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Treaty of Paris (French and Indian War)
Ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War. Britain claimed all land east of the Mississippi River. The treaty not only ended French power in America, but also made the French enemies of the British, which helped the colonies win independence. -
Tea Act
Imposed a tax on tea imported from Britain, and planted seeds of rebellion amongst the colonies. Was designed to help the East India Tea Company, which had millions of pounds of unsold tea. Caused uproar from colonies. Also caused the Boston Tea Party later on. -
Proclamation of 1763
Prevented colonial expansion west of the Appalachian mountains. It caused friction between the colonists-who thought they had won the right to expand into Indian territory-and the British, who wanted to avoid war with the Indians. This friction would help spark the Revolutionary war later on. -
Boston Tea Party
In retaliation to the Tea Act, members of the Boston Sons of Liberty masqueraded as indians and boarded three British tea ships in the harbor. They destroyed 342 chests of tea. Some were happy at the news, but others felt that this wasn't the best way to protest. The British's reaction to this added to the flames of the rebellion. -
Sugar Act
Placed a tax on sugar, wine, and other important trade items. Caused a boycott against imported goods from Britain until it was repealed. -
Stamp Act
Imposed the law that any legal document or paper had to have an official stamp on it to be used. This act was intended to raise money to pay off Britain's debts accumulated during the French and Indian war. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required that when British soldiers were stationed in the colonies, the town they were in had to provide for them. The soldiers would occupy unnocupied buildings or cottages. This caused more outrage in the colonies. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
First real battle between the colonies and Britain. The British won a pyrrhic victory, meaning that the cost of the battle was almost too much to be considered a victory at all. This showed that colonists could stand up to the might of the British army. -
Boston Massacre
An event that broke the final straw for many colonists. According to the colonists, the British men stationed in Boston had fired upon colonists without being provoked, but the British men said that the colonists had been egging them on, actually daring them to fire, throwing rocks and clubs. This leads John Adams to take to the difficult task of defending Britain men on Colonial soil. After winning the case, he loses some of his status with angry colonists, also helps start Revolution. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
A series of acts that included the Quartering Acts. They were widely protested against and were given the name "The Intolerable Acts" by angry colonists, some of whom tarred and feathered the British merchants. -
First Continental Congress
The first meeting and group of the colonial delegates, including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. They made the desicions about what to do when the British passed the Coercive Acts. They influenced history by making major desicions that impacted the war and the political aspect of it. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
On the night of April 18, 1775, hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to nearby Concord in order to seize an arms cache. Paul Revere and other riders sounded the alarm, and colonial militiamen began mobilizing to intercept the Redcoat column. A confrontation on the Lexington town green started off the fighting, and soon the British were hastily retreating under intense fire. Many battles followed. http://www.history.com/topics/battles-of-lexington-and-concord -
Second Continental Congress
In 1775, the Second Continental Congress convened after the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) had already begun. In 1776, it took the momentous step of declaring America's independence from Britain. Five years later, the Congress ratified the first national constitution, the Articles of Confederation, under which the country would be governed until 1789, when it was replaced by the current U.S. Constitution. http://www.history.com/topics/the-continental-congress -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
The first publication to openly ask for independence from Britain. It inspired Colonists to fight against British, which helped to spark the Revolutionary War. -
Declaration of Independence
The document that was signed by the Second Continental Congress, declaring the colonies' independence from Britain. It was signed by many famous men, and also signified the permanent end to the Revolution, although the British tried to get the colonies to stay as a part of Britain. -
Battle of Brooklyn
On August 22, Howe's large army landed on Long Island, hoping to capture New York City and gain control of the Hudson River, dividing the rebellious colonies in half. On August 27, the British marched against the Patriots at Brooklyn Heights, overcoming the Americans and then outflanking the Continental Army. Howe failed to follow the advice of his subordinates and storm the redoubts at Brooklyn Heights, and on August 29 General Washington ordered a retreat to Manhattan by boat, saving his army. -
American Crisis by Thomas Paine
A pamphlet that inspired the colonists to fight for their freedom from the British tyranny. Was published when the morale of the troops was at its lowest. Helped provide the motivation the troops needed to win the war. -
Battle of Trenton
The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the Continental Army against Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton. After a brief battle, nearly the entire Hessian force was captured, with negligible losses to the Americans. The battle significantly boosted the Continental Army's flagging morale, and inspired reenlistments.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trenton -
Battles of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga conclusively decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Saratoga -
Winter at Valley Forge
On December 19, 1777, when Washington's poorly fed, ill-equipped army, weary from long marches, staggered into Valley Forge, winds blew as the 12,000 Continentals prepared for winter's fury. Only about one in three of them had shoes, and many of their feet had left bloody footprints from the marching. They ended up spending exactly six months there, Losing one-fourth of their men. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Colonies, provided with thousands of French reinforcements, attacked the British in what was to be the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War, and the deciding factor. British General Lord Cornwallis had been counting on reinforcements, but the French blocked the ports, and the British surrendered. -
Treaty of Paris (End to the Revolution)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on one side and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The British, however, still wanted us to be a part of Britain. However, the colonists stayed resolute and denied. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_(1783)
