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Stamp Act
The British passed the Stamp Act to gain more money to be able to get out of debt. This was the first direct tax on the colonists and it angered them greatly. They Boycotted all British goods and as a result thousands lost their jobs in Britain. -
Protest of Stamp Act
To protest to Stamp Act the colonies met as the Stamp Act Congress. They drafted a declaration that said they are not to be taxed without fair representation in parliment. They then sent the Declaration the the Kign to repeal the Stamp Act. -
Gaspee Affair
To enforce the Customs reforms and the Stamp act the British sent the Gaspee over to the colonies. This ship maned by William Dunddington patroled the waters of the eastern coast to catch smugglers. Eventually the ship hit ground and the news spread quickly and allowed the colonists to come and loot and burn the ship. This was the GAspee Affair. -
Committees of Correspondence Established
The Committees of Correspondence was established to spread the written word from town to town and colony to colony. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was when a bunch of colonists dumped a bunch of British tea into the Boston Harbor. They did this because the King was putting huge taxes on tea and that is how they said they don't like those taxes. -
Coercive Acts
This act was designed to put Britain in control of Massachuesetts. It first shut down Boston Harbor, then it required all concil members and judges to be apointed rather than elected. Also it banned town meetings and made it so the britsh soliders didn't have to face trial in America. Finally the acts allowed 2,000 British troops to move into Massachusetts and take control. These acts made the colonists mad because the acts broke some of their basic rights. -
Quebec Act
This act did not directly relate to the colonies, but it angered them none the less. It said that the Knig would appoint a govenor who would lead Quebec and by doing so it gave Quebec more land. The part the colonists did not like was that if they expanded west they would have to expand into land where they had no elect assembly. -
First Continental Congress
The First Contiental Congress met between Septemeber 5 and October 26. Each conlonies except Georgia sent representatives to the congress. They discused colonial matters in Carpenter's Hall. -
Paul Revere's Ride
As the knowledge of the Britishs' plans came out Paul Revere rode his horse through the town yelling that the British were coming. Without these warnings given by Paul Revere the colonists would have never known about the advancing Bristish troops. This warning gave them an advantage to win the battle. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were major battles where the British went to Lexington to capture John Adams and John Hancock. They went to Concord to try and take the gunpowder from the colonists. Before there ambush the colonies figured out the plan of the Britsh and Paul Revere rode down the road telling the colonists tha the Bristish were coming. -
Second Continental Congress
This second meeting of the Continental Congress was mostly to plan a defence against the British. They adopted the militia around Boston as the Continental Army. Also at this meeting George Washington was appointed as general of the new army, as well as commander. -
George Washington Appointed General
George Washington was appointed general and commander of the Continental Army made up of the militia around Boston. His job was to fend off the British from taking over Boston. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This famous battles was fought between the British and the American commander Willaim Prescott. George Washignton was assigned to be commander here, but he did not get to his position in time before the British arrived. This battle gave the colonists the confidence because they were able to stand up to the most powerful militia in the world. -
Olive Branch Petition
This petiton was written by John Dickinson to the king of England. It stated that the colonists were still loyal to the king and asked him to call of the soldiers until the situation could be worked out peacefully. -
Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition
This Proclamation was issued by the British after the colonists attacked Quebec. When the colonists did that act it showed the British there was no chance for them to make up. As a result of this the British declared the colonies as an enemy. -
British Pulled out of Virginia
Dunmore said that if the enslaved workers fought for the loyalists they would be freed. This made the Southern Plantation owners put more effort into building up the Patriot army. This extra push beat Dunmore and caused the British to pull out of Virginia. -
Common Sense Published
Common Sense was published by Thomas Paine to show that the general opinion of the public was that independence from Engladnd was needed. He claimed that the moncharies were stablished by stealing power form the people. -
British Evacuate Boston
While the British were waiting for reinforcements, Washington had the hills around Boston covered in cannons. When the British saw this they retreated to Canda to wait for reinforcements. -
Writing of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence form the 12th to the 27th. After he finished writing it he sent it to Ben Franklin to print it. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Indepence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson to express the people's view and ideas. Even though these ideas were already shown by the colonist this was the first physical representation of their ideas.
