Continental Army v. German Hessian Troops
When/Where: December 25-26, 1776 Trenton New Jersey
Why important: Gives Americans hope they might still win. -
Battle of Saratoga
Who: Continental Army v. British Army
When/Where: October 17, 1777 Saratoga Springs New York
Why important: British general (Burgoyne) surrendered. Convinces France and Spain to come to America’s aid. Turning Point in the War -
Trials at Valley Forge
Who: Continental Army
When/Where: December 1777 - June 1778 / Valley Forge Pennsylvania
Why Important: An underfed and undersupplied army face horrible winter conditions and begin to train as an effective fighting unit. -
Victory at Yorktown
Who: Colonial Army and French Military/Navy v. British Army
When/Where: October 6, 1781 Yorktown Virginia
Why important: Forces British General Cornwallis to surrender. Forces Britain to admit defeat and pursue a peaceful end to the war with the Americans. -
Treaty of Paris
Who: Representatives of the United States, France, Spain, and Britain.
When/Where: Signed September 3, 1783 in Paris and ratified by congress January 14, 1784
Why important:
Officially recognizes the United States of America as a free and independent country.
America gets land from Mississippi to Atlantic Coast.
U.S. agrees to return property taken from loyalist during the war.
