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French and Indian War
Before the French and Indian War, colonist had grown used to governing themselves. After the French and Indian War, the British needed to pay off their debt, and they were determined to tighten their control over the colonies. The colonies responded to this angrily, the war between the colonies and Britain became inevitable. -
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French & Indian War
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The Quartering Act
In 1765, the British enforced another unfair law on the colonists. This law was called The Quartering Act. The Quartering Act required colonists to house British soldiers, which colonists felt was a tax. Colonists felt like this law was a tax because the colonists had to buy more food and other supplies, to provide for the soldiers. Colonists felt like their rights were being violated becuase the soldiers living with them, could search their house, anytime. Boycotts & Protests followed this act. -
The Sugar & Stamp Act
Some of the first taxes that the British forced upon the colonist were the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act. The Sugar Act was passed in 1764, and it taxed foreign molasses, Madeira wine and refined sugar. The Stamp Act was passed in 1765 and it taxed all printed documents, such as; newspapers, licenses, wills and playing cards. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre took place on March 5th 1770. The Boston Massacre took place because Parliament had not reapled the tea act. Thus, an angry mob of colonists surronded a small group of British soldiers. The mob threw rocks, sticks, snow and ice, leaving the soldiers confused & frightened. The soldiers responded by firing into the crowd. As a result the soldiers had killed five colonists & wounded six. The massacre scared both English & Colonists, and quieted down their fights for a while. -
The Tea Act
In 1773 The Tea Act was passed. The Tea Act was created to give a monopoly to the British East India Company. Colonists were angered, that the BEIC could have a monoloy, becuase it hurt the colonial merchants, who were trying to sell tea. Colonists were also mad that they had to pay taxes on tea. As a result colonists boycotted tea. An extreme example of boycotting tea that took place after the Tea Act, would be the Boston Tea Party. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was organized by The Sons of LIberty, and took place on December 16th 1773. The Boston Tea Party was a response to The Tea Act, which colonists hated, becuase of the monopoly it gave the BEIC. At night 150 Sons of Libery, dressed up as Native Americans and then threw 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.The total amount of Tea was £10,000. The Boston Tea party was followed by the British punishing all of Boston. -
First Continental Congress
On September 5th 1774, the First Continental Congress met. The Congress met in Philadelphia, and had delegates from 12 of the 13 colonis (all except GA). Among the delegates were George Washington and John Adams. The delegates were patriots who wanted to unify and respond to the recent unfair taxation and treatment that Bitain was forcing on them.
By having a Congress the colonists were starting to govern their own nation. -
Battles of Lexington & Concord
The Battles of Lexington & Concord were the first official battles of the American Revolution. On April 19 British troops marched to Lexington where they were met by minutemen. British troops then marched to Concord where they were met again by colonial resistance. The colonists put up quite a fight, forcing the British to retreat back to Boston. The Americans had proven themselves in this battle, they had just proven to Britain they were capable to fight for their country and for their freedom. -
British Capture NY
A large British fleet arrived in NY on June 1776. The British commander William Howe gathered him forces at Long Island. George Washington, leader of the Continental army, knew the British were going to attack, but when it came time for the battle, the colonists were no match for the British. The patriots, started to become low on spirit, so Washington knew he had to have a victory, or he would loose his soldiers. As a result Washington & his army crossed the Delaware for an American Victory. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence went public, on the 4th July in 1776. The Declaration was created so that the Americans could be free from British rule.The Declaration talked of freedom & liberty, which encouraged more & more colonists to become patriots. The Declaration included demands for an end to unfair taxation without representaion & other unfair rules that the Briish forced on them. Patriots are now fihgting to create a new nation, & they can't turn back now. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga, was an Amercian victory. It was a American victory because the colonists capatilized the British mistakes. The British general John Burgoyne, orginally planned to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies, thus ending the war. The British had planned to drive towards Albany from 3 different directions. The plan failed instantly. General Horatio Gates & his 6,000 patriots were ready to fight. The British suffered heavy casualties, on Oct. 17 Burgoyne surrenderred. -
Valley Forge
During the terrible winter of 1777-1778 General Washington & his men spent their time at Valley Forge PA. This dark winter, Washington & his men shivered in little huts & ate little. Lots of soldiers got sick with chills or the fever. When the colonists learened aabout the terrible conditions that their soldiers were going through, they sent help. They sent food, medicine, warm clothes & ammunition. The colonists used their winter at Valley Forge for strength for the battles that layed ahead. -
American Traitor
Benedict Arnold, was a American hero, at the battle of Saratoga. He had fought bravely for America, early in the war but when he was not promoted, he felt Congress undervalued him. Arnold became a traitor, secretly working for the British. He planned to turn over West Point, a key fort for the colonists over to the British. On September of 1780, his plan was discovered & foiled. Arnold soon fled to the British, in order to escape being hung by the Americans. -
Battle of Yorktown
British Commander, Cornwallis made a fateful mistake when he moved his troops to the Yorktown peninsula. Cornwallis thought that the British fleet would come to reinforce him & his troops. However, the French fleet arrived instead. Washington saw this as a chance to end the war, so he rushed his troops down to VA. Cornwallis was trapped, the French and the Americans had surronded him. The British finally surrendered Oct. 19 1781. -
Treaty of Paris
The battle of Yorktown, really surprised the people of England. They hadn't expected to loose the war. King George wanted to keep fighting, however parliament vetoed that idea, & voted for peace. In 1782 talks for peace began in Paris. The Treaty of Paris was approved by Congress in April of 1783, officially ending the war. The treaty stated, the U.S boundaries, the Atlantic to the East, Canada to the North, the MS river to the West & FL to the South. America was finally free.
