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The Stamp Act
George Grenville rose in Parliament to offer the fifty-five resolutions of his Stamp Bill. The bill was passed on February 17, approved by the Lords on March 8th, and two weeks later ordered in effect by the King. The Stamp Act was Parliament's first serious attempt to assert governmental authority over the colonies. -
Protest of the Stamp Act
In the wake of Britain victory in the Seven Years'/French & Indian War, the nation found itself with a burgeoning national debt that had reached £130,000,000 by 1764. Colonial leaders were particularly concerned as the stamp tax was the first internal tax to be levied on the colonies. Also, the act stated that admiralty courts would have jurisdiction over offenders. -
Gaspee Affair
The Sons of Liberty felt oppressed by the British so a group got together burned down the HMS Gaspée, one of the schooners of the British Empire. -
The Boston Tea Party
A group of Boston citizens, protesting the Tea Act (1773) and disguised as Mohawk Indians, went to Griffin's Wharf and boarded the tea ship Dartmouth. Working throughout the night the disciplined group of about fifty men dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston harbor. -
Committies of Correpondence Established
The first committee was organized by Samuel Adams. Working with rural patriots, Adams enabled the entirity of Massachusetts citizens to have access to patriot text. It was the driving force of the Boston Tea Party on December 16. That date was the only one associated with the establishment of this committee. -
Coercive Acts
News of the Boston Tea Party reached England. Britain felt that Ma should be punished for what they did. The government rushed a series of pieces of legislation through parliament: the American colonists labelled them "the Intolerable Acts". -
First Continental Congress
All of the colonies except Georgia sent delegates to thecongress that met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. The colonies were there to makea united front against Great Britain. One of the main tasks ofthisconf=gresswas to express the grievances of the colonies. -
Quebec Act
British beat France in the Seven Years' War, and the territories of France in northern North America were given to the British. The British renamed the territory Quebec and passed the Quebec Act restoring french civil law so there woul be no problem with the colonists. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first shots starting the revolution were fired at Lexington, Massachusetts. Citzens stored their weapo ns in Concord. -
Paul Revere's Ride
Paul Revere was sent to Lexington Massachusetts to warn Sameul Adams and John Hancock that British troops were coming to arrest them. After rowing across the Charles river he borrowed a friends horse, he alarmed the country side stopping at each house. He arrived in Lexington at midnight. He was joined by two other riders and all three were arrested. -
Second Continental Congress
In May 1775, with Redcoats once again storming Boston, the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia. The main concern was how would the colonist meet the military threat of the British. It was agreed that a Continental Army would be created. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Congress passed a resolution forming a committee to draft a letter to the King. It extended an offer of reconciliation to the King. The Olive Branch is of course a symbol of peace. It has also been called the "Humble Petition" and the "Second Petition to the King." -
George Washington Appointed General
The Continental Congress "elected" George Washington as commander of the yet-to-be-created Continental Army. -
Bunker Hill Battle
British regulars faced a colonial military at the Battle of Bunker Hill. By evening of that day the British held the Charlestown peninsula, and a new respect for the determination and resourcefulness of colonial forces. -
Proclamation for Supressing Rebellion and Sedition
After the armed conflict at Lexington and Concord King George III of England issued this proclamation. It stated that the colonies who went against him would be punished. This document turned loyal subjects into rebels. -
Common Sense Published
Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine.First published during the American Revolution. Very popular and a huge sale success. It gave the colonists a powerful argument for their independence from British rule. -
Common Sense Published
Published in 1776, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. -
British Evacuate Boston
British forces are forced to evacuate Boston following General George Washington's successful placement of fortifications and cannons on Dorchester Heights, which overlooks the city from the south. -
Writing of the declaration of Independence
Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the people in the colonies. Their ideals were of individual Liberty. He also set a list grievances against the king in order to clearly state the want of severing the ties between the colonies and ther mother country. -
Declaration of Independance
The continental Congress met in Philadelphia planning on voting for independence from England. The Congress selected a committee to write a declaration of independence. Jefferson wrote the final draft and subbmitted it to the continental Congress -
British Pulled Out Virginia
The British pulled out of Virginia.
