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On March 22, 1765, the British parliament passed the “Stamp act” to help pay for the British troops stationed in the colonies during the Seven Years’ War. The law required colonists to pay a tax, represented by a stamp or various form of papers, documents, and playing cards. The Patriots did not like this act and they resorted to mob violence to intimidate stamp collectors into resigning. The Stamp act strained relations with the colonies and that led to them fighting 10 years later.
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June 29, 1767 the Townshend act was imposed. It imposed duties on British china, glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea imported to the colonies. The Townshend act went into effect on November 20, 1767. It said that the British parliament had the same authority to tax the American colonies as they did in Great Britain. Colonists did not like this and then with the help of the Sons of Liberty Connecticut and Rhode island agreed to boycott British goods.
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On March 5, 1770 a deadly riot broke out on King street in Boston. It began as a street brawl Between American colonists and a single British soldier. Skirmishes between Americans and Loyalists have become increasingly common. American’s rebelled against the taxes they found repressive. In the actual event, American Patriots ganged up on a lone soldier who then called for backup. When the backup arrived Patriots began throwing stones, sticks, and even glass bottles at the soldiers.
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On December 16, 1773 342 chests of tea from the East India Company were dumped into the ocean. This was done at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts by American colonists. They were frustrated at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation”. The tax was originally caused by the amount of money Great Britain spent in the war to get the 13 colonies. This event was the first major act of defiance against Great Britain.
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On September 5, 1774, the first Continental Congress was formed at Carpenters hall in Philadelphia. 56 delegates from all the colonies except Georgia drafted the declaration of rights and grievances and elected Virginian Peyton Randolph as the first president of Congress. Among the 56 delegates were Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, and John Jay. They discussed British boycotts in their first meetings.
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On March 20, 1775 Patrick Henry gave his famous speech and presented his famous quote, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”. This was all to present solutions to Virginia, establish a militia, and make sure Virginia was in a place of defense. Henry predicted that war was coming and he wanted Virginia to strand strong during the fight and give resolutions to others. He wanted to secure rights and liberties and not have to deal with English rules.
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On April 19, 1775 the revolutionary war had just begun.There was tension within the colony. In the night of April 18, hundreds of British soldiers marched to Concord to stop the militia. Paul Revere made his famous ride that night and warned the militia men that the British were coming. Both sides of the battle suffered major loss. In the end, the British won and that showed King George III that the British could stop bad behavior in America.
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On June 17, 1775 the battle of bunker hill was fought. Americans found out that the British were sending troops to secure the hills from American Patriots The battle was fought by 1000 American troops under Colonel William Prescott and 2,200 British troops under Brigadier General Robert Pigot. The British won the battle and both sides suffered heavy losses. 100 Americans were dead and 300 wounded. 200 British soldiers were dead with 800 wounded.
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There is no exact date, but in 1779 Benedict Arnold betrayed the Patriots and joined the British. He entered secret Negotiations with the British to turn over a post at West Point in return for money and a place of command in the British Army. He got 20,000 pounds in return for the fort and when the US found out about Arnold’s betrayal he was already way past enemy lines and safe. Now, his name is closely related with the word traitor.
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On July 4, 1776 the Declaration of independence was formed. The declaration was the formal statement by the American people for the right to choose their own government. The five men that helped make the Declaration of Independence included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The Declaration was mostly written by Thomas Jefferson. The congress formally adopted the form on July 4. That day is now marked as America’s independence day.
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On September 22, 1776, in New York City, Nathan Hale was executed. He was a schoolteacher and a captain in the Continental Army and was executed for spying on the British. He disguised as a Dutch Schoolmaster and snuck behind enemy lines. When hale was interrogated by British General William Howe, they discovered that Hale had incriminating papers. After being lead to the rope, legend says that Hale said, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country,”.
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The battle of Saratoga was fought on September 19 - Oct 17, 1777. British John Burgoyne was with an army of 7,500 men.Patriot Horatio Gates had command of 8,500 men. Burgoyne engaged the center and it was tough fight. Finally, the British had control of the battlefield and sent messages for reinforcements. That was all the while the continental army gained about 5,500 men. Burgoyne tried to retreat but it didn’t work. After a negotiation Burgoyne surrendered the battle.
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The Articles of Confederation were adopted on November 15, 1777 but not ratified until March 1, 1781. The Articles of Confederation were the US’ first constitution. The Articles gave the government the ability to declare war, appoint military officers, sign treaties, make alliances, appoint ambassadors, and manage relationships with Indians. The Articles were hard to make and ratify because the new government did not want to make themselves have an oppressive power like the British did.
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The alliance with France started on February 6, 1778. It created a military alliance between the United States and France against Great Britain. The treaty arranged for France to provide Military aid and loans to the 13 colonies. The French were mad over the loss of the French and Indian war so they joined the US to undermine Britain's position. This alliance was already formed way before though. France, during its neutrality was secretary funding the colonies as early as 1775 - 1777.
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On June 28, 1778 George Washington and Charles Lee attacked the behind of Henry Clinton’s British Army. They were met by his rear guard. Lee ordered the soldiers to retreat and George Washington didn't know this. Then George Washington rallied his troops and fought back against the British. This battle was the largest artillery duel of the war. Eventually, Clinton ordered an evacuation with the help of the royal navy. Washington and his army did not follow.
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On September 28, 1778, 650 British Troops under Charles Grey marched down roads in Bergen county. The British foraged the woods for cattle and other things. The Bergen militiamen moved the cattle out under order of George Baylor. Then the British got news that a whole regiment of the Continental Army was stationed nearby. The British launched an attack and demolished the regiment. Over 20 were killed, 69 captured and others wounded. Because of this, the event is now called “Baylor’s massacre”.
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The DeWint house housed Washington for some time. The first, from August 8-24 in 1780 while he was inspecting something on the Hudson and secondly during September 28-October 7, 1780. That time returning for the trial of John Andre, a traitor. Washington was there in 1783 for a place to stay when he was negotiating with the British. He also stayed there on November 11-14, 1783 for shelter during a snowstorm. The house was owned by Major Fredericks Blauvelt during that time.
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On October 2, 1780, Major John Andre was hanged in Tappan, New York accused of being a spy. John Andre was captured on September 23 after incriminating papers were found in his boot. Andre was an accomplice of Benedict Arnold. He was sentenced to death by the US military forces. He was hanged even though requesting being shot by a firing squad. He was dead on October 2, 5:00 precisely.
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On September 28 - October 19, 1781 the Battle of Yorktown was fought. The battle was led by George Washington and under him was 17,000 troops. The army was lead by British General Charles Cornwallis and under him was 9,000 British troops. In the battle the allies knocked out the British artillery on October 11. They continued to bomb them. On October 16 the British started to get desperate. They tried to retreat, but it was not successful. The Patriots won the battle causing the end of the war.
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On September 3, 1783 the treaty of Paris was signed. The treaty of Paris formally ended the Revolutionary War. John Adams and John Jay were the ones who negotiated the treaty with British representatives. In the treaty the British had to recognize that America had its independence and had to concede most of their territory in east Mississippi to the United States. All of the people that were supposed to go England were John Adams, Benjamin franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson.
