American Revolution Timeline

Navigation Acts

1763

Regulated British trade and manufacturing. Improved British economy. Caused smuggling and resentment in the colonies.

French and Indian War Ends

Feb 10, 1763

War between Britain and France ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. British victory. The British run low on money, causing them to start taxing the colonists.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

Put tax on all paper documents, including newspapers and legal papers. Caused protest among colonists. Many boycotted goods.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

Mob harassed British soldiers in King Street. Soldiers shot and killed 5. Caused colonies to want independence from Britain.

Tea Act

May 10, 1773

Gave British East India Company a monopoly on British tea imports and permitted the company to sell tea directly to the colonies. This eventually led to the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Colonists protest Tea Act of 1773. Disguised themselves as Native Americans and dumped 90,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor. Caused Parliament to pass the Coercive Acts in 1774.

Coercive/Intolerable Acts

Mar 31, 1774

Passed by Parliament as punishment for Boston Tea Party. Consisted of Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Impartial Administration of Justice Act, and Quartering Act. Caused First Continental Congress

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

12 colonies sent 55 delegates to Philadelphia. Discussed how colonies should respond to the Coercive Acts. Demanded that Britain end the Coercive Acts and boycotted certain goods.

Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

First battle of the war. British hoped to suppress a revolt in Concord and were intercepted by colonial militia. American victory. Started the Revolutionary War.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

Delegates met again after the battle at Lexington and Concord. Established the Continental Army and approved the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence Adopted

Jul 4, 1776

Adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Declared the colonies to be independent of Britain. Resulted in broken ties with Britain.

Winter at Valley Forge

1777

Continental Army spent the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge. Harsh conditions, starvation, and disease caused many soldiers to die. Von Steuben drilled army. This training provided army with skills and tactics necessary to win the war.

Battle of Saratoga

Sep 19, 1777

Colonies defeated British in two main battles. Burgoyne forced to retreat. Victory convinced France to become allies with America.

Battle of Yorktown

Sep 28, 1781

Three week siege that ended in American victory. Surrender led to Britain signing Treaty of Paris and end of Revolutionary War. America becomes a free country.

U.S. Constitution Written

Sep 17, 1787

55 delegates gathered in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention in order to discuss ideas. Set laws and limits for government. Supreme law of the U.S.

U.S. Constitution Adopted

Jun 21, 1788

Nine states ratified the Constitution, officially putting it into effect. Replaced Articles of Confederation as America’s first governing document. It caused the federal government to gain more power over the states.