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French and Indian War ends
In 1756 the British declared war against France due to them expanding into the Ohio River Valley. The war lasted 7 years and ended with the signing of the treaty of Paris by France, Great Britain, and Spain. Due to the treaty of Paris France gave up all claims to Canada, gave Louisiana to Spain, and the British received Spanish Florida and upper Canada. The British also got various overseas holdings from the French. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were passed by the British Parliment to put restrictions on trade. They also used this to profit off the American colonies due to their mercantilist policies. These acts enraged American colonist and fueled them closer to revolution. -
Stamp Act
The stamp act imposed taxes on all paper documents in the American colonies. The colonists resorted to mob violence to Impose intimidation on the stamp collectors. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston massacre started as a riot that evolved into a conflict between the rioters and a British soldier. Soon more British soldiers arrived and eventually they started firing into the crowd of rioters. Three men were killed and eight were injured. This event fueled anti-British views. -
Tea Act
The tea act was passed as a way to help the East India Company sell a large shipment of tea in America. However, the colonist saw through this trick to buy their support on taxes with this tea shipment. Which resulted in them turning the ships back around to Britain. This was one of the final sparks towards the revolutionary movement. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party occurred in Griffin’s Wharf Boston, Massachusetts. It was a political protest by American colonist who were outraged by Britains new taxes. The result was 342 chest of Tea being dumped into the harbor. This showed Britain that the Americans were willing to fight there laws, and it sparked American patriots to fight for independence. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
The intolerable or coercive acts of 1774 were acts passed by the British government to get back at the colonist for the Boston Tea Party. They passed multiple acts limiting the colonies power and protecting British officials legally in the colonies. This caused the convening of the first Continental Congress rather than suppressing the American colonies. -
The First Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress met as all the 13 colonies, except Georgia, to discuss England’s intolerable acts. The Congress issued a declaration of rights against taxation without representation, and passed the Articles of Association. The Articles of Association made the colonies stop importing goods from the British isles. -
Lexington and Concord
There had been high tensions between the British government officials and the all the 13 colonies. This was especially true in Massachusetts. On the night of April 18th British officials and hundreds of troops went to seize an arms cash. Paul revere among others quickly alerted everyone and got their own colonial militia ready. The two militias clashed in the town of Lexington. The colonial army successfully held the British off and caused them to retreat under heavy fire. -
Second Continental Congress
The second Continental Congress was held after the revolutionary war had already started. George Washington was appointed commander of the continental army. And Congress issued the Declaration of Independence as well as establishing itself under the Articles of Confederation. -
Declaration of Independence adopted
The American colonies created the Declaration of Independence, based off of Thomas Jefferson’s draft, to impose their right to create their own government. This was after the revolutionary war had been in full motion. This also marked the independence of the United States of America. -
Winter at Valley Forge
General Washington’s Continental Army held a six month encampment in Valley Forge. It was during this encampment George Washington better trained the Continental Army into a fighting force and turned the tides of the Revolutionary war with the help of Prussian military officer Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was fought during September through October in 1777. It was fought in two main battles 18 days apart. It ended up being a important victory for the continental army. -
Battle of Yorktown
General George Washington and his army as well as help from their French allies decided a assault on York town would be a better idea over an attack on New York. They surprised the British and the battle was a decisive victory for the Americans. -
U.S. Constitution written
On May 14th the Federal Convention convened in the state house for the purpose of revising the articles of confederation. By June they could see that they would need a new piece of legislature. After months of debate they finally settled on the U.S. Constitution, which marked a new beginning for the United States of America. -
U.S. Constitution adopted
The constitution was adopted due to problems with the articles of confederation. These problems caused the constitutional convention to be held, where the constitution was discussed and written. Once the constitution was finished it was adopted by the U.S. and we have used it ever since.