From Empire to Independence

Zenger Trial

Sep 7, 1735

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/zenger/zenger.html
Zenger was a New York City Times Editor who conveyed importance of freedom of press towards government.

Albany Congress

Jan 1, 1754

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/albcon.htm The British government asked colonial representatives to meet in Albany, New York, to develop a treaty with Native Americans and plan the defense of the colonies against France.

Seven Years War

Period: May 15, 1756 to Feb 16, 1763

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_sevenyears.htmlThe Seven Years War was a war between the British, French, and Spanish. It was a war over land and ended with the Treaty of Paris and led to the French and Indian War.

Treaty of Paris

Feb 7, 1763

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h754.htmlFormal end to British hostilities against France and Spain.

Pontiac's Rebellion

Period: May 10, 1763 to Jan 1, 1766

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h598.html The native americans were unhappy with British postwar policies in the Great Lakes region after the British victory in the French and Indian War.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sugaract.htmTax on sugar which resulted in colonists to non importation as a protest. It increased restrictions on colonial commerce.

Stamp Act

Apr 5, 1765

http://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchcrsta.cfmTax on newwspaper, documents, licenses, playing cards,etc. Resulted to proest which then the British repeadeld the Stamp Act and renewed duties of Sugar Act.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

http://www.bostonmassacre.net/British troops fired on American civilians in Boston. They killed5 people.

Tea Act

Sep 7, 1773

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/teaact.htmTax on tea. British East India Company monopoly on tea imports to gain profits.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h646.html
Bostanians disguised as Indians to destroy profits and dumped tons of tea as proest to the British.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 7, 1774

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/intolerable.htmBoston Port Act to close ports, Massachussets government Act,Adminstration Gov't Act, and Quartering Act

Lexington and Concord

Sep 1, 1774

http://www.ushistory.org/us/11c.aspGeneral Gage sent troops to Boston to seize the stores of ammunition of cannon and amunition of the Masuchuessets malita had stored at armories in Charlestown and Cambridge

First Continental Congress

Sep 7, 1774

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/congress.htmMeeting of the colonies adopted the Declartion of Rights, The Suffolk Resolves and The Declartion of rights and Grivences and agreed to establish the Continents of Association.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

http://www.ushistory.org/us/10e.asp
Congress resolved to put colonies in state of defense. George Washington was nominated to be commander in chief.

Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

http://www.history.com/topics/capture-of-fort-ticonderogaBattle of Fort Ticonderoga was the first American victory of the Revolutionary War.

Olive Branch Petition

Jun 3, 1775

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/olive-branch-petition.html the Congress passed a resolution forming a committee to draft a letter to the King. The letter bacame known as the olive branch petiton. Read more: http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/olive-branch-petition.html#ixzz25nhTkkFE

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 17, 1775

http://www.history.com/topics/battle-of-bunker-hill British forces under the command of Major General William Howe defeated the colonials in Massachusetts. the colonials did inflict much damage though . It was an important confidence boost for them.

Common Sense

Jan 5, 1776

http://www.ushistory.org/us/10f.aspCommon Sense challenged the authority of the British government . The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain.

Repeal of Stamp Act

Mar 7, 1776

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/parliament-repeals-the-stamp-actParaliament repealed Stamp Act and reduced duties under Sugar Act. The colonies celebrated and non importation associations were disbanded.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

May 15, 1776

http://www.constitution.org/bcp/virg_dor.htmA declaration by the Virginia Convention of Delegates of rights of individuals. Its first draft was developed by George Mason.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

http://www.history.com/topics/declaration-of-independence Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence which was written largely by Jefferson in Philadelphia. it declared what the colonies were fighting for and what they were doing. they wanted indepence from Britain.

Battle of Long Island

Aug 27, 1776

http://www.britishbattles.com/long-island.htm The British drove the Americans from Brooklyn and forced them to evacuate New York.

Declatory Act

Sep 7, 1776

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/declaratory.htmIt accompanied repeal of the Stamp Act. Stated that Parliament had the authority to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatsoever.

Bill for Establishing Religious Freedoms

Sep 9, 1777

http://www.religioustolerance.org/virg_bil.htmDraft written by Thomas Jefferson in 1777. It promoted religious freedom for the state of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison promoted the bill for years before it was finally passed by the Virginia legislature.

Battle of Saratoga

Oct 17, 1777

http://www.ushistory.org/us/11g.asp** it was the turning point of the revolutionary war. american victory & british defeat.

Valley Forge

Period: Dec 19, 1777 to Jun 19, 1778

http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/ Six month encampment of the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington, a few miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ratification of the articles of confederation

Mar 1, 1781

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/articles-of-confederation-are-ratified This became the the outline of the government of the now, United States.

Battle of yorktown

Period: Sep 28, 1781 to Oct 19, 1781

http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-yorktown.htmGeneral George Washington's defeat of Lord Cornwallis's British army which caused the British to surrender. It ended the American Revolutionary War.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Sep 3, 1783

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=6Signed by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay, it officially ended the revoltionary war. Britain recognized the new nation , removed its troops and assigned the new boudaries of the US's land.

Land of Ordinance of 1785

Jan 1, 1785

http://cvapush.wikia.com/wiki/Land_Ordinance_of_1785
Law passed by Congress that allowed the sales of land in the Northwest Territory and all of Northern America.

The Northwest Ordinance

Jul 13, 1787

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/ordinance/Land agreement of 1787 that created the Northwest Territory, enabling the United States to expand into the Great Lakes area. States created from the Northwest Territory included Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

George Washington Inaguration

Apr 30, 1789

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_George_Washingtonit was done at Federal Hall in New York City,