Events Leading to the American Revolution

  • Albany Congress

    Who: British government, colonial leaders, and the Iroquois tribes What: A meeting between colonial leaders and the British government . The British wanted the colonies to agree to cooperate in defending themselves against the French.The colonists and the British were unable to work together When: June 11, 1754 Where: Albany, NY Why: The British government expected war to break out soon and wanted to meet to try to reason with colonial leaders
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    French and Indian War

    Who: French and Indians vs. British and colonists and Iroquois. When: May 1756 - February 1757 Where: North America Why: Fighting over the Ohio River Valley What: The British won the French and Indian War.The Native Americans could not stop British settlers from moving on their lands.
  • The Treaty of Paris

    Who: Britain and France What: In this treaty, France lost all of it's North American lands to the British. Britain received all land east of the Mississippi and Spanish Florida. When: February 1763 Where: Paris, France Why: This was the treaty that ended the French and Indian War.
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    Pontiac's War

    Who: Pontiac leader of Ottawa nation,western Native Americans and backcountry settlers What: Pontiac and his allies attacked British forts and settlements Half a dozen British forts were destroyed and 2,000 backcountry settlers were killed. When: May 1763-September 1764 Where: Areas east of the Mississippi river back country Why: Native Americans were desperately trying to keep there land.
  • Proclamation of 1763

    Who: British government What: It banned colonial settlement west of a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains When: October 7, 1763 Where: All land west of the Appalachian Mountains Why: Britain wanted to avoid further wars with Native Americans on the frontier.
  • The Quartering Act

    Who: Parliament What: The act required colonists to house British troops and to provide them with food and other supplies. When: March 24, 1764 Where: in the colonies Why: Britain had soldiers in the colonies to enforce the Proclamation of 1763. If the colonists housed the soldiers this would save money.
  • Sugar Act

    Who: British government (Parliament) What: This put a tax on several products including molasses. It also called for harsh punishments for smugglers. When: April 5, 1764 Where: In the colonies Why: The French and Indian War had resulted in a huge debt for the British. They thought the colonists should pay for some of this debt so Parliament taxed the colonists.
  • Stamp Act

    Who: Parliament What: The act required all colonists to buy special tax stamps to place new papers,wills contracts and other documents When: March 26 1765 Where: in the colonies Why: The french and indian war had resulted in a hug debt for the British they thought the colonies should pay for some of this debt so parliment taxed colonistis
  • Boston Massacre

    Who: British soldiers and coloistis What: An angry crowd garther around British soldiers the colonistis were yelling and throwing rocks and snowballs at the soldiers the soldiers fired into the crowd killing 5 colonistis When: March 5, 1770 Where: Boston massachusetts Why the colonists were angry about all the taxes and the Quarter Act they did not want the British soldiers were there.
  • Tea Act

    Who: British parliament and colonists What: Act tried to help the British East India company by giving it a monopoly selling tea in the colonies. The act hurt colonial merchant who should Dutch tea smuggled into the colonies When: May 10,1773 Where: in the colonies Why: The British parliament passed the tea act to save the east India company from bankruptcy. By several lowering the tax on the tea the legislation allowed the American colonies
  • Boston Tea Party

    Who: Colonies in Massachusetts What: The Colonies of three shiploads of tea were dumped in Boston harbor When: December 16 1773 Where: Boston harbor at Griffins wharf near pearl street in Boston. Why: To Protest at the tea act passed by the British Parliament both because it imposed a tax on Massachusetts and other colonies without representation and it gave a monopoly to the test india company putting other merchants business a risk.
  • Intolerable Acts

    Who: King George III, British colonists What: Four laws passed by Parliament: 1.) Port of Boston was closed. 2.) increased the powers of the royal governor 3.) abolished the upper house of the Massachusetts legislature 4.) cut the powers of town meetings When: March 24, 1774 Where: Massachusetts Why: These acts were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party.
  • First Continental Congress

    Who: Delegates from 12 out of the 13 colonies What: The Congress demanded the end of the Intolerable Acts and declared that the colonies had a right to tax and govern themselves. It also called for training of militias. When: September 1774 Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Why:The committees of correspondence organized this meeting to discuss what to do next about the British.
  • Battles of Lexington and Concord

    Who: Minutemen and British soldiers What: It was the first battle of the American Revolution. British troops were sent to seize coloial weapons. They are faced with an untrained angry milita. This rag tag army defeats 700 British soldiers and the surprise victory bolsters their confidence for the war ahead. When: April 18 1775 Why: The British goverment did not plan to meet the demands of the contiental congress. The colonists began to forma miltia to fight for what they wanted.
  • Battle of Fort Ticonderoga

    Who: Green Mountain Boys and British soldiers What: The Green Mountain Boys, led by Ethan Allen made a surprise attack on British soldiers. When: May 10, 1775 Where: Ticonderoga, NY Why: This was important because the fort controlled the main route between Canada and the Hudson River Valley and the fort held valuable weapons.
  • Battle of Bunker Hill/Breeds Hill

    Who: American and Britain troops What: British attack on American troops. The British won but suffered huge losses. When: June 17, 1775 Where: Breeds Hill, Boston, Massachusetts Why: British knew that Americans were not well trained and thought they could easily be beaten
  • Olive Branch Petition

    Who: Second Continental Congress to the King What: This was a petition that stated that the colonists were loyal to the king. It asked for a peaceful solution to the fighting between Britain and the colonists. When: July 8, 1775 Where: Written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Why: The colonists were trying to peacefully solve their conflict with Britain.
  • Invasion of Quebec

    Who: Patriot forces under the leadership of Benedict Arnold What: The Patriots attempted to capture the British-occupied city of Quebec. Weakened by hunger and disease the Americans eventually withdrew, leaving Canada to the British. When: December 31, 1775 Where: Quebec Why: The Patriots attempted to capture the British-occupied city of Quebec to get support for the American cause in Canada.
  • British Withdrawal from Boston

    Who: British soldiers What: The British could no longer defend the city of Boston. The British troops permanently withdrew from Boston When: March 4, 1776 Where: Boston, Massachusetts Why: George Washington placed the cannons on high ground overlooking Boston.
  • 2nd Continental Congress

    Who: Delegates from the 13 colonies What: The group was divided.some wanted to fight for indepance others wanted to wait.nearly all agreed they should form an army and prepare a war. When: May 1775 Where: Philadelphia Pennsylania Why: They chose Gorge Washition to lead the army because he had exprience. They began to coin their own money.