Illustrated Timeline: American Revolution

Sugar Act : 1764

Apr 5, 1760

Passed by Parliament, placed a indirect tax on sugar being shipped into colonial areas. Moved smuggling cases to harsh courts in England.

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1760

Passed by England to keep peace and prevent more debt. Colonists unable to cross the Appalachian Mountains.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

A direct tax in the form of a special stamp on all printed material/legal documents(newspapers, marriage licenses, forms, etc. Although it was passed by Parliament, it was later repealed the next year.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

Poorly paid British soldiers sought jobs on decks in Boston Harbor. British soldiers killed 5 colonists in Boston, Massachusetts.

Intolerable Acts: spring 1774

Apr 3, 1770

Passed by Parliament, Boston Harbor was closed. British soldiers allowed to house themselves in other people's homes(Quartering Act). General Gage appointed governor of Massachusetts then he placed Boston under martial law.

Tea Act: 1773

May 10, 1770

Ended tax on all consumer goods entering colonies. The Tea Act was passed to help the BEIC(British East India Company. BEIC sold tea tax free.

First Continental Congress: 1774

Oct 26, 1770

First time represntatives came together(colonists able to protect themselves). Representatives in all colonies except Georgia. This occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Boston Tea Party: 1773

Dec 16, 1770

Boston merchants disguised themsleves as Native Americans. Dumped 15,000lbs of tea into Boston Harbor. Colonists were angry about the effects from the Tea Act to merchant's tea sales.

"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine: 1775-1776

Jan 10, 1775

"Common Sense" was written by Thomas Paine, in it he listed several events that actually happened. Some of his details were even included in the Declaration of Independence. "Common Sense" encouraged independence.

Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

First battle of the American Revolution. Minutemen vs. British soldiers, took place because General Gage sent soldiers to confiscate all weapons(Paul Revere: "The British are coming!") but none were there to take.

Declaration of Independence: 1776

Jul 4, 1775

Written after battles of Lexington and Concord and explained why colonies had a right to declare their independence. Written by Thomas Jefferson with philosophical influences by John Locke.

Saratoga: 1777

Oct 7, 1775

Slight battle between French and Native American at Ft. Stanwix. Although Hon Yost had scared off St. Leger's army, General John Burgoyone went after a British officer's fiance`. He had her killed and scapled by Native Americans, then hung her hair on the scouts' scalplocks.

Yorktown: 1781

Oct 28, 1780

French and Americans fought against British, a very huge battle. Luckily the French and Americans had become allies in order to assist each other in this battle.