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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. -
The Proclamation of 1763
Prohibited colonists from living west of the Appalachian Mountains to keep the Natives safe. It also help the British control the Midwest expansion and fur trade. -
The Sugar Act
Taxes on sugar and molasses was lowered. It angered the colonists because they had no say about what to tax, what taxes to lower, etc. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act taxed the colonists on any printed paper or paper goods. This angered the colonists because they believe that the British government shouldn't tax them. The colonists believed that the only people that should tax them should be their own legislature. -
The Townshend Acts
British Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, this taxed goods like glass, tea, and paper, before they were imported to the colonies. The taxes made colonists angry since they had no say in the matter. Women boycotted British fabrics and made their own, they were known as the Daughters of Liberty. -
The Boston Massacre
A fight broke out between the colonists and the Redcoats. The colonists threw things at the redcoats and harassed them. One redcoat fired which lead the rest to fire on the colonists. 3 died and 2 were injured. Samuel Adams and Paul Revere showed the fight as propaganda against the British. Calling it a massacre even though only three people died. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act gave the East India Company permission to export its tea to the colonies, instead of exporting it to England first. It also put tax on tea which the colonists didn't like since it was a popular drink. And they didn't like the limited supply of tea (They wanted to say which tea company that they would get tea from). Colonists then boycotted tea. -
Boston Tea Party
The East India Company kept sending tea and the royal governor demanded that the tea ships will be unloaded and sold. Colonists dressed as Native Americans and boarded the ship. They threw the tea into the Boston Harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts
To punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party, King George the Third made the Coercive Act. This allowed redcoats to take a colonist's house and live there instead of the owner. Again the colonists had no say in the matter. They also passed the Quebec Act, this allowed Canada to take some of the colonists land. The colonists called this act the Intolerable Acts. -
A Meeting in Philadelphia
55 delegates met and formed the Continental Congress. They voted to repeal the 13 acts of Parliament, boycott British trade, and to make Coercive act illegal. They called colonists to arms to fight the British and formed militias. -
Battles of Trent and New Jersey
The American troops won against the Hessian troops. This win gave the Americans strength and confidence in themselves. -
Manumission
The formal process of a slave owner giving slaves his or her legal freedom. -
Writing the DOI
The Declaration of Independence was written by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Tomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Jefferson did most of the writing while the other members did the editing. -
Howe captures Philadelphia
A British general, William Howe, and his troops captured the city of Philadelphia from the Americans. Leaving the Americans to freeze at Valley Forge, while the British enjoyed a warm, comfortable winter. -
State Constitutions
Sine it was a weak central government, each state governed themselves for the most part.Each state had to create a constitution for their state. -
Articles of Confederation
The Second Continental Congress wrote the Articles of Confederation (AOC), which later became America's first Constitution. the AOC created a weak central government, meaning that Congress had limited power. And the states kept most of their power. -
American and British Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was said to be the climax to the American Revolution. The British's reasoning to going into the war was to control New York in order to block the New England Colonies from the Southern Colonies. The Colonists won the war and gained confidence. The French also aided the Colonists in military aid. -
Congress prohibits enslaved people imported to the US
Thomas Jefferson proposed an idea to ban slaves in the Northwest to Virginia. It did not work since most of the northwest workforce were slaves. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Washington moves his troops to Valley Forge to spend their winter. The troops endured a harsh winter with little to no supplies. The Continental Congress refused to give them supplies, so the troops resorted to "stealing" from the local farmers for food and supplies. A lot of soldiers died from sickness or malnutrition, but the ones who survived were transformed into good soldiers by training. -
Spain Declares war on Great Britain
Spain declares war on Great Britain because Spain was allies with both France and America. And since America and France were battling Britain. Spain decided to help by supplying ammunition, food, etc. to the American and French troops. -
John Paul Jones & Serapis
Jones captained the ship, Bonhomme Richard. On September 23, 1779, the Jones encountered British ships named Serapis and Countess of Scarborough in the water. They engaged in battle and despite the fact that the Bonhomme Richard was smaller, Jones won the battle. The British ships surrendered. -
British forces captured Charles Town
The British capture Charles Town which left the colonists in utter defeat. More than 3000 patriots in the war were captured. The Patriots living in South Carolina were very unhappy about the British victory. -
British surrender at Yorktown
The British troops expected supplies to be delivered by British ships, but the French prevented the ships from arriving. American and French troops surrounded the British troops located in Yorktown. They cut off all food and ammunition and the British were forced to surrender due to the lack of supplies. -
Plans for first Federal Tax
Congress faced loses in the Country's finances because of the Civil War. They proposed the idea to tax 5 percent on all imported goods. All states had to agree, but Rhode Island voted against it. Making the law not exist. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was a peace treaty between the British and the Americans, which ended the Revolutionary War. The British finally acknowledged America's independence. -
Spain closed lower Mississippi River to American Western Settlers
The Treaty of Paris declared that the Americans would be allowed to explore the Mississippi River. And that the river is the Western boundary. When Spain closed the river to the Americans, they were outraged and threatened war. -
The Ordinance of 1785
This law sold land North of the Ohio River to settlers. The land was divided into townships, then divided into smaller sections to sell to settlers. -
The Northwest Ordinance
This created land north of the Ohio River and East of the Mississippi River. The land had a bill of rights that include: freedom of religion, trial by jury, and no slavery. The Northwest Ordinance and the Land Ordinance of 1785, both attempted to allow settlers to buy land peacefully. -
Shay's Rebellion
Was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts because people didn't agree with the new tax terms. The members of this rebellion were mostly poor people in Massachusetts. This rebellion led to George Washington becoming President. -
Convention in Philadelphia
A meeting in Philadelphia among the delegates. Officially planned to revise the Articles of Confederation. Then the beginning of the Constitution was written. -
Signing of the Constitution
The Constitution was signed in the Independence Hall in Philadelphia. 39 delegates agreed and signed (Rhode Island refused to send any delegates) -
Delaware First state to Approve The Constitution
Delaware was the first state to approve the constitution because they believed that a stronger national government would be an advantage. -
New Hampshire Ratifies Constitution
New Hampshire ratifies the Constitution to establish a Civil Government. -
Land Act of 1800
This act made it easier for settlers to buy new land. This act made it possible for settlers to pay a little up front, then pay the rest of it off the following years.
