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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is often referred to as the Seven Years War. Conflicts of the claims of the British colonies was repeatedly brought in from France's expansion into the Ohio River Valley. French won a strand of victories. Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1763. -
The Proclamation of 1763
King George III issued the law that settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains was prohibited. Any settlers who had previously moved west must return back to the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains. This was the plan developed to use the large areas of land won by the war in an orderly way. Great Britain had started to realize that one of the contributors to Pontiac's Rebellion was land-hungry settlers going to the west so this was their most logical solution. -
Stamp Act
A tax put on all paper documents in the colonies due to the major debt from the Seven Year War put on the Britain Empire. The stamp act was hoped to be used to maintain peace between Native Americans and Colonists by maintaining regiments of British soldiers in North America. This angered colonists because they felt the British had no right to tax them since they had no longer any rule over them. -
The Boston Massacre
This deadly riot started as a simple street brawl between a single British soldier and American Colonists. Hugh White was guarding the king's money. Angry colonists came up and started threatening him with violence. Eventually White fought back and hit a colonist with his bayonet which resulted is colonists fighting back even harder throwing snow, ice, stones, whatever they could get their hands on. More soldiers came firing resulting in the death of 5 colonists. -
The First Continental Congress
12 out of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to organize colonial resistance to Parliament's Coercive Acts. Georgia was the only colony exempt from this meeting because they were fighting a Native American uprising and also needed the British for military supplies. -
The Shot Heard Around the World
The official cause/start of the American Revolution. This was the first shot starting the battles of Lexington and Concord. When the brief clash ended, it resulted in 8 dead Americans, about the same injured, and 1 red coat wounded. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
This was the first official battle of the Revolutionary war. The british went to raid gunpowder and capture Colonial leaders. Paul Revere ran the streets to warn the colonists that the British were coming. Colonists were able to prove themselves that they could fight back. -
The Second Continental Congress
The delegates of the 13 colonies came together in Philadelphia to create an army for all the colonies in the war. George Washington was the commander of the continental army. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle took place at Breed's Hill, close to Boston. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War. The colonists lost this battle. Colonists had to retreat due to them running out of ammunition, but many British were left wounded. -
The Declaration of Independence
This document was made to announce the separation of the colonies and Britain. The reasons why were listed. The grievances committed by the King of England and the British government were also listed. Colonists hoped this document would also convince foreign nations to become allies. -
The Battle of Trenton
General Washington took his army to Trenton, New Jersey for a surprise attack on the British. The British were exhausted and unprepared, some rumors say most were still drunk from the Christmas night before, this led to a pretty easy victory of the colonists. -
The Battle of Saratoga
A major turning point in the War. It was a win for the colonists in New York. The colonists hoped to gain financial and military support from foreign countries. France decided to join with the colonists. -
The Battle of King's Mountain
A victory for colonists after the invasion by the British in Charleston. The british lost all of their troops that fought in this battle, which hurt them a lot in this war. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The British General Lord Charles Cornwallis and his army surrendered to General George Washington's American force and French allies. This cemented Washington as a great leader which lead to him being the first elected president of the united states. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
This was the official ending of the Revolutionary War. In this treaty, the British Crown formally recognized the American Independence and ceded most of its territory east of the Mississippi River to the US. The US border was defined with Great Britain granting the Northwest territory to the United States. -
Shay's Rebellion
A series of violent attacks on courthouses and other government buildings in Massachusetts. This led to a full blown military confrontation. The rebels were mostly farmers who opposed policies causing poverty and property foreclosures. -
The Constitution
This document gave power to both the people and the government. It was made to keep government from having too much power over the states. It had limits to protect individuals rights. These limits are known as checks and balances. -
First Presidential Inauguration
George Washington took oath to be the first President of the United States of America. John Adams was elected to be the first Vice President of the United States. -
The Bill of Rights
The first congress of the US approved 12 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights. They were designed to protect the basic rights of US citizens, such as freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, etc. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
The whiskey Rebellion was an uprising of farmers and distillers in Pennsylvania in protest against the whiskey tax. Some feared this would be the start of a new revolution. This is considered to be the first major test of American authority.
