American Revolution

French and Indian War

1754

The French and Indian War was fought between the British and France. It was the beginning of the American Revolution. It began in the Ohio River and was the rise of a 21-year-old lieutenant named George Washington. The war left the British in debt, leading to bigger problems with the colonist. The British started heavily taxing colonists. The colonists were not happy with this.

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

The Proclamation of 1763 was a British-produced boundary marked in the Appalachian Mountains. This increased tensions because the colonists felt the Proclamation was a plot to keep them under the strict control of England and that the British only wanted them east of the mountains so they could keep an eye on them. The colonists rebelled against this law, increasing tensions to later turn into a war.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

British legislation tried ending the smuggling trade in sugar and molasses in 1764 where they taxed sugar, this angered the colonist because they felt that they shouldn’t have to pay these taxes, they protested that the taxes violated their rights as British citizens. The Parliament reacted with more acts placed like the Stamp Act.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

An act that the Parliament passed in 1765 where they taxed all legal documents. The colonist thought that this was "taxation without representation". The colonist reacted to the act with violence and economic retaliation. The act encouraged a revolutionary movement against the king.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

Boston Massacre was a confrontation where British soldiers shot and killed 5 colonists when they started harassing British soldiers. The colonists protested saying the British went too far. This was also a huge turning point for the American Revolution. The Boston Massacre helped spark the colonists' desire for American independence.

Tea Act

May 10, 1773

An act that the British government passed in 1773 where they taxed tea and could only buy from British East India company. This act was also defined as "taxation without representation." The colonists reacted to the act with a protest called the Boston Tea Party, where colonists snuck onboard ships containing the tea. The colonist started dumping the tea into the harbor. This was a huge event for the American Revolution.

Boston Tea Party (TURNING POINT)

Dec 16, 1773

The Boston Tea party was a protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts. The colonists were angry because of "taxation without representation" they then dumped 342 chests of tea. This was a major the first defiance act that led to the American Revolution.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 31, 1774

The Coercive Acts of 1774, known as the Intolerable Acts in the American colonies. Were a set of laws to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. Colonists tried to organize boycotts to protest against the acts. The colonists felt it was a violation of their rights.

Battles of Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battles to start the American Revolution. The colonist thought that it was finally time to fight back against the British. The famous 'shot heard 'round the world' marked the start of the American War of Independence (1775-83).

Olive Branch Petition

Jul 5, 1775

The olive branch petition was a final attempt to avoid war between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies in America. King George III rejected the petition because it was an illegal document created by an illegal congress. The king felt like this was treason against him. He declared the colonies in rebellion.