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Treaty of Paris (French and Indian War)
After Britain and France, with the help of Spain in 1761, battled and the Seven years’ war ended, Britain had won. The Treaty of Paris gave Britain control of North America east of the Mississippi. To thank Spain for its aid, France gave it New Orleans and Louisiana. Britain gave Cuba and the Philippines back to Spain in exchange for Florida. After this treaty was passed, France now longer had power in North America. -
Proclamation of 1763
On October 7, 1763 the British government passed the Proclamation of 1763 which prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. The proclamation was passed to ease the fears of Native Americans who were worried that the colonists would take their land. The colonists were angry because they thought they had won the right to settle in the Ohio River Valley by winning the French and Indian War. Britain was upset that the colonists didn’t want to pay for their own defense."Proc -
Sugar Act
On April 5, 1764 Parliament passed the Sugar Act. It taxed sugar, molasses and other supplies. It also called for strict enforcement of the act and harsh punishment of smugglers. Colonists such as James Otis claimed that Parliament had no right to tax them because the colonies were not represented in Parliament. It was repealed in 1766. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed on March 22, 1765. This law required all commercial and legal documents to carry a stamp that showed that a tax has been paid. This act was different from the previous ones because it fell directly on all colonists. It again angered colonists because they were being taxed without representation and they organized a boycott of British goods. It was finally repealed in 1766. -
Quatering Act
The Quartering Act was passed on July 2 , 1765. This was a cost-saving measure put in place by the British government. It required the colonies to house British soldiers and provide them with supplies. It was repealed in 1766. -
Boston Massacre
In the fall of 1768, British soldiers filled the streets of Boston. The soldiers and colonists often yelled insults at each other which created tension. On March 5th,1770 the British had enough of the insults and fired shots at 5 colonists, among them Crispus Attucks, and killed them. The Sons of Liberty named the incident the Boston Massacre and used it as a anti-British propaganda. John Adams supported the British in court and ultimately won. To many colonists this shooting was an example of B -
Tea Act
On May 10, 1773 Parliament passed the Tea Act which gave Britain control over American tea trade. The tea would only arrive in trading company’s ships and be sold there by its merchants. It taxed regulated tea which angered colonists, especially colonial shippers and merchants. They protested by organizing what became known as the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
On December 16, 1773 a group colonial men from the Sons of Liberty, dressed up as Native Americans. They boarded a British Tea ship and threw 342 cases of tea overboard into Boston Harbor. The Colonists thought that by doing this it would show Britain how upset they were about taxation without representation. Britain wanted repayment for the wrecked tea. -
Intolerable (Coercive) Acts
On March 28, 1774 Parliament adopted the Intolerable Acts. One of the acts closed the port of Boston until colonists paid for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The second act banned the committees of correspondence. Others allowed Britian to house troops wherever needed, and let British officials accused of crimes in the colonies stand trial in Britiain. To enforce the acts Parliament appointed General Thomas Gage governor of Massachusetts. -
1st Continental Congress
On September 5th, 1774, delegates from all the colonies except Georgia, although they agreed to participate in the actions, met in Philadelphia. The colonies voted to ban trade with Britain until Parliament repealed the Intolerable Acts. They also called upon each colony to start training troop’s immeadialty. This meeting did not call for independence, the colonists simply wanted to uphold colonial rights, but this meeting marked a key step in American history. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
On the morning of April 19, 1775 British troops marched into Lexington to see 70 of John Parker’s militiamen. Within minutes the 62 remaining militiamen were forced to retreat. Soon after 4,000 minutemen lined the streets of Lexington and Concord. With the help of 1,000 more troops, they saved the British from losing at Lexington and Concord. These battles sparked the American Revolution. -
2nd Continental Congress
