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Boston Tea Party
After the Tea Act was put in place, the colonists responded by throwing the teas into the boston harbor. The Sons of Liberty and a few colonists dressed as Indians to toss the tea. They also had colonists ride out on row boats to destroy any remaining tea so that it couldn’t be salvaged and sold. The act was then repealed after this event. -
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American Revolution
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Lexington and Concord
The colonists had stockpiled weapons and ammo in Concord and some in Lexington. The British believed that they shouldn’t have those items, so they sailed over to collect all of the weapons and ammo. Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode out to Lexington & Concord to warn the colonists, along with Samuel Adams and John Adams. Once the British encountered the minutemen, many died and the Samuel Adams was able to make it all the way to Concord to warn everyone without being capture. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
As British leaders were trying to form a battle plan, they noticed that the colonial forces had dug in at Breed’s hill. As the British made their way, the militia sat and waited. The commander had told the troops to not shoot “until you see the whites of their eyes” because they were low on gunpowder. The soldiers had retreated twice and returned for a third try. Unfortunately, the british were out of ammunition and had to retreat. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense. In the pamphlet, he mentioned many things that the common people agreed with. He made a strong case for economic freedom and for the right to military self-defense. He also talked about being against tyranny, or the abuse of government power. It also stated that the colonists should be making the laws instead of the king. -
Declaration of Independence
This document was first written by Thomas Jefferson and then edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. It talks about the colonists breaking away from the British rule and making themselves an independent nation known as the United States of America. They made the Declaration of Independence a very easy to read document so that anyone would be able to read and understand it. This event caused a the war to take a new turn. -
Battle of Trenton
After losing the Battle of New York, they were forced to retreat through New Jersey. They fought against the Hessians in Trenton, New Jersey. George Washington and his men went across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania and surprised the British. They surrounded the Hessians and they then surrendered. This was a great victory for the Continental Army. -
The Treaty of Paris
Delegates took more than two years to come to a peace agreement. Even though the Treaty of Paris ended the Indian War, it also had ended the American Revolution. The treaty had set America’s borders and the British leaders also accepted American rights to settle and trade west of the original thirteen colonies.
