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Pontiac's Rebellion 1763
Chief Pontiac of the Indians attacked settlers for being in their territory since Britain said the would leave the Ohio river but they didn't. -
Proclamation Line of 1763
The Proclamation Line was meant to keep colonists and natives from fighting. This makes the colonists angry because they cannot go west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
Treaty of Paris
Forced French to leave North America and for Spain to give up Florida. -
Sugar Act
Required colonists to pay 3 pence. The British enforce this act strictly. There were harsh punishments for smugglers. This act taxed molasses, sugar, coffee, wine, etc. -
Declaratory Act
The British pass the Declaratory Act in 1766. This law said that the British government had supreme authority over the colonies. The colonists ignore the declaration and this caused a struggle for control over the colonies. -
Stamp Act
The British weren't making enough money for the French and Indian War so they pass a act that required all colonists to purchase stamps and stamp marks from England on every piece of legal paper and other printed papers. This act taxed playing cards, Wills, Diplomas, Contracts, and newspapers. -
Writs of Assistance
The colonists were smuggling goods so they couldn't be taxed by the British. The British pass the Writs of Assistance in 1765. The Writs of Assistance allowed soldiers of the British to look for British Goods that were smuggled. -
Quartering Act
The quartering act required all colonists to house British soldiers and provide them with supplies. This was not optional. The colonists had to pay the cost to provide housing and supplies. Most troops stayed in New York but still some troops were in Boston. -
Townshend Acts
The British pass the Townshend Acts in 1767. Charles Townshend thought the colonists would be less angry since the Acts taxed goods before they got to the colonies. Charles Townshend thought the colonists did not see the tax and so they couldn't be mad. No more meetings or assemblies would happen in New York until every troop was housed by the New Yorkers. Some examples of what goods were taxed could be paper, glass, and paint. -
Boston Massacre
A mob showed up at a British Soldier protecting a British customs location and the soldier called for and received backup. The mob through tings at the soldiers and were yelling and things escalated. The soldiers engaged in open fire and 4 people were killed instantly then 1 days later. The Sons of Liberty used this to make propaganda. The British called this event the incident on King Street. -
Tea Act
The British pass the Tea Act of 1773. The act allowed the East India Company to bypass merchants and sell directly to the colonists. The act also gave the company a rebate on tea taxes. The prices weren't so high though as the merchants price for tea so they hoped the colonists may buy more British tea. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty gathered in a meeting house and decided to ask the mayor to make the British sips leave the docks but the mayor refused. The Sons of Liberty then decided to dress up as Indians and attack the ships throwing only tea into tea into the water so the people would not pay taxes for the tea. -
Coercive Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a punishment to Boston for the Boston Tea Party. These acts said that Boston's harbor would be closed, colonists could not hold more than one assembly without the Mayor's permission, the quartering act would come back, and British officials were to be tried in Britain or Canada. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress took place in Philadelphia. It voted to ban all trade with Britain until Intolerable Acts were repealed. Called on the building of a militia for the colonies. -
Olive Branch Petition
The colonists wanted to avid war so the Olive Branch Petition is sent to King George also for restoring harmony between the people and the King. The King rejects the petition. Instead British Navy blocks all trade and American ship in America and sends 30,000 Hessians to fight the British. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The colonists were warned be Paul Revere and William Dawes and so the minutemen were ready. 700 troops of Britain reached Lexington with 70 minutemen waiting. Both side were ordered not to fire but someone fire from somewhere on the side or in the British or US ranks. 8 minutemen died. British soldiers win then got to Concord the same day. 4000 minutemen then shoot the British when going back to Boston after destroying supplies in Concord and only the arrival of a 1000 British saved them. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia. They agreed to make an official army. George Washington becomes a general. They authorize printing of money to pay soldiers. A last petition is sent to King George III for peace in an attempt to avoid war. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Occurred at Breed's Hill when 2200 British soldier's attack and William Prescott gives the order "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes", and this order was given to save ammunition. British charge and on the third charge they win the battle although over 1000 British soldiers die while 400 minutemen die but the British win. -
Common Sense
This pamphlet was created by Thomas Paine and argued that a complete break with military was necessary. This short essay scorned the idea that the King was chosen by the will of a god. It said that all monarchies were corrupt and sold over 100,000 copies in 3 months. -
Declaration of Independence
Congress considered Lee's Resolution for Independence. With great opposition, this did pass. The colonies were now independent on July 2nd 1776 or until congress officially votes and adopts the document on July 4th. John Hancock was the first to sign this document known as the Declaration of Independence. -
Battle of Trenton
Washington hoped a victory would motivate his men. He decided to attack the Hessians on Christmas eve. The Hessians were sleeping and were poorly prepared and did not expect an attack. Washington's army was freezing and to people died from being frozen. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was where the Americans convinced the French to help them. British troops heading to Albany, New York when they encountered American Troops at Saratoga. The Americans had fortifications and the British would have to get through them to get to Albany. After several days, the Americans surrounded the British troops and the British surrendered. -
Winter at Valley Forge
In 1777, British force Washington to retreat from Philadelphia. Washington is forced to make camp at Valley Forge.Washington only had blankets and some lacked shoes. Soldiers were freezing and starving. -
Battle of Yorktown
British General Cornwallis set up a Fort at Yorktown. Washington sent the French Navy to block off Chesapeake Bay. Washington's army surrounds Cornwallis's troops. The French and Patriots attack firing for 3 weeks until Cornwallis surrendered which he was so embarrassed that he sent his second in command to do the surrendering ceremony. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
The Treaty kicks Britain out of the colonies and this Treaty gives Spain west of the Mississippi river and Florida. The US is also free and owns the 13 colonies.