-
Boston Massacre
The event in Boston helped to unite the colonies against Britain. What started as a minor fight became a turning point in the beginnings of the American Revolution. The Boston Massacre helped spark the colonists' desire for American independence, while the dead rioters became martyrs for liberty. -
Boston Tea Party
This act, which came to be known as the Boston Tea Party, was important because it fueled the tension between Britain and America that ultimately led to the Revolutionary War, which started in 1775 and led to America winning its independence from Britain. -
Revolutionary War
The American Revolution was principally caused by colonial opposition to British attempts to impose greater control over the colonies and to make them repay the crown for its defense of them during the French and Indian War (1754–63). ... Learn about the Boston Tea Party, the colonists' radical response to a tax on tea. -
Declaration of Independence
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the draft of the declaration, which officially proclaimed the independence of the colonies from Britain. This document outlined the colonies' reasons for declaring their freedom. Although they had announced their independence with this declaration, they would now have to actually separate themselves to have Britain recognize the importance of liberty, equality, and consent of the governed. -
Article of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation served as the written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed by U.S. and British Representatives on September 3, 1783, ending the War of the American Revolution. Based on a a1782 preliminary treaty, the agreement recognized U.S. independence and granted the U.S. significant western territory. -
Shay's Rebellion
A group of protestors, led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays, began a 6 month rebellion by taking over the Court of Common Pleas in Northampton; the goal was to prevent the trial and imprisonment of debt-ridden citizens. -
Signing of the United States Constitution
After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution. Elections were set to take place from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789, and the new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was the first test of federal authority in the United States. This rebellion enforced the idea that the new government had the right to levy a particular tax that would impact citizens in all states. -
Bill of Rights
A bill of rights, sometimes called a declaration of rights or a charter of rights, is a list of the most important rights to the citizens of a country. The purpose is to protect those rights against infringement from public officials and private citizens. Bills of rights may be entrenched or unentrenched.
