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End of the French and Indian War
The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War. The
French received all land from the Mississippi River west, while the British received all land from the Mississippi River east. -
Enforcing Trade Laws - Writ of Assistance
To increase revenue, new taxes were placed on colonists in Massachusetts. They resorted to smuggling, which dropped English revenue. George Greenville authorized Writs or Assistance to look for smuggled goods. -
The Sugar Act
Parliament passed the Sugar Act that lowered taxes on Molasses. Greenville hoped colonists would pay, which allowed smuggled goods to be taken. Colonists felt violated by laws and taxes. T5hey believed they should be innocent until proven guilty, offered trial by jury, and their homes secure. James Otis, a Boston lawyer, stated "No parts...be taxed without concent...every part be represented." - page 114 -
The Stamp Act
The Virginia House of Burgess and Patrick Henry passed a resolution over the Stamp Act. Samuel Adams and Sons of Liberty burned effigies of tax collectors in Boston. Colonists boycotted British goods, cause the British to lose money, Nine colonists met at the Stamp Act Congress and told Parliament they should tax themselves too. English companies wanted Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act. -
The Townshed Acts
The Townshend Act was to import taxes. Taxes were paid before colonists came into the colonies such as glass, tea, and paper. Colonies boycotted British goods because any tax angered them. Women who encouraged people to wear homemade fabrics were called Daughters of Liberty. They boycotted any British goods. -
Trouble in Massachusetts
Britain found out the colonists were rebelling against British authorities. Colonists believed Britain passed laws to control colonists' rights. Armies took/controlled colonial cities and redcoats were paid little and were always caught picking fights. -
Boston Masequre
A fight broke out between colonists and redcoats. A colonist said "We will not send for you. We will not have you here. We'll get rid of you, we'll drive you away." - page 116. Townspeople threw sticks and stones and a red coast killed 5 colonists. Crispus Attucks was the first. -
Spreading the News
Colonist rulers used propaganda to influence opinions. Samuel Adams put posters up of the Boston Masequre and how innocents were murdered. Paul Revere shows British soldiers to open fire on an orderly crowd. Colonists ended their boycotts, except for tea. Adams also used propaganda to get colonists all on one side. -
Crisis In Boston - The Tea Act
The British East Indian Company was vital to the British economy. Colonists refused to import their tea and to save the company Parliament passed the Tea Act. Then colonists got control over tea, and some taxes were removed. But they were still angry because colonists wanted to buy what they wanted. -
Proclamation of King George III
The colonist kept east of the Application Mountains, to maintain peace with the Natives. The King kept control of the colonists and Fur Trade while controlling westward expansion. -
The Boston Tea Party
Colonists in New York told the tea ships to turn back. The Sons of Liberty worked so that at midnight, the colonists could get on the ships and throw 300 boxes of tea overboard into the Boston Harbor. -
Colonies Militias - Salem, Massachusetts Purchases
Militias protected their colonies and were vital to town's defense. Soldiers had drills and practiced using muskets and cannons. Each member got their own musket and ammunition. As tensions rose with Britan, militias gathered and stored military supplies. -
The Fight Begins
Colonists believed when the fighting began it would start in New England. In the winter of 1774 to 1775 Frederick Mackenzie, a British officer, wrote "The people evidently are making every preparation for resistance. They're taking every means to provide for themselves with arms." -
The Intolerable Acts
The Boston Tea Party spread the word to King George III. Parliament set up the Conceive Acts so that people can force others to do things. The Boston Harbor was closed until the colonists paid for the ruined tea. -
The Delegates Vote
55 delegates gathered in Philadelphia. They represented Americans challenging Britain they were called Continental Congress. Leaders of the 13 colonies were at a meeting. Massachusets sent Samuel Adams and cousin, John Adams. New York sent John Jay - a lawyer, Virginia sent George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry. They were defenders of colonists' rights. Henry said "The distinction between...everyone are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American." -
The British on the Move
Dr. Joseph Warren walked through Boston. He saw troops marching around the city and alerted William Dawes and Paul Revere, members of Sons of Liberty. They road to Lexington, east of Concord to spread the word the British were coming. Revere went across the countryside alerting everyone. Hearing this Sam Adams said, “What a glorious morning this is!” He was ready to fight. A British Patrol captured Dawes and Revere. Samuel Prescott carried the message to Concord. -
The Battles of Concord and Lexington
Redcoats approached Lexington and there were 70 minutemen waiting. It was lead by Captain John Parker, even though they were outnumbered they were ready to shoot at any minute. A shot was fired, and both sides started shooting. When it was over eight minutemen were dead. Redcoats then went to Concord, and the British took heavy losses, so they made their way to Boston. One hundred and seventy-four soldiers were wounded and seventy-three were dead. -
Great Britain Sends Troops
