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John Locke was a very important philosopher in the "Age of Enlightenment". He believed people had natural rights and rights given to them by governments. The line "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights" of the Declaration of independence came from his philosophes -
Charles Montesquieu was another philosopher in the "Age of Enlightenment" that believed in the separation of powers - three individual government branches that are separate. They are the executive, judicial, and legislative powers. -
Alexander Hamilton was a very influential founding father, living from 1757 to 1804 when he was killed in a duel with rival Aaron Burr. According to the History.com article, he "played a key role in defending and ratifying the U.S. Constitution". He also believed in a strong centralized government. -
The Proclamation of 1763 was a proclamation forbidding colonists from living in lands across the proclamation line after which the lands were designated for the Native Americans. It made the colonists angry because it meant they could not move west and that the King wanted to keep tight control on the colonist's land. -
The French and Indian War was a war between the British and their American colonies and the French. Both sides employed Native Americans. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris of 1763. After the war, the King imposed heavy taxes on the Colonists because of the cost of the war. This eventually lead to the Revolution. -
The Quartering Act was an act issued by the King that made it mandatory to house British soldiers in one's house if the barracks were full. This all had to be paid for by the colonists. -
The stamp act was an act that imposed taxes on all paper and legal documents. Even playing cards had to be taxed. The paper had to have a stamp made in Britain for it to be allowed. -
The Boston massacre was when a group of British soldiers fired upon American colonists in Boston when they were being harassed. 5 people were killed and 3 more wounded. This helped unite the colonies against the British. -
The Boston tea party was an event where colonists dressed up as Native Americans and boarded a British tea boat, they dumped over many tons of tea in the harbor of Boston. The colonists did that because they were upset at the tax on tea. -
The Congress met and Peyton Randolph was named president of the Congress (so in a sense, he was the first president of the US). Congress met to discuss what had to be done about the increasing taxes and acts and to stop exporting things to Britain. -
The first battle of the revolutionary war. It was described as "the shot heard around the world". It signified the beginning of independence. -
The first battle of the revolutionary war. It was described as "the shot heard around the world". It signified the beginning of independence. -
Congress reconvened, uniting 13 colonies. During its time, it approved and signed the Declaration of independence. They also approved of a flag for the new country. -
The Americans were defeated at this battle, although it proved that the colonists could fight the British. The battle lasted much longer than expected, even with Britain's superior army. -
One of the most important documents for the revolution and founding of America. Five men wrote it, although the main writer was young Thomas Jefferson. Two days after it was finished, the Second Continental Congress approved (which is why we celebrate the 4th, not the 2nd). -
The colonists made an alliance with France to help aid them in the war. They got supplies, ammunition, arms, uniforms, and most importantly, troops. The French brought reinforcement and fought the British navy. -
Benedict Arnold was a major general of the colonies. He won many brilliant battles for the Americans, although thinking that he did not get enough credit, defected to the British. The colonists found out, although Arnold escaped to Britain, though even there he frowned upon. -
This was a major American victory against the British. They forced them on a peninsula in Virginia. It effectively ended the military conflict in the revolutionary war. -
The Constitution was signed and laid the foundation for America's new government. It was the greatest American vision of freedom. -
This Treaty was the official end of the revolution. Britain accepted that America was a separate and independent government.