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Boston Massacre
5 colonists die at the Boston Massacre. Those naughty Boston colonists, you shouldn't have been throwing snowballs filled with rocks! FIRE! (nobody knows who yelled this to this day....) -
Boston Tea Party
Angry Boston colonists throw 342 crates of British tea overboard into the Boston Harbor. We say NO to British tea! Get rid of the "Tea Act" King George! No taxation without representation! (But is destroying private property the right idea?) -
Intolerable Acts
King George STRIKES BACK! Here come your punishments you naughty Boston colonists. The colonists nicknamed this law the "Intolerable Acts" because they thought it was INTOLERABLE, or (horrible)
1) No town meetings
2) Port of Boston CLOSED
3) More British troops sent to Boston
4) "Quartering Act" - British troops can now go into your homes.
Boooooooo! Booooooooo! -
Give Me LIBERTY!
As the Revolutionary War draws closer, the 13 colonies are already preparing for war with England. Patrick Henry gives a historic speech in Virginia to get his colony excited to fight England. His speech ended with the historic words "Give me Liberty or Give me Death!" -
Paul Revere's MIDNIGHT RIDE
"THE BRITISH ARE COMING! THE BRITISH ARE COMING! This is what legend says that Paul Revere shouted out throughout the night as the Redcoats planned to confiscate the hidden arms and ammunition that the colonists were hiding in Concord. Thanks to the warnings of Revere and others, the Minutemen were ready and waiting for the Redcoat army at Lexington and Concord. The "Shot Heard 'Round the World" occurred! There was no turning back now! -
Declaration of Independence
56 men sign the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson is the main author. Once this is signed, the colonies officially are no longer a part of England. All of the signers are now considered "traitors" and could be put to death if caught. Ben said it best, "We shall all hang together, or else we'll all hang separately." -
Crossing the Delaware
George Washington and his tired, cold, and hungry troops SURPRISE the Hessians who are encamped on the other side of the Delaware River. Washington's plan works, as the Hessians surrender. It is the first major victory for the American side. -
Valley Forge WINTER
General George Washington's ragged, hungry and beaten army marches into Valley Forge to settle in for the long winter. Valley Forge was a strategic location chosen by Washington because it was close to Philadelphia. (where the British were for the winter) Nearly 2,000 soldiers died at Valley Forge due to illness and horrible weather conditions. -
Surrender at Yorktown
Can it be? YES it is! A combined attack by the American AND French armies force General Charles Cornwallis to surrender his British army at Yorktown, VA. At the surrender ceremony, the British band played the tune "The World Turned Upside Down."
