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The French and Indian War Begins
The French and Indian war was a seven-year war between England and the American colonies, angainst the French and some of the Indians in North America. When the war ended, France was no longer in control of Canada, and the Indians who were threatening the colonists had been defeated.
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The American Revolution
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Treaty of Paris
The treaty of Paris was between the american colonies and Great Britain. it ended the american revolution and formally recognized the United States as a nation. -
Royal Proclamation
This was a European document that was made to create guidelines for settling in Aboriginal territories of what is now North America. King George III claimed this land after winning the seven years war, but states that all land should be considered Aboriginal until they cede a treaty. -
The Sugar Act
Passed in 1764, the British taxed sugar, wine, and other important things. They used this money to provide security for the colonies. Also, the British hoped that the colonies would sell their goods to England instead of other countries. However, this made the colonists very upset and some leaders began to boycott the act to make the prices lower. As many of the Americans began to join in on this boycott, it united them. -
The Stamp Act
On March 22nd, 1765 the Stamp act was passed. Its intent was to again raise money to keep British troops in America. The colonists had the right to be taxed only by representatives of their own choosing. Therefore, the Stamp act was unconstitutional. The previous Molasses Act, Navigation acts, and Sugar act were seen as the prelude to this final blow, and the Americans were outraged. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Colonists needed to put actions behind their words, as the complaints had been ignored. Infriated by the Stamp and Sugar Acts, they set up the Stamp Act Congress in New York. As only nine of the delagates came, the congress became quickly divided into moderates and radicals. At first, the congress seemed like a failure. However, Eventually the people's spirit prevailed and all delages except one signed the Stamp Act resolves. -
Townshend Acts
These acts were designed to collect money from the colonusts on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The colonists began boycoting these taxed. In the end, most of the taxes, except for the tea tax was repealed. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5th, 1770. It was started when a group of American patriots began throwing snowballs, stones, sticks, and other things at a patrol of British soldiers. The enraged soldiers shot into the crowd, even though they were under orders not to. They killed 5 civilian and this conflict helped to unite the colonists against Britain. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an event which unfolded on December 16th, 1773. They did this because they did not think that the British tea taxes were fair, and the East India Company would trade only with pro-British Merchants. Three ships had come from England and wanted to dock in Boston Harbor. Because the ships wouldn't go back to England, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and eighty other men disguised themselves as Natives Americans and threw all the tea into Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met in Carpenter's Hall in Phillidelphia, PA. It was held because the colonists were upset about the intolerable acts and taxes. They met in secret so the British wouldn't find out. they agreed to boycott British goods, and meet again if Britian did not change it's policies. -
Patrick Henry "Give Me Liberty"
Patrick Henry presented a resolution to raise a militia. He had the idea of organizing a volunteer company of calvery or infantry in every virginia county. He wanted to put Virginia in a state of defense he ended his speech with his famous words; "Give me liberty, or give me death!" -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
These battles began on April 18th, 1775, when British soldiers went to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams. However, they were warned of the coming attack when Paul Revere rode through Concord and told everyone. At Lexington Green, the British were met by American “Minutemen”, and there was a small skirmish at the Green. Each side was reluctant to fight until someone fired the first shot. Nobody knows who fired first. After this, the British marched towards Concord looking for gunpowder and am -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Paul Revere rode through Concord warning the colonists that the British were coming. He and Dawes saved John Hancock and Samuel Adams from capture as British troops marched in to secure the American arsenal at concord. Along Paul Revere and William Dawes’ way, they roused a lot of minutemen, all prepared to fight the British when they came. -
Fort Ticonderoga
Ethan Allen, along with Benedict Arnold and some of his militia snuck up to the base of Fort Ticonderoga on the night of May 9th, 1775. The next morning the men ran into the fort and demanded its surrender. Taken by surprise, the commander surrendered the fort without any bloodshed. This strategic fortress, along with all of the supplies inside, was now given to Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 16th, 1775, Prescott and his 1,000 colonial soldiers set off to fortify Bunker Hill. However, they decide to bypass Bunker Hill and continue to march instead to Breed’s Hill, within cannon shot of Boston and British Ships in the Harbor. British Generals awoke to newly erected defenses. At 3’Oclock in the afternoon, over 2,000 British soldiers land on the shore commanded by General Howe. They climb the hill, frustrated by the ditches and fences, and the continental militia waited behind a -
"Common Sense" Published
Common Sense was a book written to challenge the British government and to start thinking that independence was the best option. On January 9th, 1776 Common sense was published, convincing many colonists to think about independence, as opposed to just peace. Without this book, it is very likely that the American Revolution would not have been successful at all. -
British Evacuate Boston
After George Washington was able to successfully place connons on Dorchester Heights, the British were forced to evacuate Boston. This bloodlessly brought an end to the British's eight year occupation of the city -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met afterthe battles of Lexington and Concord, in the State House of Phillidelphia, PA. At this congress, they officially decided to break away from Great Britian. ALso, they wanted to organize their militia. -
Declaration of Independence Announced
On July 2nd, 1776 the Continental Congress voted for independence. The written Declaration of independence was dated July 4th, but wasn’t actually signed until August 2nd. This was the document that completely cut off all influences of England to the colonies, and dissolve of the political ties between the two countries. -
"The Crisis" is Published.
"The Crisis", written by Thomas Paine, was a book that he wrote to encourage the soldiers of the revolutionary war. Washington had the pamphlet distributed and read aloud to all of his dispirited men. These are the words that empoured the men to cross the icy Delaware River and defeat the Hessians at Trenton. -
Washington Captures Trenton
Washington and his men had been forced to retreat to the banks of the Delaware River. To take the enemy by surprise, Washington decided to cross the river in three places into Trenton, New Jersey. This worked well and the Colonists earned a strong physical and moral victory. -
British Defeated at Saratoga
This victory was an extremely important one. It ended the British plan to separate New England from the other colonies, and after this victory the French decided to openly enter the war on the American's side, hoping to defeat the British after the French and Indian War. -
Winter at Valley Forge, PA
General Von Steuben arrived at George Washington’s camp at Valley Forge on February 23rd, 1778. The patriots at Valley Forge practiced these new, greatly advanced military techniques with great efficiency around the camp. Von Steuben stressed especially the practice of firing and reloading weapons until it became very fluent. Also, he instituted new basic hygiene techniques to be practiced throughout camp. These advancements from the basic camp that the continental soldiers used to li -
John Paul Jones defeats the Serapis
Jones engaged in Navel battle with two british ships, escorting the Baltic merchant fleet. After hours of furious fighting, John PAul Jones was able to make the Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough surrender. He was hailed as a hero in France, but did not recieve as much admiration in the United States. -
Benedict Arnold plans found out
On September 25th, 1780, Benedict Arnold’s plan was discovered. He told British General Sir Henry Clinton that he would give him West Point, but their messenger was captured, and executed for being a spy. The Americans found out about Benedict Arnold’s plan when he fled to a British ship, and he was soon after made general. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
After having been forced to retreat onto a penninsula, Lord Cornwallis needed a rescue from sea. However, the british ships were repeled by the French navy and they were never able to rescue Cornwallis. This ended the war, leaving the Americans victorius.