King George told Parliament that New England colonies were “in a state of rebellion”. By April 1775 several thousand British troops were in and around Boston. Thomas Gage has orders to seize weapons from the Massachusetts militia and arrest their leaders. He learned stored armes and ammunition in Concord. He had 700 troops seize destroy it all under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith. -
More Military Action
Benedict Arnold a captain in Connecticut militia, raised 400 people to seize Fort Ticonderoga. Arnold learned Ethan Allen of Vermont also planned to attack the fort. They joined forces with Allen's men called Green Mountain Boys. They took the British by surprise and the Fort surrendered on May 10th,1775. Later Arnold became a traitor to the Patriots. He sold military information to the British. His crime was discovered in September 1780 and he fled the British control in New York City. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Following Lexington and Concord, more volunteers joined the colonial militias. Militias around Boston number to 20,000 people. On June 16th,1775 a militia commanded by Colonel William Prescott set up posts on Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill. The next day the Americans open fire forcing the British to retreat. Twice more British soldiers charged. The Americans ran out of ammunition and had to withdraw. The Battle of Breeders Hill became known as the Battle of Bunker Hill and was a British Victory. -
Thomas Jefferson Writes the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson's draft included eighty-six changes. The DOI was to explain why the colonists decided to become independent states and why they wanted separation from Britain. It took Jefferson 17 days to write the DOI, and two days for the Second Continental Congress to make changes. -
The Battles of Trenton and Princeton
George Washington's Army crossed The Frigid Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776. They want to crucial battles. On December 26th Washington defeated a large sum of Hessian soldiers, a week later he returned to Trenton to lure British soldiers south. Then they did a night march to capture Princeton. This helped New Jersey by unifying the morals of the colony’s army. -
Manumission
It was a law elected by the General Assembly. This law allowed slaveholders to release their slaves, without government approval. The law also says that anyone who releases their slaves has to support said slave to pay taxes required by the state. -
Choosing Sides
The decision came for the colonists join the rebels or remained loyal. Either become a loyalist - a colonist who remained loyal and oppose the war or a Patriot - American colonists who favored American Independence. Loyalists didn’t think unfair taxes and laws justified a rebellion. Patriots supported the war because they believed colonists should have the right to govern themselves. The American Revolution wasn't a war between America and Britain. It was a Civil War - Patriots vs Loyalists. -
The Articles of Confederation
Congress approves of it after discussion and it became the first constitution in November 1777. They established a weak central government and the states kept most of their power. To the states, it was “a firm league of friendship”. The Articles of Confederation gave Congress limited power. They could conduct events with foreigners, maintain Armed Forces, borrow money, and issue currency. They couldn't trade, force citizens to join the Army or impose taxes. -
The American and British Battle of Saratoga
It started on September 19 and lasted until October 17. This battle gave the Americans over the British in the Revolutionary War. There were 2 battles. The 1st battle was a British victory, but the second was an American. Britain won the first battle with the help of German's to help push the Americans back, but the British suffered a severe loss of men. John Burgoyne, a British officer, tried to go North, but the weather was too cold. When they finally ran out of supplies his army surrendered. -
State Constitutions
The colonists dropped the British government rule themselves. The Continental Congress had to take everyone's questions and concerns before taking their Independence. In May 1776 the Continental Congress asked the states to organize the government, by adopting a new state constitution. 8 States had devised a plan for their government. New York and Georgia followed in 1777, while Massachusetts followed in 1780. Connecticut and Rhode Island use their charters as state constitutions. -
Howe Captures Philadelphia
British General William Howe made Philadelphia the seat of the Second Continental Congress, the focus of his campaign. The Patriot Government moved it operations to York, a week before it was captured. During the Winter, Howe and other soldiers lived a luxurious life, while the Continental Army froze at Valley Forge. -
Congress Prohibits Enslaved People Imported to the US
Thomas Jefferson was one of a bunch of statesmen to take action against slavery. In 1778 he introduced Virginia to forbid the importation of enslaved Africans. In 1774 he proposed a law on slavery in the Northwest Territory, which was controlled by the British in 1773. -
Winter at Valley Forge
The Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge, which is 22 miles from Philadelphia, - British control. George Washington chose to set up camp at the west side of the Schuykill River, so it was easier to defend themselves. While taking camp there, they lost the Battles of Germantown and Brandywine. There were 11,000 soldiers - 100's had died because of disease. The troops stayed loyal because of Washington. When the army left on June 19, 1778, the men were disciplined and stronger. -
John Paul Jones & Serapis
John Paul was born on July 6, 1747, in Scottland. He was a merchant that traveled from the West Indies and then to North America. In Virginia, he sided with the Patriots. He was rewarded First Lieutenant in the Continental Army on December 7, 1775. He had successful raids and always came back with something. -