On May 10, 1775 the 2nd Continental Congress met again in Philadelphia. John and Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Patrick Henry agreed to start the Continental Army. They chose George Washington as the commanding general. Adams, Hancock, Franklin, Washington, and Henry also authorized the printer of paper money to pay the troops. The 2nd Continental Congress was the beginning of a government. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 17, 1775 militiamen seized Bunkers Hill and Breed Hill. Eventually the British found out about the militia men and attacked. The words of William Prescott were “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” The militiamen took that to heart and when they saw the whites of their eyes, the men fired and pushed the British back. Soon the British returned and won Bunker Hill. The British suffered over 1,000 casualties compared to the 400 militiamen. Although the British won Bunker Hill -
Common Sense
When Common Sense was published in 1776, Thomas Paine challenged the authority of the British government. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain."The American Crisis by Thomas Paine." The American Crisis by Thomas Paine. Independence Hall Association, 4 July 1995. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776 congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The document, which was written by Thomas Jefferson, was based on the beliefs of John Locke that people have unalienable rights. It stated that if a government disregards the Declaration of Independence it loses it right to govern and the people (free white men) may form a new government that will respect the document. The declaration declared the colonies free and independent from Britain. -
Battle of Brooklyn
On August 22, Howe marched into Long Island hoping to capture New York City and control of the Hudson River. On August 27 the British attacked the Americans at Brooklyn heights. The British easily defeated the Americans. On August 29 Washington ordered the Americans to retreat by boat to Manhattan to save the army from being captured. The Americans suffered 1,000 casualties while the British only lost 400 men. "The Battle of Brooklyn." History.com. A&E Television Networks -
American Crisis by Thomas Paine
The American Crisis is a collection of articles written by Thomas Paine. In 1776 Paine wrote Common Sense, an extremely popular and successful pamphlet arguing for Independence from England. The essays collected here constitute Paine's ongoing support for an independent and self-governing America through the many severe crises of the Revolutionary War. General Washington found the first essay so inspiring, he ordered that it be read to the troops at Valley Forge. -
Battle of Trenton
On December 16, 1776 George Washington marched his army to Trenton, New Jersey. The Americans came from 2 different points. John Stark came from the west while Nathaniel Greene and Washington came from the north. A Hessian incorrectly told his general that the Americans had surrounded Trenton and there was no way to escape. Washington was able to take advantage of the mistake and forced the British to surrender. -
Battles of Saratoga
Burgoyne sent a raiding party to collect supplies in Vermont, but they were defeated by New England troops in the Battle of Bennington. Then he headed toward Albany. There he met Horatio Gates who was waiting on a ridge near Saratoga. While Horatio Gates commanded the battle on the ridge, Benedict Arnold commanded another raid on nearby Freemans Farm. He inflicted heavy casuaualties on the British,They surrendered on Oct. 7,1777. European nations began to beleive that American might win the war -
Winter at Valley Forge
Valley Forge is where the American army was at its weakest. The harsh Pennsylvania winter caused many problems. Soldiers were starving, disease was taking over, and people were dying. In March soldiers finally saw some food trickle into the camp. By April, Baron van Stueben turned a dying American army into a fighting army. In June 1778 a healthy American army streamed out of Valley Forge. -
Battle of Yorktown
Lord Cornwallis set up his base for his army in Yorktown, which was located on a peninsula in Chesapeake Bay. When George Washington found out about Cornwallis’ whereabouts he saw it as a golden opportunity. A French Fleet arrived from the West Indies and trapped the British. On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis and his troop surrendered. Although there were still some small fights, Yorktown was the last major battle of the Revolutionary war. -
Treaty of Paris (Revolutionary War)
After the American won the Revolutionary War, the Treaty of Paris was put into place. It said, 1) America was independent. 2) Its boundaries were Mississippi River, Canada, and Florida. 3) The US could fish off the coast off Canada, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. 4) Each side would repay its debts owed to each other. 5) The British would return any captured people. 6) Congress recommended that the states return any land to Loyalists. The US nor Britain lived up to the treaty.
