American Revolution Timeline

  • Sugar Act

    Although it reduced the tax on molasses, the Sugar Act was strictly enforced, so colonist ended paying more taxes.
  • Sons of liberty

    Those who opposed the British taxes called themselves “Patriots” and the Sons of Liberty was born with Sam Adams as its leader.
  • Quartering Act

    Following the French and Indian War, Britain maintained a standing army in the colonies. The Quartering Act required colonial assemblies to house and provision soldiers.
  • Sons of Liberty Mob

    Sons of Liberty Mob
    A Mob led by the Sons of Liberty tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector.
  • Stamp Act

    The Stamp Act was the tax on printed items was the first direct tax on the colonists. It added a fee to printed materials such as legal documents and newspapers.
  • Declatory Act

    The Declatory Act repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament’s right to rule the colonies as saw fit.
  • Townsend Acts/Tea Act

    Import taxes on a variety of goods were collected to support royal officials in the colonies, removing the responsibility from the colonial assemblies. The Townsend Acts were so unpopular that all the taxes were repealed, except the one on tea.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    A group of colonist hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists.
  • Tea Act

    The Tea Act was created to save the East India Tea Company. Although it lowered the price of tea, it
    gave the company a monopoly and threatened the business of colonial importers.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    Boston Patriots dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships laden with tea and Dumped the tea
    into the harbor. The event became known as the Boston Tea Party.
  • Coercive Acts (Intolerable Act)

    The Intolerable Act officially called the Coercive Acts, these laws were meant to force Massachusetts to pay for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The laws closed Boston Harbor and forced colonists to house British soldiers in their homes.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress
    The First Continental Congress meets. Agree to boycott British goods.
  • Olive Branch Petition

    Congress sends an “Olive Branch” to King George III. He rejected the petition and sent more troops to Boston.
  • Patrick Henry

    Patrick Henry, gives his most famous speech, in the House of Burgesses. “Give me Liberty or give me Death”
  • Battles of Lexington and Concord

    Battles of Lexington and Concord
  • Second Continental Congress

    Second Continental Congress meets. Congress names George Washington commander of Continental Army
  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    Battle of Bunker Hill
  • Common Sense

    Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence was approved.
  • Period: to

    Valley Forge

    Baron Von Steuben trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Penn. WINTER
  • Saratoga

    Saratoga
    Patriots win in Saratoga
  • Treaty of Alliance

    France signs an alliance with the United States.
  • Siege of Charlestown

    General Clinton captures 3000 Patriot soldiers as he takes Charlestown, South Carolina.
  • Battle of YorkTown

    Battle of YorkTown
    General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of Paris
    Treaty of Paris signed.