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Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts put restricted using foreign ships in trade between all countries except England. Also said that the crew of a ship had to be 3/4 English and products not from the mother country were to be shipped from English colonies and sent to England or another English colony. -
French and Indian War
This war was fought from 1756 to 1763 over who would be the primary power holder in North America. The winner of the Seven Years War (another name for French and Indian War) would receive all land east of the Mississippi River. -
Proclamation of 1763
Issued by King George III after Britain's win in the French and Indian War, drawing a line along the Appalachian Mountains forming a boundary where settlement was not allowed. -
Stamp Act
A new tax from the British government put upon the colonists that forced the colonists to pay a tax on every paper product they would use, tax included on individual pieces of paper. -
Boston Massacre
A group of angry colonists were heckling and throwing snowballs at some British soldiers. The soldiers had strict orders not to fire on the crowd, but one did resulting in the other soldiers firing upon the crowd as well. 5 civilians were killed in this incident -
Boston tea Party
Residents of Boston were angry with the high tax on tea enforced by the British. This anger caused the Sons of Liberty to dress up as Indians, board a ship that contained British tea, and dump that tea into the Boston Harbor. -
Intolerable/Coercive Acts
Laws passed by the King after the Boston Tea Party to punish the colonists for their actions. The real name of these acts was the Coercive Acts, but colonists referred to the Coercive Acts as the Intolerable Acts because they were so harsh. -
1st Continental Congress
Meeting of delegates from twelve of the thirteen states in Philadelphia to discuss the newly begun Revolution and getting out of the restraints of British rule. -
Lexington and Concord
The Battle(s) of Lexington and Concord were the first shots fired in the Revolutionary War. Rider Paul Revere rode through the town of Concord alerting citizens that British forces were progressing towards the town. Militiamen eventually intercepted the British soldiers and battle commenced. The Revolutionary War had begun. -
Bunker Hill/Breed's Hill
A battle very early in the Revolution. The battle was fought just outside of Boston, the British winning the battle due to low amounts of ammunition for the rebels. The colonists did however do some severe damage to British forces in this battle, giving the colonists some hope. Although called The Battle of Bunker Hill, most of the fighting was actually done on Breed's Hill. -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that influenced American colonists to fight against British rule and explained reasons why the colonies should be independent. Published on this date. -
2nd Continental Congress
Succeeded the 1st Continental Congress which met in 1774. The 2nd Continental Congress had more discussion on the war effort and moving the nation towards independence. The 2nd Continental Congress eventually formed the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The official announcement of the secession of the thirteen colonies from Britain to have their independence adopted by the Second Continental Congress. Was signed by all 56 of the Founding Fathers of the United States and was written by future president Thomas Jefferson. -
Trenton
General Washington led his Continental Army across the frigid Delaware River into Trenton the night before and led his men into battle on December 26th against Hessian forces. The battle itself was not very long as the Hessian forces were captured fairly quickly. -
Saratoga
The most important battle of the war. General Burgoyne surrendered his remaining forces after losing 86% of the original number of troops he had going into the battle. This gave American troops a huge boost in confidence that may have propelled the Continental Army for the remainder of the war. -
Valley Forge
Valley Forge was the military camp just 18 miles outside of Philadelphia where the Continental Army spent the winter of 1777. Starvation, disease, and death ravaged the camp during this winter, but was a huge moment in the war. The US Soldiers fought their way through these harsh conditions. They knew if they could make it through that, then they could win the war. -
Yorktown
The final battle of the American Revolution. At Yorktown, Virginia British General Cornwallis surrendered to the American forces officially giving the United States the freedom its citizens longed for. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
The Treaty of Paris was negotiated between the United States and Britain, giving America its independence. The Continental Congress named a 5-person committee to negotiate the terms of the treaty.
