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French and Indian War
AKA, The Seven Years War -Only 93 years short of being called 100 year war -First war to go from New World to Old World -First war in which colonies show unity -Started by George Washington in Ohio Valley -British reinforcements / generals sent -France concentrated most of their forces in Europe -British allied with Iroquois; France allied with Spain and Hurons -At first Britain was being defeated -With help of great generals like Pitt UK came out victorious. -
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Timeline of the American Revolutionary War
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George III: Crowned King of England
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Sugar Act
How many times have you heard this so far?-Prime Minister George Grenville was also the mastermind behind the Sugar Act -The first law ever passed by the Parliament for the specific purpose of raising tax revenue in the colonies for the crown -Increased duty on foreign sugar imported from West Indies -After bitter protests, the duties were significantly lowered -
Stamp Act
A very biased report-Imposed by Prime Minister Grenville -To raise revenue to support new military force -Mandated the use of stamped paper, certifying payment of tax -Stamps were required for about 50 trade items -Including commercial and legal documents, playing cards, pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas -Grenville imposed these taxes so that colonists could pay for the army that is defending the colonists -Much heavier taxes were already imposed in Britain -Many colonists protested this act -
Boston Massacre
Sixty Townspeople set upon 10 redcoats -Throw objects at and clubbed redcoats -Under extreme provocation, the troops opened fire and killed/wounded eleven "innocent" victims -Both sides were to blame -John Adams defended redcoats in trial -Only two redcoats found guilty, and only of manslaughter (as opposed to murder) -Increased tensions between colonists and Britain -
Boston Tea Party
-Not the only tea party, but the most significant -Many tea carrying ships never even made it to port, due to protests -Massachusetts governor Thomas Hutchinson required that the ship come to port -Hutchinson believed Tea Tax was unjust, but didn't want colonists to flout law -Provoked beyond restraint, a radical group of colonists disguised as Indians boarded the ship and smashed open 342 chests of tea -Led to "Intolerable Acts" -Since then 16 Starbucks have opened in up in Boston -
Battle of Concord
-British commander sent detachment of troops to Lexington and Concord -Revere and Dawes had their midnight runs to warn of Red Coats -To seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to bag rebel ringleaders Samuel and John Adams -Concord was second in line after Lexington -By this time the Minute Men were ready for action when the Red Coats reached Concord -
Battle of Lexington
-British commander sent detachment of troops to Lexington and Concord -Revere and Dawes had their midnight runs to warn of Red Coats -To seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to bag rebel ringleaders Samuel and John Adams -At Lexington, minute men hadn't dispersed rapidly enough -8 Americans were killed and many more were wounded -Britain won the skirmish at Lexington -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Israel Putnam led a few hundred militiamen up Breed’s Hill. In four hours they had a crude fort. William Howe then ordered his newly arrived troops to launch an immediate attack. As the British drew closer, the militiamen waited until they were nearly on top of them to fire. The sudden shots made the redcoats fall back in confusion. It took until the third attack for the British to finally reach the top of the hill, but this was because the Americans had run out of gunpowder.Many British died. -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
Representatives from the colonies meet in Philladelphia to express their grievances against King George of England and to declare their Independence. -
Battle of Yorktown
American victory at Yorktown, Virginia, leads to a British surrender and signals the end of the war. -
Signing of the Constitution
The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation and became the final plan for the government of the United States. It set up 3 branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branch.
