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The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a new tax that was imposed on all Americans in the colonies. The tax, passed by the British Parliament, required all colonists to pay a tax on every piece of paper they printed. The money collected by the Stamp Act was used to defend and protect the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains. The Stamp Act was viewed as an attempt by Great Britain to raise money in America without the approval of the colonists. -
The Protest of the Stamp Act
Colonists could not do much about the Stamp Act until the Virginia House of Burgesses adopted Patrick Henry's Stamp Act Resolves. These resolves stated American colonists should only be taxed by their own representatives, Virginians should only have to pay taxes voted on by the Virginia House of Burgesses and anyone supporting the right for Parliament to tax colonist is an enemy of the colony. -
The Committees of Correspondence Established
The Committees of Correspondance were formed in the colonies to coordinate action against Great Britain. The members of these committees were the leading men of each colony, such as legislatures and men of other governmental associations. Until an act as dramatic as the Boston Port Bill, the committees were unable to coordinate action against Great Britain. -
The Gaspee Affair
When the news that the HMS Gaspee, with Duddington aboard, was grounded in Warwick, Rhode Island reached Providence, a group of fifty five men planned an attack on the ship. These men surrounded and boarded the HMS Gaspee, wounded Duddington and captured the remaining crew. All the crew and Duddington were brought to shore and abandoned while the Gaspee was looted and burned. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a result of Tea Act granted by the British Parliament. The Tea Act adjusted American tea importation so Boston, New York, Charleston and Philadelphia had to send 500,000 pounds of tea to the East India Company. In response to this, Massachusetts Patriots performed a midnight raid of three tea ships and threw 342 chests of tea into the harbor. -
The Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts were four acts passed by the British Parliament. The four acts were known as the Boston Port Act, Quartering Act, Administration of Justice Act and Massachusetts Governement Act. The purpose of Parliament passing the Coercive Acts was to restore order in Massachusetts. Lately, colonists in Massachusetts were defying Great Britain with acts like the Boston Tea Party and others of defiance. A result of the Coercive Acts was the First Continental Congress. -
The Quebec Act
The Quebec Act was a rule imposed by British Parliament to set the authority of the Canadian province, which was a British colony due to Seven Years' War. With the rise of rebels and aggressive groups in the American colonies, the British Parliament became uneasy and was worried that Canadians would follow the aggressive rebels. The act was passed to keep people in check and make sure Canadians kept their loyalties to Britain. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was made up of delegates sent from every colony except Georgia. These delegates were elected by the colonial legislatures or the Committees of Correspondance of their respective colony. The objectives of the First Continental Congress were unclear except one; it was agreeable to all members of Congress that the King and Parliament must understand the grievances of the colonies. Also, Congrees wanted to communicate this to the rest of the colonies and the world. -
Paul Revere's Ride
Paul Revere's midnight ride took place the night prior to the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Revere, along with two other riders known as William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, spread the warning that British troops were marching from Boston to Concord in attempt to capture an arms storage. On this same night, Paul Revere hung lanterns in the belfry of the Old North Church to signal if the British troops were traveling by land or by water. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord kicked off the American Revolution. In the past years, tensions between Britain and the Thirteen Colonies increased and eventually grew to large to handle. The night before these battles broke out, Britsh troops marched from Boston to Concord in attempt to claim an arms cache. Riders, such as Paul Revere, spread the warning and militiamen began to mobilize. The British troops met intense fire in Lexington and were forced to hastily retreat. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was much like the First Continental Congress; delegates were sent from every America colony but the delgate from Georgia did not arrive until later. At the Second Continental Congress, many important things were decided. The Congress decided to officially break away from Great Britain, to put the American colonies into a state of defense, organize a militia representing all the American colonies and elect George Washington as commander-in-chief of this militia. -
George Washington Appointed General
George Washington was selected as commander-in-chief over other candidates such as John Hancock. Washington was elected over John Hancock based on his previous military experience and Congress believed that a leader from Virginia would help unite the American colonies. Washington left Massachusetts, election state, in a few days after his commission and immediately assumed control of the Continental Army. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Also known as the Battle of Breed's Hill, was the first battle of the American Revolution. The battle was fought in Charlestown during the Siege of Boston. Even though the British troops won the battle, it was a victory that lent considerable encouragement to the revolutionary cause. Two months after the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Battles of Lexington and Concord occured which was won by the American militia. -
The Olive Branch Petition
The Continental Congress adopted this petition written by John Dickinson, which appealed directly to the King of Great Britain. This petition expressed hope for a reconciliation between Great Britain and the American colonies. Dickinson, who hoped to avoid a final break from Britain, attempted to notify the king that American colonists were unhappy at the ministerial policy, but not the king's. -
The Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition
This proclamation was issued by King George III following the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The proclamation stated that the Thirteen Colonies were in an open rebellion against the King's authority and were subject to punishment. The proclamation also stated that any British citizen who withheld knowledge of rebellion and conspiracy could be punished. This proclamation turned trustworthy subjects into traitorous rebels. -
Common Sense Published
Published by Thomas Paine, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The language Paine used in Common Sense abled all people of America, from common people to wealthy committee members, to undertand. Common Sense was the first work published to ask for independence from Great Britain. -
The British Evacuate Boston
The British forces that have been occupying Boston for the past eight years are forced to evacuate Boston because of George Washington's successful placement of fortifications and cannons on Dorchester Heights. For this victory, commander-in-chief George Washington was awarded the first medal by the Continental Congress. -
The Writing of the Declaration of Independence
In anticipation of voting for independence from Britain, the Congress selected a committee in charge of drafting the declaration. The men selected for the committee were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the declaration. Jefferson completed several drafts and presented his final draft to the comittee. Once the draft was revised by the committee, the declaration was submitted to Congress on June 28, 1776. -
The Declaration of Independence
The declaration was a legal, formal and symbolic seperation between Britain and the Thirteen Colonies. The philosophy of the declaration, individual liberty, was not new at the time. John Locke and other Continental philosophers had already expressed their thoughts of individual liberty. In Thomas Jefferson's draft, he justified to the world the breaking up of Britain and the Thirteen Colonies through his summarization of individual liberty. -
The British Pulled out of Virginia
On this day, General Cornwallis of Great Britain capitulated to General Washington and the French commander, de Rochambeau. With this, the American Revolution was over and the American Colonies had won their independence from Great Britain.
