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French and Indian War
The French invaded into Native American territory and desired to evolve their new settled land to become adapted with English customs. Disputes began between the Ntive Americans and colonists, therefore leading to the beginning of the French and Indian War. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was a border dividing the Appalachian mountains created to avoid further conflicts between Native Americans and colonists. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act decreased the duty for foreign-made molasses hoping to stop colonists from smuggling and pay a lower tax rate. This act also placed duties on imports untaxed before. Anyone violating this act will be tried in court by a single judge. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act taxed documents and printed items such as a will, newspapers, and playing cards. A stamp was placec on each item to make sure it was paid for. -
Sons of Liberty is Formed
Colonists such as artisans and laborers secretly united a resistant group to defy the law that taxed duties on imports; they were known as Sons of Liberty. They appealed Parliaments right to impose taxes on the colonies withoout representation. -
Townshend Acts
Named after Charles Townshend, the Townshend Acts taxed goods such as lead, glass, paint, and paper that were imported from Britiain. These acts also taxed the colonies most popular drink, tea. As a result, the colonists, led by Samuel Adams, boycotted the British goods. -
Boston Massacre
A mob gathered in front of the Boston Customs House tauntedthe British soldiers standing there. This caused tension between the soldiers and rioters; Five colonists were either ded or had been severely wounded. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was created by Lord North in order to save the British East India Company from Bankruptcy. It garanteed the company the right sto sell to colonies free of the taxes paid by tea sellers. Allowing tea to be directly sold, therefore costing less. -
Boston Tea Party
Disguised as Native Americans, a group of Boston rebels aboard three anchored ships and dumed 18,000 pounds of the East India Company's tea into the Boston Harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
Pressured by King George III, Parliament began passing a series of measures starting with shutting down the Boston Harbor. Another apect was the Quartering Act which allowed British forces of the North to house soldiers in vacant buildings. General Thomas Gage, appointed governor of Massachusetts, placed Boston under martial law. -
Battle of Lexington
The redcoats reached Lexington first, arriving to 70 minutemen awaiting them. While being ordered to leave by the British, the minutemen did not retrieve and a gun shot was fire, however it is unclear who shot first. The Battle lasted only fifteen minutes with the Redcoats victory. -
Battle of Concord
Upon the British fleeing Concord, the minutemen fired from behind trees and stone walls; humiliating the powerful British army. This time, the minutemen receive the victory, killing British troops by the dozen. -
Publication of Common Sense
Thomas Paine's Common Sense is a fifty page pamphlet written about his views. It declares that Paine's personal revolt against the king began with Lexington and Concord. Inthis pamphlet, Thomas Pain reveals his belief that independence would allow America to trade more freely and would give colonists a chance to create a better society. -
Second Continental Congress
Held in Philadelphia, the colonial leaders met and after debating, agreed to recognize the colonial militia as the Continental Army and appointed George Washington its comander. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British general Thomas Gage sent 2,400 British soliers up Breed's Hill to strike at the militiamen. The colonists lodt 450 men and had over 1,000 casualties. This misnamed battle became known as the deadlieat battle of the war. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petiotion was sent to the king from congress urging a return to "the former peace and harmony" between Britain and the Colonies. King George rejected this petition by announcing the colonies were in a rebellion and commanded Parliament to order a naval of blockade to isolate a line of American coast ships. -
First Continental Congress meets
In many New England towns, civilian soldiers, known as minutemen, pledged to fight against the British in a minutes notice bearing firearms and gunpowder. -
Declaration of Independance
The Declaration, written by Thomas Jefferson, acknowledged the rights of "Life, Liberty, and the persuit of Happiness" as right that can never be taken away from a person. It also declared that "all men are created equal", which was not first intended for Native Americans, African-American slaves, or women. American colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence and fought for their freedom from Britain. -
Early British Victories
The 32,000 British soldiers fought against the poorly equipped Continental army in hopes of conquering New York. British won because of they outnumbered the Continentals. George Washington later led a surprise attack on Christmas night eager for a victory. However, the British soon regrouped in September and defeated the Continental Army by conquering the American capital at Philadelphia. The British were successful because they aer well-trained and can take over a variety of land. -
Early Continental Army Victories
George Washington, the leader of the Continental Army, led his troops in a surprise attack Christmas night and successfully defeated the Hessians. -
Saratoga
General John Burgoyne had plan of joining with the British troops and isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. However, militiamen and soldiers of the Continental Army surrounded them and began fighting. The General was then forced to surrender at Saratoga becauser the British troops did not arrive. -
Friedrich von Steuben and Marquis de Lafayette
In February, Friedrich von Steubon, a Prussian caoptain and drill master, helped train the Continental Army. Other help came as Lafayette gave French reinforcements and led command in Virginia. -
Valley Forge
The Continental Army, which were located in Paris at a winter camp, fought to stay alive as they ran low on food and supplies. Due to this, more than 2,000 soldiers died; however, the survivors remained loyal to Washington. -
British Victories in in the South
In 1778 the British troops easily conquered Savanah, Georgia. Later in may of 1780, led by Generals Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis, the British took Charles Town, South Carolina and Cornwallis continued capturing more land. -
British Surrender at Yorktown.
After learning Cornwallis's actions, the Continental army migrated to Yorktown while a French Naval force defeated members of the British army and blocked Chesapeake Bay entrance; blocking off all sea paths. The Continentals trapped the British with about 17,000 of both French and American troops; leaving General Cornwallis with no choice but to surrender. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty signed by John Adams, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin confirmed the U.S. independence and allowed boundaries stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi and from Canada to the Florida border.
