-
Navigation Acts
Parliament declared in this act that only English ships could bring goods into England. This meant that North American Colonies could only send exports to England. This was done in an effort to make England more self-sufficient. The Navigation Acts made Britain stronger, but also caused resentment in the American Colonies and helped cause the American Revolution. -
French and Indian War Ends
France’s expansion into the Ohio River Valley brought along conflict among Britain and France. The two sides fought in North America for 7 years from 1756-1763. Once peace was met, Britain got Canada from France. However, the war led to discontent and, eventually, the American Revolution. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an act that taxed all paper documents in the Colonies. It was passed due to war debt from the French and Indian War. It resulted in seriously strained relations between the Colonies and Britain and was a main cause of the Revolution. -
The Boston Massacre
British soldiers killed multiple people in Boston because they were being harassed by a mob of protestors against the taxation. The event was portrayed as the killing of completely innocent people and was widely criticized by Patriots. This helped spark the Revolution a few years later. -
Tea Act
The British government gave a monopoly on tea to the failing East India Company. They put a duty on the tea in an attempt to raise funds and bail out the company. This lead to the Boston Tea Party taking place. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of Patriots named the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Mohawk Indians and dumped $18,000 worth of tea into Boston Harbor. This caused Parliament to pass the Coercive/Intolerable Acts. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
Britain passed a number of acts to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. These included closing the port of Boston, making Massachusetts under direct control of Great Britain, revoking the ability of colonists to hold trials for British soldiers outside of Britain, and making colonists have to quarter soldiers. The result was even more colonists turning against the British and the First Continental Congress. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from every colony except for Georgia met in Philadelphia. Their goal was to discuss the Intolerable Acts and figure out a way to organize colonial resistance. The result was a compact among the colonies to boycott British goods and a stronger resistance. -
Lexington and Concord
The battles that took place at Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the war. Hundreds of British troops rushed to Concord near Boston to seize arms. Paul Revere and other riders warned the troops. There was intense fighting and the British retreated. The results of this were many more battles that would lead eventually to independence. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was used to discuss raising armies, appointing diplomats, war strategy, and writing treatises. The effect was the formation of a government. -
Declaration of Independence Adopted
On July 2nd, independence was declared. On July 4th, the final draft of the Declaration of Independence written by the founding fathers was approved by Congress. The declaration was signed on August 2nd 1776. The result was America being seen as a nation for the first time. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was two battles fought in year 2 of the revolutionary war. The Americans were defeated at the first battle but managed to weaken the British enough so they could not advance to Albany. In the second, the British were forced to withdrawal just south of Saratoga, New York. The result was an American victory and Britain failing to cut off the New England colonies. -
Valley Forge
Washington and his army spent a rough winter at valley forge that lasted for months. It was bitterly cold and people were hungry and sick. The result was the deaths of many. -
Battle of Yorktown
America’s army led by George Washington and the French force the surrender of British General Cornwallis. It was the last major battle of the war. The result was the independence of America. -
Constitution is Written
The Constitution established the laws in the United States. It was signed at the Constitutional Convention, and it set up the government. The result was a strong form of government that could be changed. -
Constitution is Adopted
The Constitution was written a year before, however it was not adopted until 1788 when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. The result was the Constitution being accepted in America.
