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Independence Timeline

  • Enforced Sugar Act

    Enforced Sugar Act
    Although it reduced the tax on molasses, the Sugar Act was strictly enforced, so colonist ended up paying more taxes.
  • Leader Sam Adams

    Leader Sam Adams
    Those who opposed the British taxes called themselves “Patriots” and the Sons of Liberty was born with Sam Adams as its leader.
  • Fee's

    Fee's
    The Stamp Act was the tax on printed items was the first direct tax on the colonists. It added a fee to printed materials such as legal documents and newspapers.
  • Following French and Indian War

    Following French and Indian War
    Following the French and Indian War, Britain maintained a standing army in the colonies. The Quartering Act required colonial assemblies to house and provision soldiers
  • Mob

    Mob
    A Mob led by the Sons of Liberty tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector.
  • Rule the Colonies

    Rule the Colonies
    The Declatory Act repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament’s right to rule the colonies as saw fit.
  • All Taxes Repealed

    All Taxes Repealed
    Import taxes on a variety of goods were collected to support royal officials in the colonies, removing the responsibility from the colonial assemblies. The Townsend Acts were so unpopular that all the taxes were repealed, except the one on tea.
  • Snowball and Rock Fight

    Snowball and Rock Fight
    A group of colonist hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists.
  • Tea Act

    Tea Act
    The Tea Act was created to save the East India Tea Company. Although it lowered the price of tea, it
    gave the company a monopoly and threatened the business of colonial importers.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    Boston Patriots dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships laden with tea and Dumped the tea into the harbor. The event became known as the Boston Tea Party.
  • Boston Harbor Closed

    Boston Harbor Closed
    The Intolerable Act officially called the Coercive Acts, these laws were meant to force Massachusetts to pay for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The laws closed Boston Harbor and forced colonists to house British soldiers in their homes.
  • Boycott

    Boycott
    The First Continental Congress meets. Agree to boycott British goods.
  • Famous Speech

    Famous Speech
    Patrick Henry, gives his most famous speech, in the House of Burgesses. “Give me Liberty or give me Death”
  • Rejection

    Rejection
    Congress sends an “Olive Branch” to King George III. He rejected the petition and sent more troops to Boston.
  • Battle

    Battle
    Battles of Lexington and Concord
  • Commander

    Commander
    Second Continental Congress meets. Congress names George Washington commander of Continental Army
  • Battle

    Battle
    Battle of Bunker Hill
  • Common Sense

    Common Sense
    Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
  • Independence Proved

    Independence Proved
    Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence was approved.
  • Training

    Training
    Baron Von Steuben trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Penn.
  • Battle Won

    Battle Won
    Patriots win in Saratoga
  • Alliance

    Alliance
    France signs an alliance with the United States.
  • 3000 Soldiers Captured

    3000 Soldiers Captured
    General Clinton captures 3000 Patriot soldiers as he takes Charlestown, South Carolina.
  • Surrender

    Surrender
    General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of Paris
    Treaty of Paris signed.