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The Currency Act
Several acts of Great Britain that were meant to regulate paper money from the colonies of British America. These acts were made in order to prevent the British creditors from being paid in American currency that had no value to them. -
Quartering Act
This act required British colonists, against their will, to house and feed British militiamen and army members. -
The Townshend Revenue Act
The Townshend Revenue Acts, named after Charles Townshend, were acts that put taxes on imported goods such as glass, lead, paper, paints, and tea. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between two groups of Patriots throwing snowballs, sticks, and rocks. The name was exaggerated to make the main headline of a newspaper article. This "Incident on King Street," as titled by the British,only killed five. -
The Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists, known as the Sons of Liberty, held a political protest against thirteen years of British oppression by destroying tea boxes and attacking merchant ships on Boston Harbor. -
Period: to
American Revolution
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Second Continental Congress
A convention of representatives of the colonies that met in May of 1775 to discuss the options and opinions about British government. They kept meeting to discuss and draft the US Constitution. -
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" published
In January of 1776, a Patriot by the name of Thomas Paine published his pamphlet, "Common Sense," to the colonies. They were meant to establish a sense of patriotism in the minds of American colonists, and give reasons to rebel against the British. -
United States & France sign the French Alliance
Formed during the Revolutionary War, this document was signed to promise military help in case of a British attack in the future. -
Articles of Confederation adopted
The Articles of Confederation w]was the original US Constitution, which was written to give the colonists more rights and a weak central government. -
Battle of Yorktown
Lord Cornwallis and his army surrender to General George Washington and his troops, ending the battles of the American Revolution. The signing of the Treaty of Paris officially marked the end of the war in 1783. -
George Washington resigns as commander
In December of 1783, following the signing of the Treaty of Paris, George Washington retires to his home in Mount Vernon in Virginia after resigning as commander in chief of the Continental Army. -
US Constitution is signed
The Sencond Continental Congress, which consisted of 39 delegates, meets for the final time to sign the US Constitution. -
U.S. Constitution adopted
The US Constitution is adopted after it is ratified by New Hampshire in June of 1788. -
George Washington is elected first President
On April 30th, 1789, George Washington is elected for President of the United States by delegates of the thirteen colonies. -
French Revolution Begins
The French Revolution begins. France calls on the United States for military support, but they refuse.
