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The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act that was passed by British Parliament was the first motion of attempted assertion of superiority over the American colonies. The Stamp Act was passed in an effort to replenish government revenue from the debt that the British endured from the Seven Years War. This inevitably caused uproar against the British Parliament in the colonies. The significance is shown through the violent uproar that the Americans caused against the British which proved significant in future battles. -
The Quartering Act
The British Parliament passed the Quartering Act that required Americans to provide housing and adequate living conditions for the British soldiers by law. However, American colonists did not comply with the Quartering Act as it seemed to be an inhuman abuse of power to force individuals to provide housing for strangers. The tension and uproar show the significance of this act that it caused in the American colonies, which set both the Americans and British on a trajectory for war. -
The Townshend Act
The Townshend Act was implemented to tax the goods that were imported to the American colonies. However, the American colonists saw the Act as an abuse of power when Great Britain implemented it as the debt burden was preventing further funding for other needs. As a result, the Townshend Act was passed to generate more government revenue for Great Britain, which proved significant. This only created more tension between the American colonists and the British. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between patriots who weren’t armed and well-trained British soldiers armed with guns. This resulted in three immediate deaths and eight wounded of which two died. The significance of this event was quite evident as this bloody battle has led to revolutions throughout the colonies which was the fueling factor to the constant rebellion. Thus, the Boston Massacre has sparked the revolution of the American colonies with rebellion. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a major act of rebellion against the British government for the unfair taxation that the British put upon the Americans by believing that the unfair taxation was a plot against them to sustain a British tea company rather than the American people. The financial damage that proved significant from trashing all the tea exceeded $750k in modern American currency and cost the British a major setback in financial terms, which led to setbacks in the war. -
The Quebec Act
The British Parliament implemented the Quebec Act of 1774 to prevent the Americans from further expanding westward, which empirically resulted in more wars with the Native Americans. However, the Americans viewed this restriction as a way for the British to expand their rule, which furtherly grew the conflict between the Americans and British. The significance of the Quebec Act of 1774 is that the act escalated the tensions between the Americans and the British, resulting in violent battles. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress took place in Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia from September 5, 1774, to October 26, 1774. Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent delegates to the First Continental Congress in efforts to create a combined political voice against Great Britain. The significance of the First Continental Congress addressed the issues that Great Britain put upon the colonies which ultimately became the building blocks to what the future Continental Congress meetings become. -
The Articles of Association
The Articles of Association addressed the idea of boycotting all goods imported and exported from Britain. However, the First Continental Congress delegates were cautious when drafting the articles as they wanted to make sure it displayed the unhappiness of the American colonists but did not insult the British. It served as the American colonies' formal, diplomatic expression regarding the British government's unjust actions, resulting in the conflict and tension that ignited the war. -
Lexington and Concord
Although the tensions and resistance between the Americans and the British were clearly evident, the Battles of Lexington and Concord sparked the military war that the Americans were looking for. The Battles of Lexington and Concord was one of the very first military engagements between the Americans and the British of which the Americans had won. This proved to be significant for the Americans as they had the feeling of victory of the few first battles of independence. -
Bunker Hill
Although the British won the battle, it became the turning point of realization that future battles should be treated as a foreign war. British General Howe had the resources and men to overtake the Americans easily. Still, he decided to march up the hill in hopes of the Americans retreat. However, this did not happen and led to the many British soldiers wounded and dead. This battle's significance was that the British were forced to treat future battles to the same degree as a foreign war. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the first formal document that addressed the rights of the American citizens to choose their own government which proved significant as it was the birth of the new America and its policies. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin were tasked to draft a document that clearly states the colonies’ intentions moving forward which was then was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. -
Crossing of the Delaware
The Delaware River crossing was a necessary course of action to win a much-needed battle against the British to keep the American soldiers motivated to continue fighting. George Washington knew that his army only stood a chance against the British with a surprise attack, which proved to be true as the Americans evidently won the battle. This event's significance is how the Americans committed to cross the river and attack the British to secure a major victory that shifted the war's momentum. -
The Battles of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga consisted of two major battles that were fought eighteen days apart that proved significant as they gave the Americans momentum over the British. The First Battle of Saratoga had no decisive victory for either side as the British managed to push back American troops but suffered double the casualties. The Second Battle of Saratoga was an undeniable victory for the Americans as with supplies running low for the British, the British were ultimately forced to surrender. -
The Battle Of Monmouth
The Americans hardly won the Battle of Monmouth as the battle's beginning favored the British, which proved significant as the Americans continued to fight and become victorious. General Lee doubted the American troops' skill, which ultimately allowed the British to gain ground upon the Americans. As Washington came into battle, he noticed the damage that Lee caused, which left him to utilize what troops remained. Eventually, the British were forced to retreat after the overwhelming battle. -
Baylor's Massacre
Baylor's Massacre was an attack on the 3rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons under the command of Colonel George Baylor, hence the name “Baylor’s Massacre”. This attack occurred in what is now known as River Vale, New Jersey. After the attack, American troops were taken prisoners, while some were wounded and left to die. This battle proved significant because the British gained control and momentum from the attack by utilizing their success that they acquired with this one attack. -
DeWint House
The DeWint House in Tappan, NY served as the household for George Washington on four different occasions with the most important one being during the Major John Andre trial. It was in the DeWint House where George Washington reviewed and concluded that John Andre was guilty. The significance of this structure is the historical value that it holds as George Washington utilized the housing four times including an important trial of John Andre’s execution. -
The Execution of Major John Andre
American troops captured Major John Andre, the accomplice of Benedict Arnold, on September 23 due to suspicions that John Andre was a British spy. However, George Washington was convinced that Benedict Arnold deserved to be hanged instead of John Andre and proposed trading John Andre for Benedict Arnold to the British. Due to no response, John Andre was hanged on October 2, 1780. This proved significant as it prevented John Andre from causing further harm, saving the Americans in the long term. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the U.S. that granted the power to Congress to have authority over important issues. However, a major flaw was that the articles lacked specification of raising taxes which made it difficult for the nation to repay the debt it was in from the American Revolutionary War. The significance of the article was mainly that it named the new nation, “The United States of America” and it shaped the powerful U.S. government we know today. -
The Battle Of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was considered to have been the last major military battle in the American Revolutionary War of which the Americans became victorious. George Washington utilized his brilliant plan of fooling British troops into thinking that he was planning an attack on New York. When in reality, George Washington was planning an attack on Cornwallis who was taken on with surprise. The significance of this battle was that it showed how the Americans utilized their strength of deception. -
Treaty Of Paris
The Treaty of Paris of 1783 was the formal ending to the Revolutionary War that declared the American colonies independent. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay negotiated with representatives of King George III of Great Britain which resulted in the British recognizing the independence of the American colonies and giving up territory east of the Mississippi River to the Americans. The significance of this treaty was that it allowed the American colonies to expand and become independent.
