-
The French and Indian War
[French and Indian War](www.history.org/declaration/related/frin.htm)
The French and their Indian allies fought against the British (as well as American colonists) for the control of the Ohio Valley and many other land areas in the New World. -
Treaty of Paris
[Treaty of Paris (1763)](en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris(1763))
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the French and Indian War in 1763. The treaty gave the English land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. The American colonists were not allowed to settle on this land because King George III forbade it. -
Royal Proclamation (1763)
[Royal Proclamation (1763)](en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Proclamation_of_1763)
The Royal Proclamation prohibited the American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
Sugar Act
[Sugar Act](www.sparknotes.com/history/american/prerevolution/section4.rhtml)
This was the first of the taxes that the British forced onto the American colonists. This increased the price of sugar for the colonies. The colonists rebelled and the tax decreased. -
Stamp Act
[Stamp Act](www.history.org/history/teaching/tchcrsta.cfm)
The second tax that the British forced onto the colonists (the first tax that was forced onto the American colonists was sugar). This required a stamp to be placed onto all paper items such as legal documents, licenses, and even birth certificates, which was repealed just like the Sugar Act. -
Stamp Act Congress
[Stamp Act Congress](en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_Act_Congress)
The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting with representatives from the American colonies to discuss the taxations that the British were imposing on American, especially the Stamp Act. -
Townshend Acts
[Townshend Acts](www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/townshend-acts.html)
The Townshend Acts was a series of taxes placed on multiple different items such as paper, sugar, and tea. The American colonists rebelled and the majority of these taxes were repealed. -
Boston Massacre
[Boston Massacre](www.bostonmassacre.net)
The Boston Massacre is a fight between a group of protesters and soldiers which began as a snowball fight. This "snowball fight" ended with 11 colonists being killed or injured by British soldiers. -
Boston Tea Party
[Boston Tea Party](mrnussbaum.com/history-2-2/btparty/)
The Boston Tea Party was when the American colonists were angry at the British government for raising the taxes on the tea! In response to the taxation on tea, 200 colonists dressed as Indians boarded the cargo ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor! -
First Continental Congress
[First Continental Congress](www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-continental-congress-convenes)
The First Continental Congress was group formed to discuss the colonies' troubles with Britain. The representatives would deal with the issues that Britain enforced on America. -
Patrick Henry "Give Me Liberty"
[Patrick Henry "Give Me Liberty"](www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm)
Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech to the Virginia Convention and convinced Virginia that everything they had been doing had and would not work! He believed that the solution was to fight back. Henry ended his famous speech with "...give me liberty or give me death!" -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
[Paul Revere's Ride](www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1261.html)
Paul Revere makes his famous Midnight Ride to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the Redcoats are coming to arrest them and to prepare the militiamen. Along with William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, he warns the colonists of the British march. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
[Battles of Lexington and Concord](www.history.com/topics/battles-of-lexington-and-concord)
The British went to sieze weapons from the colonists at Lexington and Concord, however Paul Revere warned the colonists/militia that the Redcoats were coming to attack the colonists, causing the colonists to prepare and successfully defeat the British! -
Fort Ticonderoga
[Fort Ticonderoga](www.history.com/topics/capture-of-fort-ticonderoga)
Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga and the cannons that were there which were used in future battles. The capturing of Fort Ticonderoga was the first American victory of the Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress Meets
[Second Continental Congress Meets](www.ushistory.org/us/10e.asp)
The Second Continental Congress was a group of representatives from thirteen separate colonies that met to discuss governmental duties and to unite the colonies and prepare for war. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
[Battle of Bunker Hill](www.history.com/topics/battle-of-bunker-hill)
Unfortunately, the British forces defeated the American colonists at Bunker Hill, but the American colonists injured/killed a large amount of the British soldiers (great confidence booster). -
"Common Sense" Published
[Common Sense](www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-paine-publishes-common-sense)
In January of 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called "Common Sense," which encourages American colonists to choose independence over loyalty. -
British Evacuate Boston
[British Evacuate Boston](www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-evacuate-boston)
The American colonists took Dorchester Heights and aimed cannons down on Boston, and on March 17, 1776, the British forces are forced to evacuate Boston. -
Declaration of Independence
[Declaration of Independence](www.archives.gov)
The Declaration of Independence was a document written by Thomas Jefferson (focused on Elightenment ideas) and was signed by members of Congress. The document declared America's independence from Britain! -
"The Crisis" Published
["The Crisis" Published](www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/)
In 1776, Thomas Paine publishes "The Crisis," which told the soldiers that even though things weren't going well, they should never give up and that they still deserved to be supported. -
Wahington Captures Trenton
[Washington Captures Trenton](www.britishbattles.com/battle-trenton.htm)
To boost morale among the American colonists, George Washington decides to attack the Hessian troops from the Deleware River and he successfully drives them out! -
British Defeated At Saratoga
[British Defeated At Saratoga](www.ushistory.org/us/11g.asp)
During this battle, the American colonists were able to successfully stop the British from dividing and conquering. In addition, this battle caused the French to join the American cause. -
Winter At Valley Forge, PA
[Winter At Valley Forge, PA](en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Forge)
On December 19, 1777, George Washington leads his troops into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where he stayed for six months with his soldiers. During this time, there was no literal fighting, but the troops did need to fight the harsh weather, which killed a vast amount of soldiers. These winter months helped shape the army into the type needed to win the war! -
John Paul Jones Defeats The Serapis
[John Paul Jones Defeats The Serapis](www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-paul-jones-wins-in-english-waters)
John Paul Jones lead the Bonhomme Richard to defeat the H.S. Serapis. John Paul Jones won the battle within three and a half hours and took the Serapis as his prize. -
Benedict Arnold Plans Found Out
[Benedict Arnold Plans Found Out](www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/arnold.html)
Benedict Arnold was discussing his betrayl of the American cause with the British. Arnold and the British discussed for months, during which Arnold would supply the British with American plans. Arnold tried to meet with his negotiator (Andre), but Andre was caught and their plans were revealed (Arnold escaped). -
Cornwallis Surrenders
[Cornwallis Surrenders](www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cornwallis-surrenders-at-yorktown)
Cornwallis settled his troops in Yorktown, but the Continental Army was sent to block of all escape routes. On October 19, 1781, Lord Cornwallis officially surrenders to the Franco-American force at Yorktown.
