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French and Indian War Ends
The Seven Years War, known as the French and Indian War, in North America ended with the signing of the Treaties of Hubertusburg and Paris, between France, Great Britian, and Spain. France gave away all claims to Canada, and the Louisiana territory to Spain. Britian received Spanish Florida, Upper Canada, and other French holdings. Britian was now the world's premier colonial power. -
Proclamation of 1763 Signed
This proclamation by King George III forbade all settlements west of a line along the Appalachian Mountains. His intention was to placate the Native Americans, but the edict irritated the colonists. Many were migrating into the forbidden area. Curiously, Colonel George Washington and many of his soldiers had been given land grants as payment for years of fighting the French and the Indians. These land grants were in the Ohio Valley, deep in the forbidden area. -
Parliament Passes The Stamp Act
This extremely unpopular law was introduced Sir George Grenville. He was trying to create a revenue stream from the colonies to pay for the British troops stationed in North America, and to help with the military debt from the Seven Years War. The tax created covered printed materials such as: legal documents, magazines, newspapers, playing cards, and other printed materials. Repealed 03/18/1766. -
Parliament Passes The Quartering Act
This law required American colonists to provide room(barracks) and board to the locally stationed British soldiers. -
The Stamp Act Congress was held in New York City
The "Franklin Press" printing press shown here, dates back to near 1740. Most of the multiple copy materials taxed by The Stamp Act, would have been printed on this type printing press. Delegates from 9 colonies met to discuss the unfavorable law. The Royal Governors of Georgia and Virginia forbid their members from attending. -
Boston Massacre occurs.
Tempers flared between a group of American colonists and British troops. The troops opened fire, killing five colonists. -
Parliament Passes The Tea Act
This law was passed to help the East India Tea Company ward off bankruptcy, by lowering the tax it paid for importing tea. It also gave the company a monopoly on all tea sold in America. This illustration shows a typical type sailing vessel used in the tea trade. -
The Boston Tea Party
This protest was organized by The Sons of Liberty. A group of colonist, dressed as Mohawk Indians, boarded three British tea vessels anchored in Boston Harbor, and dumped their cargo of tea into the harbor. This act enraged the British Parliament. This old tea tin is decorated with scenes from the Boston Tea Party. -
Parliament Passes The Intolerable Acts (Coercive)
These Acts were passed by Parliament to punish the colonist in Boston for the Boston Tea Party, and their other forms of protest. -
First Continental Congress held in Philadelphia
Delegates from every colony except Georgia met in response to the passage of the Intolerable Acts by Parliament. Peyton Randolph of Virginia was elected first president of the congress. George Washington, a delegate, is depicted traveling to the meeting. -
Battle of Lexington
This first battle of The Revolutionary War occurred when local militiamen exchanged fire with British troops on the Lexington Common town center. Eight militiamen were killed. This site, now a national park, is one of only eight sites nationally where the American flag is authorized to fly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. -
Battle of Concord
Concord, the site of a patriot arms cache, was one of two battles on the first day of The Revolutionary War. Local militiamen, warned by Paul Revere and other riders, battled British army regulars. The battle is depicted in this mural. -
The Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia
This second meeting's duties had changed drastically. They created the Continental Army, managed a war effort, and moved toward independence. Independence Hall was the location of their meeting. -
Battles and Skirmishes begin in the New York Campaign
The New York Campaign was a series of battles on what is now New York City and northern New Jersey. Washington was defeated, but he was able to inflict substantial loses and retreat with most of his army, eventually regrouping in Pennsylvania. Britian controlled New York City till the Revolutionary War formally ended in 1783. -
Battle of Princeton
Washington, and 5000 Continental soldiers, fresh from their victory at Trenton, skirmished with Cornwallis' 8000 man rear guard, beating then eluding a trap by the British at Princeton. The Battle of Princeton Memorial is shown in this photo. -
Battle of Saratoga
There were two battles, fought eighteen days apart. The first battle was a small, but costly British victory. The second was a major American victory, and served as a catalyst for France becoming an American ally against Britian. A sculpture of American Gen. Horatio Gates is shown in this photo. -
Battle of Cowpens
American troops under Gen. Daniel Morgan defeated the British, commanded by the hated Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton. This battle was a major turning point in the war in the southern colonies. -
Articles of Confederation Ratified by all Thirteen States
The Articles were in fact, America's first Constitution. They were adopted by the Continental Congress on 11/15/1777, but were not completely ratified by all thirteen states until 3/1/1781. -
Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown
With great assistance from their ally France, Washington and a joint American & French force surrounds Cornwallis' Army at Yorktown, forcing his surrender. This was the last land battle of the Revolutionary War, and the beginning of peace talks and a treaty. -
Constitutional Convention Convenes in Philadelphia
Their intention was to revise The Articles of Confederation, but the result was the creation of the United States Constitution. George Washington was elected to preside over the convention. The leather trunk depicted, was used by him to keep important documents. -
Constitution Ratified
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on 12/7/1787. Rhode Island was the last state to ratify on 5/29/1790. Pictured is Judge Thomas Waties, who served as an officer for Brig. Gen. Francis Marion during the Revolutionary War, and later voted to ratify the Constitution at the South Carolina Constitutional Convention.
