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King George III issues this decree to prevent colonists from moving further west into more Native American territory. -
Officially titled the American Revenue Act of 1764, it taxed colonial imports of sugar and molasses, with any suspected smugglers going to trial without a jury, violating British law. -
The Stamp Act is passed, taxing colonial imports on paper and creating resentment in the colonies. -
Townshend Acts are passed, taxing colonial imports on glass, lead, paper, paint and tea. They were repealed on March 5th, 1770, with the exception of tea. -
British Parliament passes this act, forcing colonists to only buy tea from the East India Company. -
Most of these Acts have been passed at this point, but the Quartering Act is passed on this date. Overall, they were a harsh British response to the unrest in the colonies. -
The First Continental Congress is convened as a response to the Coercive Acts while still proclaiming loyalty to King George III. -
This Congress begins creating groups of militias and minutemen in order to counter British presence in the colonies as war is about to break out.
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As British troops try collect resources from Concord after a skirmish in Lexington, minutemen defeat them there. The whole campaign starts the American Revolution in the colonies.
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"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine is published, strengthening the idea for independence from Great Britain. -
All in the Second Continental Congress sign this document, officially signaling independence from Great Britain.