-
Navigation Acts
These acts would cause the colonist’s ships to dock and unload in the British ports before they could export their goods resulting in giving work to Englishmen. This would cause a resentment for the British. -
French and Indian War Ends
Due to Britain’s win of the French and Indian War France was eliminated from the New World allowing Britain to make gains on land including Canada. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was enacted by the British Parliament to pay for the 7 years war this would enrage the colonists into making mobs and intimidate stamp collectors. -
Boston Massacre
An angry mob was harassing a group of British soldiers who felt threatened. Five people in the crowd ended up being shot that would then cause outrage among the American colonists. -
Tea Act
This act was made by the British government to allow a tea company to have eased taxes but higher taxes for the colonies. This would stir up animosity and lead to the Boston Tea party. -
Boston Tea Party
Furious American colonists at Griffins Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts were fuming at Britain for enforcing the “Taxation Without Representation” and dumped 342 imported chests of tea into the Boston harbor. This was the first major offense against the British. -
Intolerable Acts
Annoyed by the Boston Tea Party the British government responds by enacting the intolerable acts made to control Massachusetts. The 5 acts included closing the Boston Port until the damages were paid, restricting Massachusetts government, a justice act making British officials free of criminal punishment, a Quartering act that made British troops allowed to stay at one’s private residence, and the Quebec act allowing Canadians to resume their judicial system and worship in a Catholic setting -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was created as a response to the intolerable acts and they acted as the government for the 13 colonies. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The tensions were too high between the American colonists and the British authorities in Massachusetts. A night before the battle British troops went to Concord to seize an arms cache. The local colonists were made aware of this and fought the British in Lexington and sent them retreating. This battle would start the American Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
At this point the American Revolution had begun and George Washington was raised as commander of the Continental Army and authorized conscription into the army. -
Declaration of Independence Adopted
The document adopted by congress and July 4th would be recognized as Independence Day -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga stretched 18 days, but it proved to be a turning point in the Revolutionary war for the Continental Army after a victory. -
Winter at Valley Forge
George Washington and his army suffered terrible conditions but with the help of a former Prussian officer he was able to transform his army to become more capable. -
Battle of Yorktown
The British lost in a decisive battle to the Continental Army. This would prove that the colonists were a force to be reckoned with and it would not be easy for Britain to win the war. This is where the saying “the world turned upside down” came from. -
U.S. Constitution Adopted
The U.S. constitution was adopted to ensure “the blessings of liberty” to American citizens. -
U.S. Constitution Written
This document was made to reinforce the fact the U.S. government was created to serve its citizens.