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October 7, 1763: The Proclamation of 1763
Following the French and Indian War, King George III prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. This was intended to prevent costly conflicts with Native Americans, but it infuriated colonists who felt they had fought the war specifically to gain access to that fertile land. It was one of the first major points of friction between the colonies and the Crown. -
Parliament passed this act to recoup war debts by taxing imported sugar, wine, and coffee. More importantly, it established special "vice-admiralty" courts where smugglers were tried without a jury. This led to the first widespread protests and the emergence of the argument that only colonial legislatures had the right to tax their own citizens.
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in 1763, Great Britain emerged from the French and Indian War with a massive debt. To pay it off, Parliament ended its policy of "salutary neglect" and began imposing direct taxes like the Stamp Act
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In the first major set-piece battle of the war, colonial forces held their ground against two massive British charges before running out of ammunition and retreating. Although a technical British victory, they suffered over 1,000 casualties—nearly half their force—proving to the world that the inexperienced "rebels" could stand up to the professional British army.
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In Rhode Island, a group of colonists attacked and burned the HMS Gaspee, a British customs schooner known for aggressively enforcing trade laws. The British government’s attempt to bypass local courts and send the suspects to England for trial led to the creation of the Committees of Correspondence, a vital communication network between the colonies.
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The British shifted their strategy to the South, capturing Charleston, South Carolina, along with over 5,000 Continental soldiers. It was the worst American defeat of the war, leading to a brutal civil war between "Patriot" and "Loyalist" neighbors in the southern backcountry.
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Ethan Allen, his "Green Mountain Boys," and Benedict Arnold led a surprise dawn attack on this British fort in New York. They captured much-needed heavy artillery and cannons without a single casualty. These cannons were later dragged through the snow to Boston, forcing the British to evacuate the city the following year.
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when British troops attempted to seize colonial arms. Shortly after, the Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. While many initially hoped for reconciliation
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Thomas Paine published this revolutionary pamphlet using simple, powerful language to argue that it was "common sense" for a continent to rule itself rather than be governed by a small island thousands of miles away. It became a massive bestseller, shifting public opinion from wanting better treatment to wanting total independence.
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August 27, 1776: The Battle of Long Island
In the largest battle of the entire war, the British decisively defeated Washington’s army in New York. The Americans were nearly trapped, but Washington executed a daring nighttime retreat across the East River under a heavy fog. While a defeat, the escape saved the Continental Army from certain destruction. -
Following his famous Christmas crossing of the Delaware, Washington outmaneuvered the British at Princeton. He left his campfires burning to trick the enemy into thinking he was still there while he marched his troops around their flank. These twin victories at Trenton and Princeton revitalized American morale at a time when the revolution was near collapse.
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Following the American victory at Saratoga, France officially signed the Treaty of Alliance, recognizing the United States as an independent nation. This turned the rebellion into a global war, forcing Britain to defend its interests in Europe and the Caribbean while the Americans received vital French gold, gunpowder, and naval support.
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General Daniel Morgan used a brilliant "double envelopment" tactic to destroy a crack British force under Banastre Tarleton. This victory halted the British momentum in the South and set the stage for the final pursuit of Cornwallis toward Yorktown.
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The colonies finally ratified their first national constitution, creating a loose "league of friendship." While it allowed the colonies to manage the war effort together, its deliberate weakness soon led to financial chaos, as the central government could not even collect taxes to pay its soldiers.
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As the war wound down, Continental officers threatened to revolt against Congress because they hadn't been paid. Washington personally addressed them, famously putting on his glasses and saying he had "grown gray and almost blind" in their service. His emotional appeal ended the threat and preserved civilian control over the military.
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In an unprecedented move, George Washington voluntarily surrendered his military power to the Continental Congress and returned to his farm at Mount Vernon. This act stunned the world—most expected him to become a king or dictator—and established the precedent of a peaceful transition of powe
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Independence was officially recognized by the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which established the borders of the new United States. However, the young nation’s first government, governed by the Articles of Confederation
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After months of intense debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. This officially replaced the weak Articles of Confederation with a strong federal government, creating the structure that still governs the United States today.