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Crispus Attucks
Crispus Attucks was the first victim of the revolutionary war. He was a multicultural man killed by British soldiers during the Boston massacre. This is important because his death along with five others in the Boston massacre helped to unite to colonies against Great Britain. -
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Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809, he also wrote the declaration of independence. This is important because he was a leading figure in America's early development. -
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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a war between France and Britain over America. This is important to the American Revolution because the war debt was the reason that the British started to put taxes on the colonists. -
The Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was a proclamation in response to native American rebellion, which prohibited the colonists from expanding farther westward beyond the Appalachian Mountains. This is important because the proclamation angered the colonists-they felt that Britain was trying to keep them where they could see them- and ultimately led to increased tensions between Britain and the colonies. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an Act that caused a direct tax on many printed materials in the colonies. It required these materials to be produced on stamped paper made in London, and for them to carry a stamp. This is important because the Stamp Act was a major reason for the Revolution, it was taxation without representation. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act of 1765 required the colonies to provide food and boarding for British soldiers. This was to pay off a large national debt from the war. American colonists resented the act because they were being taxed to pay for provisions and barracks for any army which they didn't feel was necessary to have during a time of peace. This event is important because it caused a lot of unrest and fear which eventually led to the Boston massacre. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an event where colonists started to taunt and throw things at a British soldier which then later escalated into a battle once said soldier called for back up. This is an important event because it helped to unite and spark a revolution in the colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an event in which American colonists dumped 342 crates of tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the taxation on tea in the American colonies. This event was important because it fueled the tension that had already begun between Britain and America and resulted in the intolerable acts. -
The Boston Port Act
The Boston port act went into effect in 1774 which discontinued landing and shipping goods into the Boston harbor. I was meant as a punishment to the colonists for the Boston tea party. This is important because it was the first intolerable act, it was these acts that caused major outrage and eventually led to the American revolution. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was made up of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies, it was formed in Philadelphia to organize resistance against the intolorable acts and to address grivances that the colonies had. This is important because they organized the boycott on British goods beginning on December 1, 1774 unless parliament would take back the Intolerable Acts. -
A Call to Arms: “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”
The Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech was delivered by Patrick Henry. The main purpose of Henry's speech was to tell the colonists that war was necessary and they needed to fight back if the colonies ever wanted to by free from British rule. This is important because his speech helped to convince the colonists to prepare for war. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first known example of combat during the American Revolutionary War. This is important because these battles signified that the Americans were not just a group of rebels and that they were willing to go to great lengths to achieve success. -
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The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress is a gathering of delegates from most of the thirteen colonies. They are considered one of America's first known attempts of governing themselves. This event is important because the Second Continental Congress wrote the declaration of independence which declared us independent from Great Britan. -
The Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a last attempt by the colonists to avoid going to war with Great Britain. In the document, they stated that they were British citizens and hoped to reconcile. King Goerge the lll refused to look at the petition and declared the colonist's traitors. This is important because when it was rejected it strengthened the colonist's resolve to fight for independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The declaration of independence by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston was to announce and explain why the colonies were separating from Great Britain. This was important because It allowed the colonies to official form an alliance with the French. -
The Franco-American alliance
The French Alliance was an alliance between America and France during the revolutionary war, in which France provided military supplies for the Americans and there was lots of trade as well. This is important because without french military aid America would most likely not have won the revolution. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were agreements among all thirteen states and acted as the first constitution. This is important because it allowed for America to have a period of trial and error while Americans learned about the things needed to run the government. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American revolution. Where a combined French and American army led by George Washington defeated and captured General Cornwallis and his army. This is important because this battle forced Great Britian to negotiate with to colonists and it marked the start of American independance. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed by U.S. and British Representatives in brown Paris, it ended the War of the American Revolution. This is important because the treaty allowed for the British crown to formally recognize the United States as an independent country. -
The US Constitution signed
When the US Constitution was signed in 1787 It was a set of laws that the whole county had to follow, and it continues to be the overarching law of the land. This document played an important role in American history because it helped to spread democratic ideals around the world. -Constitution FAQs - National Constitution Center
