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The Navigation Acts
The British government, being under mercantilism, wanted to use the American colonies to improve British finances. They pressed restrictions on colonial trade. These were important because they proved that British held power over the colonies and that they needed them for trade. -
The End of the French and Indian War
The French and Native American fall to Great Britain and its allies. Great Britain lost a great amount of money from the war and thought the colonies should pay the cost. This upset the colonies. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act put a tax on all commercial and legal documents such as diplomas, pamphlets, newspapers, dice, playing cards, etc. The colonists took the tax as an attack to their rights. It was later repealed. This was important because the colonists began protests saying, “No taxation without representation.” This was the first major act against parliament. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers open fired at at a group of colonists throwing stones and snowballs in Boston, Massachusetts. The massacre ended with five dead. This spurred the committees of correspondence to warn other colonies of the attack on Boston and to broaden the resistance movement. -
Tea Act
The tea act was a monopoly to the East India Company of British Tea imports, because parliament held shares in East India. This act actually would have made tea cheaper for the colonists, but they only saw it as another attack to their freedom. This important because it invites the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
As a protest to the tax on tea, a group of colonists tossed a new arrival of British tea into the harbor. This is important because all the others colonies unite to support Massachusetts in their harsh punishment. This spurred 12 representatives from the colonies to discuss how to move forward. -
The Coercive or Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts came because of the Boston Tea Party. The Port Bill closed the Boston harbor. The Quartering Act allowed soldiers to live in private home and the Admission of Justice Act forced British officers to be sent back to England to be tried. These acts caused the meeting of the First Continental Congress so they could discuss how to respond to these acts. -
First Continental Congress
55 delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies gathered in Philadelphia to discuss how to respond to the intolerable acts. Among the men at the meeting were John Adams, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. Paul Revere and William Dawes went on a midnight run to warn the minutemen the British were coming. -
Lexington and Concord
In Massachusetts, the shot heard around the world was fired and war broke out. This eventually lead to the Second Continental Congress where George Washington was put in charge of the Continental army. -
Second Continental Congress
After the battle of Lexington and Concord the Continental Congress met for the second time to discuss preparations for war. The olive branch petition was discussed but shut down. Thomas Paine wrote a book called “Common Sense” in which he explains why it is common sense to revolt from Britain. This eventually lead to the Declaration of Independence. -
The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson, the declaration’s main writer, borrowed many of his points from John Locke. He played off Locke’s natural laws. He also supports the idea of popular sovereignty. The declaration kick started the American Revolution. -
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The Winter of Valley Forge
The winter at Valley Forge was brutal and rough. The soldiers did not have enough food, clothes, or equipment. They camp was plagued with disease and death. Throughout Washington was determined. This was important because the Americans perceived and overcame as a nation. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The battle of Saratoga was a major turning point for the Americans. The Continental Army comes out with an win. This is important because France enters on the American side and officially recognizes America as a country. Lafayette gets supplies from France. Spain and Netherlands follow France to help the Americans in their efforts. -
The Battle of Yorktown
With the help of the French, at the battle of Yorktown the British army finally surrendered to the Americans. After this battle the British finally ceased their war efforts. This also set George Washington on track to become president. -
The United States Constitution
The first attempt at a constitution was the Articles of Confederation, but they proved to be inefficient. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison, among others completed the constitution. The importance of this is that the United States are finally establishing a government.