-
Stamp Act
1765, Parliment Passes Stamp Act, Imposing taxes on documents and printed items, such as wills, newspapers, and playing cards. This was the one act that affected colonists directly, because it levied on goods and servaces. May of 1765, the Colonists banned together to defy the law. They formed the Sons Of Liberty, and on October 1765, merchants in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia boycotted British goods. -
Declatory Act**********
Instigated by the Parliment in 1766, which followed the repeal of the Stamp Act. -
Sons of Liberty
Underground orginaization that was formed to protect the rights of colonist, widely known for the Boston Tea Party. There was a band of them in every colony, Most of the leaders were of the middle class, they wanted to spread the word, and issued papers and other forms of communication. They quickly acted on the Townshend Acts, and eventually massed together to Boycott british goods. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5th, 1770 British Redcoats(Infantry) fired into a crowd of protesters, with a total of 5 colonist deaths, and other wounded. 8 soldiers were arrested and convicted of murder. John Adams, defended the soldiers and 6 of the 6 soldiers were acquited. The other 2 were convicted of manslaughter, and given reduced sentences. -
Tea Act
Passed by Parliment in 1773, it actually wasn't intended to raise revenue in the Colonies, just to assist the East India Company, which was fianancially struggling, and had a surplus of 18 million pounds of unsold tea.In response the tea was shipped directly to the colonies, but at a bargain price. However the Townshend Acts were still in place, causing the local merchants to feel pressure, because they were competing with British Agents. -
Boston Tea Party
Direct response in Boston Mass. to the Tea Act. Colonists "Indians" dumped 18 million pounds of East India Company's tea into the Boston Harbor. Parliment responded with the Intolertable Acts, practically declaring Martal Law upon the people of Massachussets. -
Second Continental Congress
Was called in 1774, in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania. It managed the colonial war efforts, and moved towards the Independence. On July 4th 1776, the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence! They raised armies, apointed diplomats and established the Articles of Conferderation. Which gave them the name "Congress of Confederation" -
First Continental Congress
On September 5th, 1774. Colonists called the 1st Continental Congress, at Carpenters' Hall In Philladelphia. Which was attended by 56 delegates by 12 of the 13 states, with Providence of Georgia being the exception, because it was a convict state.
They discusted the Boycott of british goods, and published a list of grievences, and a list of rights, and petitioned King George to address those greivences. It was rejected. -
Intolerable Acts
Instiagated by Parliment in 1774, many of them a reaction to the oston Tea Party. The first was the Boston Port Act, which closed the Boston port untill the East India Company was re-payed for the destroyed tea, and untill the kings satisfaction.
The second the Massachusets Government Act, which changed the government of Massachesetts. Third, Administration of Justice Act, which stated that the govenor could move any tial to a different colony, and if need be to Great Britian itself. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
These were the first military engagements of the Revolutionary War. 700 British Regulars were given secret orders by Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, to destroy supplies stored at Massachusets Concord. The use of the Colonists spy network, aided them in finding out about the raid weeks before, allowing them to move supplies to other places. The night before they were given details about the British movements, allowing them to alert militia in the area. At concord, thousands of minutemen accumul -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
A pamphlet, originally published anonymously on January 10th, 1776. it had the largest sale and circulation of any book in American History. It gave colonists an argument for Freedom, he based it off of leading Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas. He also made it lazy man terms, making it easy for the common people to understand. He wrote it like a sermon, and relied on Biblical references to make his case. -
Townshend Act
1776, Parliment passed the Townshend Acts, after leading government minister. The taxed goods that were imposed into the colony from Britian, such as lead, glass, paint and paper. It also imposed a tax on tea, the most popular drink in the colonies. -
Battle of New York
On July 3rd, 1776 British troops landed on Staten Island, with over 32,000 troops. General howe tried many times to outflank Washington, but ultimatly failed in his attempts. Washington.
leading Howe to multiple traps, ultimatly had to retreat. He eventually retreated to New Castle, and this time the British didn't follow. -
Declaration of Independence
A document adopted by Congress on July 4th, 1776. Which stated the the Colonists we Independent from Great Britian. The document itself was issued in several different forms, it was initailly broadside which was printed and read to the public. The signed copy is on display at the National Archives in Washington D.C. However the actual date of the signing is widely diputed. -
Battle of Trenton
After his losses in New York, morale was low. He decided to cross the Delaware River on Christmas night, and lead the main force of the continental army. Two detatchments couldn't cross, leaving Washington and his 2,400 men to continue their attack. After marching 9 miles, they launched their assault on the unaware and sleeping hessians.
Following a brief battle, practically the entire Hessian force surrendered, wiith minimal losses. Leading to a massive morale boost for the colonists. -
Battle of Saratoga
t involved to battles, The first on September 1777, which is named "The Battle Of Freedman's Farm" When General John Burgoyne's army won a small tactical victory over General Horatio Gates, with the expense of massive casualties. The second battle on October 17th, called "The Battle Of Bermis Heights" and Burgoyne's troops attacked again, at the same location, when they knew that support would not arrive in time. They were thrown to the same positions they held on September 19th. Leading to sur -
Battle of Yorktown
Early in September, a fleet of Americans and Spanish defeated a British fleet lead by Sir Thomas Graves, which came to relieve General Cornwallis at the "Battle of the Chesapeake" as a result of victory, he blocked Cornwallis's escape route by sea. Leaving him trapped and having a combined force of French and Colonists attacking his front. Ultimately leading to his surrender. -
Treaty of Paris
It was signed by the Congress of Confederation on January 14th, 1784 and by King ___ on April 9th 1784. Officially ending the Revolutionary War! The allied nations also had seperate agreements. The Colonists Gained Independence from the Strongest Nation of their Time!!
