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1.The Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were a series of acts passed by Parliament in 1651, 1660, 1663, and 1696. They were created in an attempt to control colonial trade. -
3. The French and Indian War
The French sided with the Native Americans to fight the British and its colonies for the ownership of Ohio River Valley. Britain ended up defeating the French and gained Canada with land east of the Mississippi River. (1754-1763) -
5. The Proclamation of 1763
Issued by King George III, it banished westward expansion of the colonies past the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflicts with Natives living in that area. -
44. Committees of Correspondence
This was the meeting of different colonial committees that came together to discuss ideas, information, and plans about British laws and rule. -
7. The Stamp Act
An act passed by Prime Minister Grenville and Parliament that required colonists to pay for official stamps and seals when purchasing any paper items. -
25. Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams was the founder of the Sons of Liberty and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He strongly favored independence of the colonies, and created the slogan "No Taxation without Representation." -
13. The Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was a pro-revolutionary secret society that used both violence and speech to frighten and ward off British men. -
8. The Declaratory Act
This act was passed by Parliament in response to the repeal of the Stamp Act. It stated that Parliament had the power to make colonial laws "in all cases whatsoever." -
16. The Daughters of Liberty
A group of women that displayed patriotism during the Stamp and Townshend Acts by boycotting British goods. -
4. The Townshend Acts
An act released by Parliament that placed taxes on all items of paper, glass, lead, paint, and tea. -
20. The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was the shooting of colonists by a small troop of British soldiers after they had been shouted at and taunted by the colonists. Five colonists were killed. -
21. Crispus Attucks
He was the first victim of the Boston Massacre, formerly known as a half-African, half-Indian sailor. -
9. The Tea Act
An act passed by Parliament that authorized the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonists, which was so cheap, colonial merchants and smugglers couldn't compete. This was one of the earliest examples of a monopoly. -
18. The Boston Tea Party
An event organized by the Sons of Liberty, in which a group of men disguised as Indians, snuck onto three of the British tea ships and threw 340 chests of tea overboard into the Boston Harbor as an act of civil disobedience. -
11. The Intolerable/Coercive Acts
A collection of laws passed by Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party. These included: the closing of Boston Harbour, General Thomas Gage became the royal governor of Massachusetts, the Quebec and Quartering Act was passed, and British officials were sent to the British jury for their trials. -
2. The Quartering Act
This act was part of the Intolerable Acts and forced the colonists to supply food, shelter, and water to British soldiers. -
6. The Quebec Act
This act was also a part of the Intolerable Acts. It gave a vast amount of the land to the colony of Quebec. -
46. The First Continental Congress
An assembling of colonial leaders that was created to discuss the matters relating to the conflicts and the relationship of Britain and it's colonies. -
22. Patrick Henry
He was a motivational speaker that encouraged the protest of British rule. He spoke at meetings and was a part of the Committees of Correspondence. -
41. Wentworth Cheswell
He was a free African American that rode during the Midnight Ride north to New Hampshire and Maine to warn the citizens of the coming British soldiers and to gather reinforcements. -
40. Paul Revere
A man that rode on the Midnight Ride. In this ride, he was set out on horseback out of Boston to warn the civilians that the British soldiers were coming. This was right before the Battle at Lexington and Concord. -
43. William Dawes
A Patriot who rode during the Midnight Ride, and took the other path from Boston that Paul Revere didn't take. During this ride, he warned the local citizens that the British soldiers were arriving. -
38. The Battle of Lexington and Concord
This was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War and was a victory for the colonists. This was also known as the "shot heard 'round the world." -
47. The Second Continental Congress
The second assembling of colonial delegates that met to make the first attempt at a Republican Government. It resulted in the creation of the Continental Army with George Washington as general, the Olive Branch Petition, and the ordering of new state constitutions. -
32. George Washington
A Virginian who was the general of the Continental Army, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a member of the Continental Congress. -
36. The Continental Army
Decided on during the Second Continental Congress, they were the first official army for the Patriots during the Revolutionary War. They originally began as the Massachusetts militia, and soon grew into a colonial army. -
10. The Green Mountain Boys
A group of Vermontians men that captured the British Fort Ticonderoga thus winning a victory for the colonists. -
14. Benedict Arnold
A Patriot general that captured Fort Ticonderoga with 400 other men, earning a large supply of artilery. -
12. Ethan Allan
Alongside Benedict Arnold, the military leader led the Green Mountain Boys in the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga. After the victory, he petitioned for Vermont to become a state. -
29. The Battle at Bunker Hill
It was the first major battle of the Revolution and was fought from Breed's Hill. It was a loss for the Patriots, but it proved that they had the strength to fight the British. -
17. The Olive Branch Petition
It was drafted by the Second Continental Congress as a final attempt to the reestablish the bond between Britain and the colonies. King George III refused to read it and in response further punished the colonies. -
26. Haym Solomon
He was the head financial broker in New York City and had the important role of financing the Revolutionary War for the colonies. -
23. Common Sense
Common Sense was a 47-page pamphlet that was spread throughout Philidalphea and was later found out to be written by Thomas Paine. It encouraged the idea of independence with a strong Patriot view, and also spread the thought that monarchs should not have the all the power to the legislature. -
45. Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine was a philosopher, politician, writer, and Patriot. He is most famous for his works called "Common Sense" and "The American Crisis". His works held a strong push for Revolution and inspired many Loyalists to join the cause. -
42. The Declaration of Independence
This document, mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson, was the official statement that the colonies were independent of the British monarchy. -
28. John Adams
He assisted Thomas Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence and negotiated, with others, the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1783). -
34. Thomas Jefferson
He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, a strong-minded patriot, and today, known as one of the Founding Fathers. -
30. Benjamin Franklin
He was also an aid to Thomas Jefferson when drafting the Declaration of Independence and was a negotiator for the Treaty of Paris (1783). -
19. Nathan Hale
He served as a spy for the Patriots and eventually was caught by the British in New York with British documents in the soles of his shoes. Before his hanging, he stated, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." -
31. John Jay
During the Revolution, he represented New York in the Continental Congress, was the governor of New York, drafted the first state constitution of New York, and was the first chief of justice in the US supreme court after the war. -
24. The Battle of Saratoga
After several losses for the Patriots, this was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. In New York, Burgoyne was surrounded by the colonial militia and was forced to surrender his troops, which was the greatest victory for the Patriots yet. -
33. The Winter at Valley Forge
During the harsh winter of 1777-78, the Continental Army was running low on supplies and food, so Washington and his 12,000 soldiers settled in northern Philadelphia at Valley Forge. -
35. John Paul Jones
He was the best Patriot naval captain who captured many British supply ships including the British warship called "Serapis". -
48. Bernardo Galvez
He was the governor of Spanish-Lousiana and captured the British Fort Charlotte in present-day Alabama. -
15. James Armistead
He was a slave who volunteered as a spy for the Continental Army by posing as a runaway slave. He then received information from British generals Cornwallis and Arnold which he sent back to Patriot generals Lafayette and Greene. -
37. Francis Marion
He was the best Guerilla warfare fighter, which was swift hit-and-run attacks. He was also the founder of Marion's Brigade, and best known as the "Swamp Fox", as he disrupted British communication and could not be caught. -
27. Battle of Yorktown
This was the last major battle of the Revolution and resulted in independence for the Patriots at last. Cornwallis ended up surrendering with a white flag after being surrounded by Washington and his troops. -
39. Treaty of Paris
This was the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War. This treaty recognized the United States of America as independent, set American borders, and delcared peace between Britain and America.