Spain Declares War on Great Britain
King Charles the III of Spain didn't want a treaty with the US. Since Spain is the allies of the US they managed to endorse a revolt at a diplomatic distance. King Charles wanted to reclaim Gibraltar for Spain fand secure Spanish borders in North America. The British stop them, but the Spanish ensure their borders. Spanish took Florida and also the Gulf of Mexico. -
The British Capture Charleston
A battle began on April 2nd, 1780. It was the worst defeat. Major General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered his army of 10,000 to British Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton in South Carolina. The British captured 3,000 Patriots, equipment, and lost 250 men because they were killed or wounded. Since Lieutenant Clinton was proud, he left to New York and left General Charles Cornwallis and command of 8,300 British soldiers in the south. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
George Washington had an alliance with the French, so the French kept British ships out of the York River and Chesapeake Bay. Under General Jean - Baptist Rochambeau, some French soldiers joined George Washington. Together they had over 17,000 soldiers to take back Yorktown which was captured and early October. They surrender the town and cut off all supplies so the British ran out of food and ammunition. Cornwallis surrendered on October 19th which led to another step to America's Independence. -
The Plans for first Fed. Tax
In 1781 Robbert Morris created a department of finance. While serving Congress he had proposed a 5% tax on imported goods to help pay the national debt. The plan would have to change the Articles of Confederation. 12 states approved, but Rhode Island voted no. A single no blocked the plan. In 1783 it failed again - the crisis grew worse. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolution. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay negotiated with King George the third. It says Britain knows America is independent and they gave up their territory east of the Mississippi River. Which doubled the size, paving westward expansion. -
Spain Closed Lower Mississippi River to American Western Settler
European power controlled Florida and the western lands of the Mississippi River. They wanted Americans to stop expansion in their territory. Spain closed the lower Mississippi River to shop Americans from shipping in 1774. In 1786 America had a new trade agreement with Spain. Southern states blocked the agreement because it didn't include the Mississippi River. The confederation's weakness worried George Washington. Finally, Americans agreed the country needed a stronger government. -
The Ordinance of 1785
In 1775 the Confederation of Congress passed a law that set up a process to survey and sell the lands North of the Ohio River. The law divided the large area into townships 6 by 6 miles wide and long. These townships would be divided into 36 sections of 640 acres. The government would sell each section at a public auction - a dollar an acre. Congress drafted another law to protect the interest of hardworking settlers. -
The North West Ordinance
When territory had 60,000 residents the people could seek statehood, which would have the same standing as the 13 states. The Northwest Ordinance had a bill of rights for the settlers. They would have free religion and offered a trial by jury. This ordinance tried to make things peaceful and orderly, and the law was a success. The Ordinance of 1785 was the legal stuff about land, and the Northwest Ordinance was the rule book. They go hand in hand. -
Convention
Four years after the colonies won their independence fifty-five delegates went to Philadelphia to compose a constitution. On May 25, 1787, delegates met at Pennsylvania State House for the Constitution Convention. Rhode Island is the only one that didn't show up. -
Shay's Rebellion
The Rebellion was a series of attacks on government properties in Massachusets. The rebels were mostly soldiers from the war and farmers. The rebellion was named after Daniel Shays; who was a soldier, a farmer, and a leader. The farmers who fought in the war had received little to no money. Massachusets residents were expected to pay high taxes. With no money, authorities began arresting people. In 1787 John Hancock was elected governor and cut taxes and debts. -
Deleware: The First State to Approve the Constitution
It took 10 months for 9 states to approve the Constitution. On December 7th, there was a unanimous vote : 30-0, so Deleware ratified the Constitution. The document ensured the ratification of the Federal Constitution by the Deleware convention. The signature of Thomas Collin, Deleware's Convetion President attests the validity of the document. -
New Hampshire Ratifies the Constitution
New Hampshire was the last state to ratify the Constitution. It ended government under the Articles of Confederation. This last vote ratified the Constitution and it was fully in effect -
The Land Act of 1800
The Ordinance of 1785 aimed to encourage settlement in Northwest territory. In 1800 Congress passed the Land Act, which made it easier for people to buy land. The act made it possible for people to pay a little at a time. A person was required to buy at least 320 acres of land at a price of 2 dollars per acre. The buy could pay half and pay the rest over a 4-year payment, -
The Signing of the Constitution
38 out of 41 delegates signed the Constitution. The signing took place in Philadelphia. Supports of the constitution waged a battle to win the ratification of 9 out of 13 states. In December 5 states ratified. It was Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Deleware.
