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End of the French and Indian War
The End of the French and Indian War left Great Britain in debt. In order to pay their debt, the Kind began to heavily tax the colonies without allowing them to participate in Parliament. This led to some of the discontent within the colonies, which was the cause of the Revolutionary War. -
Paxton Boys Attack Pennsylvania Indians
A group of about 57 colonists from Paxton, Pennsylvania attacked an Indian settlement. This was a response to the Pontiac Uprising, which was a series of attacks on colonists. -
Proclamation of 1763
This was a law that was passed by Parliament that restricted westward expansion beyond the Appalachian Mountains. This came in the wake of the Seven Year's War, and it angered the colonists. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, and also acknowledged America as an independent country for the first time. Without acknowledgement from other countries, America cannot be considered a true country. This is therefore significant because a new country was created. -
Pontiac's Rebellion
After the loss of the French and Indian War, many Indians feared that the British would soon expand to the Ohio valley region. Pontiac united a large group of Indian tribes, and began to attack the British in order to keep this from happening. The British eventually defeated the Indians, and Pontiac was killed by a rival chieftain. -
Sugar Act
This was an Act that was passed by Parliament that put a tax on sugar. This affected a large group of people, because sugar is used in many things. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act required taxes to be paid on legal documents, newspapers, and other documents. This increased the anger of the colonists, and was another cause that led to the Revolutionary War. -
Townshend Acts
These were a series of acts that were proposed to Parliament by Charles Townshend. They included the Declaratory Act, and further angered the colonists. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a fight that occurred between a group of colonists and British soldiers in Boston. It resulted in the death of several colonists. This event is significant because it led to the Revolutionary War. It also led directly to the evacuation of British troops from Boston. -
Somerset Decision
This was a trial that was held in the British Courts. It dealt with a man who had taken a man forcibly, and sold him into slavery. The case eventually condemned the man's actions. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an act of protest against taxation without representation. Recently, a tax on tea had been established. Therefore, many patriots disguised themselves as Indians, and dumped 342 chests of tea belonging to the British East India Company into the Boston Harbor. This event is significant because it involves somewhat violent actions, which show the resolve of the rebels. -
Tea Act
This was a law passed by Parliament that collected a tax on tea. This essentially led to the Boston Tea Party, and also influenced the Sons of Liberty. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of elected delegates from each of the colonies except for Georgia. This group was meant to show Britain that the colonies were united, although the delegates each had their own motives. This is significant because it was one of the first unified actions of the colonies. -
Intolerable Acts
These were a series of acts that were passed in British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party. Among them was the Quebec Act. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major battle fought in the Revolutionary War. It was fought in Charlestown during the Siege of Boston. The battle was won by the British, but it was a Pyrrhic victory, which encouraged the rebels. This battle is significant because it was unheard of for British soldiers to almost lose a battle. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
These battles were the first skirmishes between colonists and British Regulars. These battles are significant because the British lost more men than the rebels, even though they had a distinct advantage over the colonists. -
Second Continental Congress
This was the second meeting of the Continental Congress, which occurred after Lexington and Concord. Previously, the Continental Congress was concerned with different problems, but the fact that colonists had already engaged the British in battle changed their agenda. -
Common Sense
Common Sense openly requested independence from Great Britain. Thomas Paine was the first person to do this so publicly, and it shows the public opinion that was so strongly against England. -
Battle of Trenton
George Washington attacked German Hessians on Christmas Day, which surprised them. This was a huge victory for Washington, and was an early turning point in the war. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a letter to the Kind of England, declaring the independence of the colonies from Britain.It was written in Philadelphia, and had signatures from delegates of all thirteen colonies. It listed the grievances that the colonists had against the King, and explained their intention to break away. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga is considered to be one major turning point in the Revolutionary War. This was a major blow to the British, with almost 6,000 men captured or killed. -
Treaty of Alliance
