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Albany Congress
The Albany Congress was an effort to promote greater cooperation between British colonies.The context is the French and Indian War, and the 13 Colonies were trying to secure the support and cooperation of the Iroquois in fighting the French, and to form a colonial alliance based on a design by Benjamin Franklin. -
Seven Years' War Begins in Europe
This war was a global conflict that was fought on 5 different continents, and it's known in America as the French and Indian War. The war was driven by the commercial and imperial rivalry between Britain and France. Britain's ally was Prussia, and France's ally was Austria. -
William Pitt Becomes Prime Minister
William Pitt became Prime Minister of Great Britain after he gained the love of the people because of his help in the French and Indian War. He was also the Chancellor of Exchequer, so he was responsible for repaying the debt of the Seven Years' War. -
British Capture Quebec
The British under General James Wolfe achieved a dramatic victory when they scaled the cliffs over the city of Quebec to defeat French forces under Louis-Joseph de Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War between Great Britain and France, as well as their respective allies. France ceded all its North American territories to Spain and England. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, on lands acquired from the French following the French and Indian War. This area was reserved as "Indian Land". -
Paxton Boys Massacre
About 57 drunken settlers from Paxton, Pennsylvania, slaughtered 20 innocent and (Conestoga) Indians, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, whom they suspected of connivance with other Native Americans who had been pillaging and scalping. Gov. John Penn thereupon issued proclamations ordering the local magistrates to arrest and try those men involved in the massacre. -
Sugar Act
Enforced by British Parliament, it cut trade of sugar and molasses from French and Dutch West Indies and enforced taxes on foreign goods. -
Stamp Act
Direct tax on British Colonies in America on printed materials, and paper goods. This act cause the British to repeal the Sugar Act, and colonists threw riots and attacks on tax collectors. -
Declaratory Act
Britain wanted to reinstate their power after colonists were reacting poorly and violently to the taxations they were receiving. This act did just that, it stated that Parliament has full authority in laws that bind Great Britain and America. -
Townshend Revenue Act
Created by William Pitt to pay off the debt of the Seven Years' War. Britain placed taxes on only American-British colonists. They taxed glass, paper, paint, tea, and lead. -
Treaties of Hard Labor and Fort Stanwix
The Cherokee agreed to allow whites to settle an area that included most of today's West Virginia. The Treaty of Fort Stanwix, signed a month later, was made with the Iroquois. It opened what is now Kentucky to the whites. -
Seizure of John Hancock's Ship the Liberty
John Hancock was one of the richest British-American Colonists, and that was because he smuggled goods into the colonies on his Ship of Liberty. British officials captured and destroyed his ship. -
Boston Massacre
The term "Boston Massacre" was coined by propagandist Paul Revere. It was not actually a massacre, but he said this to make it sound like the British are terrible killers. The Boston Massacre was a confrontation in which British soldiers shot and killed several people while being harassed by a mob in Boston. -
Tea Act
Act of Parliament that permitted the East India Company to sell through agents in America without paying the duty. This granted the British East India Company Tea a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
Bostonians, disguised as Indians destroyed 10,000 pounds worth of tea belonging to the British East India Company in order the prevent the payment of the duty on it. -
Coercive Acts
Britain responded to the Boston Tea Party through punishment. These acts included the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration Act of Justice, and the Quartering Act. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress shaped a national political community. It took place in Philadelphia and participants were all British Americans of different religions. This meeting was planned after Parliament shut down Boston posts as punishment for rioting colonists. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
British Lt. Colonel Francis Smith assembled troops to capture and destroy potential military stores presumably hidden by the Massachusetts militia. -
Olive Branch Petition
Written by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania. It professed colonists' attachment to King George and begged him to prevent further hostilities. This Petition was created so that Britain thought the colonists were not planning anything violent. -
Battles of Breed's and Bunker Hills
The British sieged Boston, which kicked off this war. The Americans lost, but this battle was a confidence booster for them, as they inflicted many casualties on the British army. -
Second Continental Congress
The Congress appointed George Washington as commander of the Continental Army, and authorized the raising of the army through conscription. On July 4, 1776, the Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, which for the first time asserted the colonies’ intention to be fully independent of the mother country. The Congress established itself as the central governing authority under the Articles of Confederation, which remained in force until 1788. -
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and the audience was not Britain, but instead, it was the world, and fellow countries to recognize American as a country. It included Locke's enlightenment ideas of self-rule and natural law. -
Battle of Long Island
This battle was part of the British campaign to seize New York, to Isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. The British army was successful against the Continental Army. -
British Land on Manhattan Island
Britain's strong navy was able to make the inexperienced militia guards retreat, which easily helped them land at Kip's Bay. The British took control of New York City. -
George Washington Counterattacks at Trenton
On Christmas, Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River, and attacked the Hessian garrison at the Battle of Trenton on the morning of December 26. The Hessian garrison was surrounded and quickly defeated. -
Slavery Abolished in Vermont
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British General Burgoyne Surrenders at Saratoga
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Winter at Valley Forge
A major problem that plagued the Continental Army was the supply shortages due to lack of funds. This is especially seen in the 1777-1778 winter at Valley Forge. Washington's troops experienced a shortage in food, clothing, tents, and military supplies. -
Battle of Monmouth
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Article of Confederation Ratified
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Treaty of Paris of 1783
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Land Ordinance of 1785
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Treaty of Fort McIntosh
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Jefferson's Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom