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Navigation Acts
Following acts in 1660, 1663, 1673, and 1696. Restricted trade among the colonists to only British goods. Wasn’t very well enforced. Would lead to Britain having more control over the colonies taxes (Stamp and Tea Acts) and is another reason the colonists were disillusioned with the British. -
French and Indian War Ends
France and their Native allies are defeated by Britain. However, Britain loses a large amount of money on this war and as a result begins to tax the colonists. -
Stamp Act
Taxed items on paper such as newspapers and pamphlets. Would be eventually repealed but was one of the catalysts for future conflicts and eventually the revolution as colonists would claim “No Taxation without Representation” -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers opened fire on a mob of colonists that were pelting them with stones and snowballs and killed 5 people. This would intensify the colonists’ resentment towards the British as they saw it as an unnecessary act of cruelty and aggression. -
Tea Act
British tax on tea that again angered the colonists over their lack of representation. It would lead to the Boston Tea Party and the following Intolerable Acts. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists threw a cargo of British tea into the harbor. It would lead to the Intolerable Acts as a punishment on Massachusetts. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
A series of laws passed that took away the self-governance of Massachusetts. It would lead to the First Continental Congress meeting to decide how to respond to the British. -
First Continental Congress
Ended October 26, 1774. A meeting of representatives from 12 of the colonies to decide how to respond to the Intolerable Acts. It would lead to tensions exploding between the colonists and the British at Lexington and Concord. -
Lexington and Concord
The first battles of the American Revolution. It would lead to the Second Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence. -
Second Continental Congress
Ended on March 1, 1781. Set up a Continental Army and put George Washington in command. It would lead to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. -
Declaration of Independence Adopted
America officially declares independence from Great Britain. The sovereignty of the United States and natural rights of its citizens are declared. This ended any hope of reconciliation between the colonists and Britain. -
Battle of Saratoga
Ended October 7, 1777. A turning point in the war as the Americans were able to defeat the British in this battle, and France was convinced to join the war on the side of the colonists. The Netherlands and Spain also provided support -
Winter at Valley Forge
Ended on June 19, 1778. Washington’s troops at Valley Forge suffered from cold, hunger, and disease. However, Washington was able to hold his army together through the winter. It would lead to the Americans’ victory as Washington was able to prevent his army from crumbling during this period. -
Battle of Yorktown
Ended on October 19, 1781. American victory at Yorktown, Virginia. This battle was enough to crumble the British and led to the Treaty of Paris in 1783 which officially ended the war. -
U.S. Constitution Written
Written by the founding fathers such as George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin. (with James Madison being known as the father of the Constitution for his contributions) Inspired by the Enlightenment, with ideas from Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau such as the social contract theory, separation of powers, and natural rights. These rights were put into the first ten amendments, or the Bill of Rights. It led to the idea of American freedom that we know today. -
U.S. Constitution Adopted
The Constitution officially takes effect across the country, implementing the ideas written in the document that still are in effect to this day.