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The French and Indian War
The British fought against the French and Indians for land. It started with wanting to claim the Ohio River Valley. The French had already set up communities through it but the English wanted to move into it. Soon after was begun. Tension was created with Britain and its colony allies, and the tension grew bigger and bigger. -
The Sugar Act
Britain puts a tax on sugar and molasses. They cracked down on smugglers who were trying to get cheaper sugar and colonists got upset because they had a way of business that Britain knocked down. This is the first act that the British impose on the colonies so they are only a little upset. -
The Quartering Act
The British taxed the colonies by housing local troops and soldiers at the colonists’ houses. The British must do this because they cannot afford housing for the troops after spending so much from the French and Indian War. The colonists became angrier and a little rebellious. -
The Tea Act
England decided that because the East India Tea Company was losing money, they could ship tea straight to the colonies instead of passing through England. Although the price of tea lowered the colonists grew angry because the East India Tea Company had full control over the price of tea. The patriots rebel and start to boycott tea. -
The Boston Tea Party
Americans put on disguises as Native Americans and got on ships filled with tea and dumped it all in the Boston Harbor. They did this because they were so sick of the Tea Act. Britain got so mad they shut down Boston Harbor and created a set of laws called the Intolerable Acts. -
The Shot Heard Round the World
The British were moving into Concord, looking for a stash of weapons, but when the minute men heard they faced the British and someone fired a shot and 8 colonists were killed. This was the first battle of the Revolutionary war. -
Green Mountain Boys at Fort Ticonderoga
Ethan Allen led his men to attack Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. Britain was surprised and the Americans win over many weapons. This got Britain angry and was only one of the early ones. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British decided to just attack without a surprise, the Americans fired killing hundreds of British soldiers. Britain won but the Americans still had many forces left in Boston. Washington placed cannons high on Boston's ground and Britain decided that they left Boston alone, knowing that they could no longer defend the city. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote a 50 page pamphlet. In it he described King George III a royal brute and stated that Americans would be better off governing themselves. It inspired the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence later on. -
Declaration of Independence-
The Second Continental Congress met up in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and created The Declaration of Independence. It separated the relationship between Britain and its 13 colonies. King George III didn’t accept it, but it inspired and still does inspire many Americans. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The British soldier, Burgoyne was going to isolate New England from all the other states to stop rebellions, but when the battle came, the King ordered Howe to attack Philadelphia instead of going towards Albany. Americans surrounded the troops that could make it. The British didn’t attack New England again and instead will go further south. -
Help From Europe
France signed an alliance with the United States and agreed to send money, uniforms, and weapons. The Netherlands and Spain also decided to help with loans, and many other European officers agreed to train American troops and get them in better shape and condition. This helped the Americans greatly and they got a lot more confident. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Washington’s army built a campsite at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. They were not fed, clothed, or housed very well and disease spread quickly. Once it got around people started sending food and clothes, but for a lot of soldiers it was too late, but conditions improved in the spring. -
Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis moved his troops to VA coast and locates them at a peninsula near Yorktown, putting himself in a position to be surrounded. American and French forces start to attack Cornwallis’ troops. He surrenders and it is the last battle of the war. -
Treaty of Paris
Parliament began to make peace talks with Americans and congress sent a small group to negotiate. Some of the terms of the treaty are: Florida is returned to Spain, and all states must restore rights and property to the loyalists. Congress approved the treaty and the 8 years of the Revolution ended.
