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Treaty of Paris (ending of French and Indian war
Treaty that officially ended the French and Indian War. The British gained control over the area west of the 13 British Colonies to the Mississippi River. The French agreed to no longer support any colonies in North America, including all of Canada. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act is a modified version of the Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733. The Sugar Act reduced the tax on sugar, but there was now a tax o other items like coffee. This act also regulated lumber and iron trade. A great decline in the rum industry happened as a result of the Sugar Act. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax that required all colonists to pay extra on all printed paper they used. This act angered the colonists so much because it was the first time the British government had ever taxed them directly. However, the tax was relatively small. -
Townshend Acts
Put taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a skirmish between some British soldeirs and some colonial men. A few shots were fired and five colonial men were killed. It created a lot of tension between the colonies and Britain ultimately resulting in the American Revolution. -
Tea Act
Great Britain made it so that the colonists could only buy their tea from G.B. it was in fact cheaper but it still had a tax, the colonists did not like this. It ruin small trading business, and they thought it volated theiir rights. -
Boston Tea Party
The colonist were tired of all the Acts Great Britain had been putting on them. To show that they shouldn't be messed with they painted themselves like Indians and attack a British East India Trading Company ship. They sent all the tea over board spilling it into the Boston Harbor. This resulted to a great punishment on Boston. -
Intolerable Acts
• The Boston Port Bill became effective on June 1, 1774. The King closed Boston Harbor to everything but British ships.
• The Quartering Act was established on March 24, 1765. The King sent lots of British troops to Boston. The colonists had to house and feed the British troops. If the colonists didn't do this for the British troops, they would get shot. • The Administration of Justice Act became effective May 20, 1774. British Officials could not be tried in colonial courts for crimes. They -
First Continental Congress
was a gathering of colonial leaders who were deeply troubled about the relations between Great Britai and its colonies in American. they continued to tell the colonists to keep boycotting and rebelling. -
Lexington and Concord
Patriots had been stockpiling weapons, so The British came to capture weapons and arrest SAmule Adams and John Hankcock. Paul Revere warned people of the British advance. There was minor fighting at Lexington. By the time the British got to Concord, most of the the weapons were hidden. This caused anger amongst the British, so they set fire to a few buildings. This made the colonists mad, and fighting broke out. The colonists won and the British lost many lives. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress started on May 10, 1775. The delegates of the 13 colonies gathered in Philadelphia to discuss their next steps. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle was actually fought at Breed's Hill. The British won, but it was a tradgic victory. The British lost many lives becuase they were fighting up hill against the colonial forces. The Patriots were stationed at Breed's Hill which was overlooking Boston. -
Olive Branch Petition
John Dickinson is the author of the Olive Branch Petition. It was the colonists last offer for peace before they rebel. The documented stated that they were not pleased with the King, but if he would make a few changes they would remain loyal citizens. Instead, the King refused to even read the petition. The colonists knew they would then have ot break free from England. -
Common Sense
Common Sense is a booklet published anonymously, but was actually written by Thomas Paine. Paine wrote about the King and shared opinions many colonists hadn't heard before. For example, Paine thought citizens should make the laws not the King. Paine critized the King and believed America should be its own country. This booklet many say started the American Revolution. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a letter to the King of England declaring America as it's own coutnry. Thomas Jefferson was the main author. One famous quote from the declaration is, "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The Declaration of Independence is the beginning of a new country, the United States of America. -
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton was a suprise attack on the British led by George Washington. The British left their fort to Hessians, paid soldeirs from foreign countries. George Wahsington's troops had low morale since they had not won any battles lately and conditions were poor. Washington knew he needed a victory or else his army would abandon the cause. Washington was victorious at Trenton because he took the offensive and suprised the British. -
Battle of Brandywine
The battle ended with the American army withdrawing up the road to Philadelphia in considerable confusion and the British encamped on the battlefield. Nightfall saved the Americans from greater loss.The British and Hessians were left occupying the field having driven the Americans from their position on Brandywine Creek. -
Battle of Saratoga
The victory gave new life to the American cause at a critical time. Americans had just suffered a major setback the Battle of the Brandywine along with news of the fall of Philadelphia to the British. -
Valley Forge
Valley Forge was an encampment of the Continental Army in Pennsylvania, just about 20 miles south of Philadelphia. General Washington's troops stayed there from December of 1777 to June of 1778. In 1776, George Washington and his troops crossed the mighty Delaware River. They then fought the Battle of Trenton which decided whether or not General Washington and his troops would stay at Valley Forge. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the revolution. The British General Cornwallis patiently awaited for reinforcements while French allies came on warships to help the Patriot cause. George Washington marched the largest continental army yet to Yorktown surrounding Cornwallis from all sides. General Cornwallis had to surrender, and the Patriots won. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
After the great defeat at Yorktown and a few other small battles, Great Britian started looking for peace with the colcnies. It took more than two years to finall come to a peace agreement. The treaty set America's borders and the colonists rights to settle and trade west of the 13 original colonies.
