American History Timeline

  • Sugar Act

    Sugar Act
    The colonists taxes on molasses and other sugar products were raised by the British. This act angered the colonists significantly.
  • Currency Act

    Currency Act
    This act stopped colonists from printing paper currency. This event was caused by the government, no new bills could be printed.
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act
    This caused colonists to pay taxes on every piece of paper they used.
  • Quartering Act

    Quartering Act
    The colonists had to provide the British soldiers with food and housing. This act enraged the colonists.
  • Declaratory Act

    Declaratory Act
    The parliament could make laws binding the American colonies.
  • Intolerable Acts

    Intolerable Acts
    Punitive laws passed after the Boston Tea Party.
  • Tea Act

    Tea Act
    It gave the India tea company more rights to ship their tea.
  • Townshend Revenue Act

    Townshend Revenue Act
    Taxes were applied on glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    The angered colonists snuck onto the British ship and dumped out 342 chests of tea into the ocean.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    Colonists were protesting by throwing snowballs, sticks, stones at a group of soldiers. The soldiers were angered so they fired back and murdered many colonists.
  • Battles of Lexington and Concord

    Battles of Lexington and Concord
    The first battles of the American revolution.
  • Battle of Bunker Hill (Breeds Hill)

    Battle of Bunker Hill (Breeds Hill)
    The first major battle of the American revolution.
  • The Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence
    A document signed to establish the American Colonists freedom. After this was signed the colonists had independence.
  • Battle of Trenton

    Battle of Trenton
    General George Washington helps put Americans in control of New Jersey. Americans win victory changed both countries.
  • Battle of Saratoga

    Battle of Saratoga
    The Americans win the first battle and go to fight in Albany. The win encouraged more people to join the Albany war and enhanced their morale.
  • The battle of Valley Forge

    The battle of Valley Forge
  • The battle of Yorktown

    The battle of Yorktown
    This battle helped end the Revolutionary War. After it ended there was peace for 2 years.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of Paris
    This helped deal with fishing rights. This also Negotiated on Mississippi River.
  • Proclamation of 1789

    Proclamation of 1789
    George Washington makes the Thanksgiving proclamation.
    It was to be held on the 26th of November every year. This was the first national holiday to be celebrated.
  • The Whiskey Rebellion

    The Whiskey Rebellion
    Helped establish federal power. Pennsylvania started it to lower taxes on spirits. Shows struggle between states and federal government.
  • The XYZ Affair

    The XYZ Affair
    America wanted to have a meeting with the British. Three American representatives went to talk to them and they found 3 British diplomats XYZ showed disrespect and joked about it which angered the Americans.
  • The Alien and Sedition Acts

    The Alien and Sedition Acts
    After the XYZ Affair the Americans wanted to show they were serious. The Federal Government created 2 acts the Alien act and the Sedition act. The Alien act was where the President could imprison or deport anyone who was considered dangerous.
  • Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

    Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
    The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions declared the Alien and Sedition acts unconstitutional. The acts made by the Federal Government under the constitution were bad and unfair.
  • The Embargo Act

    The Embargo Act
    The Embargo Act prevented ships and vessels except for battleships from going out into the sea. This act was made so that America wouldn't trade with foreign countries mainly for France and England as a protest to stop destroying our battleships.
  • The War of 1812

    The War of 1812
    America went to war with the British fighting with the Native Americans as allies. America had to do something after taking 10 years of disrespect. The before the war British were shooting down American ships and kidnapping the people. As a protest Americans cut off trade routes which hurt everybody so they stopped it.
  • McCulloch v. Maryland

    McCulloch v. Maryland
    How much power should the national government have compared to the others, McCulloch v. Maryland is figuring this out, Also does the constitution allow congress to make a National bank. This argument was over the amount of power different governments.
  • The Monroe Doctrine

    The Monroe Doctrine
    The Monroe Doctrine prevented America from getting involved with European conflict. This declared that the Western Hemisphere was no longer open to European colonization. The U.S. would view any attempt by European powers to interfere with America as a threat.