The Treaty of Alliance was a treaty between the rebelling colonies and France. During the final years of the war, the French aided the rebels in the war against England. This is significant because it meant that the colonies were powerful enough to attract the attention of a developed nation such as France. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first U.S. Constitution. The Articles of Confederation were weak, and did not promote unity among the different states. They were eventually replaced by the current U.S. Constitution in 1789. The Articles of Confederation are significant because they were the first form of governmental organization of the U.S. -
Lord Cornwallis Surrendered to George Washington
The surrender of Lord Cornwallis marks a huge turning point in the Revolutionary War. From that point on, the colonists continued to win conflicts consistently. This particular surrender is significant because it was highly unusual for a British army to surrender. It was humiliating for Lord Cornwallis, who did not attend the official surrender, supposedly because he was ill. -
Newburgh Conspiracy
This was a plan that was devised by several officers from the Continental Army to force Congress to pay the army its wages. It involved threats to either disband, or take over the country. -
Treaty of Fort Stanwix
This was a treaty between the newly founded American government and the Iroquois confederation. It gave the U.S. rights to the land of the Ohio River Valley, which had previously been claimed by the Iroquois. -
Annapolis Convention
This meeting was held with the purpose of regulating trade between the states. It was one of the first steps to the Constitutional Convention. -
Shays' Rebellion
This was a rebellion against the American government. It was brought about by the rising amount of debt that citizens had, without being able to pay it back. The rebels were swiftly defeated in 1786. -
The Federalist Papers Published
These were a series of essays that were written to urge support to ratify the proposed US Constitution. -
Constitutional Convention
This was a meeting held in Philadelphia with delegates from all of the states. It's purpose was to compose and ratify a constitution in replacement of the Articles of Confederation. -
Northwest Ordinance
This document created a government for the Northwest Territory of the US, and provided a means for a territory to join the Union. This method was used as the US expanded westward. -
Inauguration of George Washingon
This was the inauguration of the first President of the United States of America. -
Beginning of the French Revolution
This was a revolution of the lower classes of France. The economy was seriously suffering, and the lower classes eventually revolted. -
Washington DC Chosen as the Capital
Washington DC was chosen as the Capital for the US as a compromise. It was a fairly central location at the time. -
Hamilton's First Report on Public Credit
This report was meant to restore the economy of the US, which was in shambles following the Revolutionary War. Specifically, he called for the full payment of the national debt. -
First Bank of the United States Chartered
The concept of a National Bank was proposed by Alexander Hamilton. The US was in debt, and states had no unified form of currency. Being able to trade between states was solved by doing this. -
Hamilton's Report on Manufactures
This was a report that urged the use of tariffs in order to retain economic independence. -
Bill of Rights Ratified
These were the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. They are typically viewed as being the most important amendments, and became the cornerstone of our governmental processes moving forward. -
Citizen Genet Affair
This was a dispute regarding whether or not to get involved with the French Revolution. Washington wished to remain neutral, but Edmund-Charles Genet used the divide between the two sides to the advantage of the French. -
Whiskey Rebellion
This was a rebellion that was a response to a new tax proposed by Alexander Hamilton, one on alcoholic beverages. Washington eventually had to personally lead the army in order to defeat the rebels. -
Battle of Fallen Timbers
Many Indian tribes of Ohio united to fight the Americans, who were taking their land. They met at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. After their defeat at this battle, the Indians signed the Treaty of Greenville. -
Jay's Treaty
This treaty was designed to settle the remaining differences between the US and Britain following the war for independence. -
Pinckney's Treaty
This was a treaty between the US and Spain. It cleared up previously unclear border disputes, and allowed US ships to travel on the Mississippi River. -
Treaty of Greenville
This treaty involved many various tribes of Indians in the region of western Ohio. It came after US forces defeated the Indians in that region, and they knew that they had to make peace with the US. -
Election of John Adams
This particular election was unique, because it was the first time that a party had emerged. Adams ran as a Federalist. -
XYZ Affair
This was a semi-war between France and the US. France was having financial trouble, so they decided to take captive American merchant ships. That started the fight, and it was ended in 1800. -
Quasi War with France
Following the XYZ Incident, President Adams prepared for war, although war was never declared. The only military engagements were among ships in the navy. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
These were a series of laws that allowed the US to deport foreigners, and prevent new aliens from entering the country. It also made it more difficult for immigrants to vote in the US. -
Election of Thomas Jefferson
The campaign for the election of 1800 was very close. The emergence of the party system had split the nation into two pools of thought. -
Judiciary Act of 1801
This Act reduced the amount of justices of the Supreme Court, and created a system of Circuit Courts.
