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Southern Campaign
The Southern Campaign began with British concern over the course of the war in the North. Failure at Saratoga, fear of French intervention, and over-all failure to bring the rebels to heel persuaded British military strategists to turn their attention to the South. The battles stopped a long string of retreats by American forces and initiated a chain of events leading to eventual Patriot victory at Yorktown -
End of the French and Indian War
The British won the French and Indian War (1754-1763), primarily through the campaign that captured the capital of New France (Quebec) in the Battle of Quebec in 1759. As a result, France ceded control of Canada to Great Britain. -
Proclamation of 1763
Issued by King George III of Great Britain, established the territories of Quebec, East and West Florida and Grenada and their boundaries. The proclamation also closed colonial expansion westward. It forbade citizens and colonial governments from buying land from natives; the empire would conduct all official relations.
Furthermore, only licensed traders would be allowed to travel west or deal with Indians. This was intended to protect colonists from Native American and vice versa. -
Stamp Act of 1765
this law is the first direct tax imposed on the American Colonies. Its purpose is to raise money for the military defense of the Colonies. It requires that all paper products (newspapers, legal documents, advertisements, almanacs, licenses, and even cards and dice) in the Colonies bear a stamp. The colonists are angered by this “taxation without representation” in Parliament. -
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Quartering Act of 1765
Passed by the British Parliament to maintain the king's power in the American colonies. The act focuses on enforcing the punishment for mutiny and desertion, as well as improving the army's pay and quarters. The 30 provisions of the act include a requirement that American colonists house British troops. The punishment is mentioned for those, including constables, tithingmen, magistrates, or other public officers, who do not comply. -
Stamp Act Congress
The congress' opposition to the British Parliament's imposition of the Stamp Act, a tax measure, on grounds of no taxation without representation; The rights of the colonists as British subjects were discussed; Resolution made to lay the colonists' grievances directly before the British Parliament. -
Boston Massacre
The presence of British regulars in Boston pushes residents to a boiling point. Confronted by an angry and aggressive crowd, British soldiers fire on the mob and kill five colonists. Although a jury finds that the soldiers fired in self-defense, publicity efforts turn it into the “Boston Massacre." It became one of the greatest contributing factors to the War for American Independence. -
Tea Act
This law attempts to save the financially strained British East India Company. It allows the company to export the tea directly to the Colonies instead of going to Great Britain first. It also is an attempt by Great Britain to show that it can tax the Colonies without their consent. The colonists refuse to support the tax and organize boycotts. -
Boston Tea Party
After a number of the Colonies resist efforts by Great Britain to enforce the Tea Act, Boston takes dramatic action: A group of Boston men seize and destroy the cargoes of tea on three ships in Boston Harbor. -
Coercive Acts
These laws were meant to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party until the leaders paid for the tea that was dumped over board. Boston Harbor closed to all trade, and the colony’s right to self-government was abolished. The people of Massachusetts are then forced to provide lodging for British troops in private homes. -
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First Continental Congress
A meeting of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies that met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the British Parliament in the form of a protest -
Second Continental Congress
Shortly after the Second Continental Congress convenes, news arrives of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The congress appoints George Washington commander in chief of the Continental Army in June. The congress also sends the Olive Branch Petition to King George III in July, seeking a way to reconcile and avoid conflict. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first military conflicts between the Colonial rebel forces and Great Britain during the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Long Island
Was a defeat for the Continental Army under General George Washington and the beginning of a successful campaign that gave the British control of the strategically important city of New York. -
Battle of Princeton
George Washington was able to mount a night attack and defeat the British troops at Princeton and get out before General Charles Cornwallis could arrive with reinforcements. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga are often considered together as a turning point of the war in favour of the Americans. The American victory in the Battles of Saratoga helped persuade the French to recognize American independence and to openly provide military assistance. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States. Stemming from wartime urgency, its progress was slowed by fears of central authority and extensive land claims by states before was it was ratified, or made effective, on March 1, 1781. -
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Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown in 1781 was the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War. A significant victory for George Washington's colonial army, it disheartened the British, encouraged the Americans and French, and prompted negotiations to end the war. -
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Constitutional Convention
Convention that drew up the Constitution of the United States. -
Ratification of the Constitution
Ultimately, it took 10 months before nine state legislatures ratified the Constitution.
The ratification process is the process a proposed bill has to undergo in order for in to be in effect.
