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French and Indian War
The French and Indian war happened because the French wanted to expand into the colonies. George Washington was sent to get them out and attack a small French group. A bigger group would attack Washington’s troops afterwards. This caused a war to go on between both areas and have the British help. The colonists were ready for battle and needed men to join. After the war had ended the British and the Colonists would get into a fight over paying back the debt. -
Stamp Act
In 1775 Britain passed another act on the colonies this was called the Stamp Act. The bill had stamps put on legal, commercial papers, insurance, and more. Britain wanted income from the Colonies and wouldn’t listen to anyone. The colonists sent a petition to the king wanting the act removed. The King removed it in 1776 but created a new act. The act happened because Britain needed money to pay back the debt from the French and Indian war. The American Revolution would soon begin. -
Boston Massacre
The protest against the acts worked and it hurt British manufactures and merchants. On March 5, 1770 Parliament ended all acts except on tea because they still needed money for the debt. An angry group of colonists threw snowballs and racks at the British soldiers. The soldiers fired into the crowd killing 5 wounding 6. Afterwards this would start the fighting between the British and the Colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists from the Sons of Liberty decided to try and stop the tea act. They threatened ship captains who were bringing over tea, and pressured colonial tea merchants not to buy any; no tea was unloaded in NY, PA or other ports. In Boston however Governor Thomas Hutchinson made sure tea was unloaded. On December 16, 1773 a group of men dressed as Indians unloaded tea into the Boston Harbor. They threw 342 cases of tea in the harbor. The king would soon pass the Intolerable Acts. -
Battle of Lexington
The Colonists knew that this would start a fight; the colonists began to arm themselves and create a group of men called minutemen. General Thomas Gage found out that they were storing arms in Concord and sent troop to go seize them. As the troops were coming Paul Revere spread the word the British were coming. There was 77 minutemen waiting for the British to come, the British ordered them to leave, they didn’t. Someone shot a bullet and this started the war. the Battle of Concord would start -
Second Continental Congress
The colonists wanted a government to follow instead of the British so the Second Continental Congress was made. Each colony had someone representing them and making good choices. One of the first things the congress did was help the army. They made Washington lead the army and sent representatives to make peace with the Indians. Many pieces were written such as an article encouraging colonists to go to war and help out.This helped create a navy and marine corp. The declaration was drafted. -
Battle at Bunker Hill
The colonists did not have much fighing experience compared to the British.British General William Howe decided to attack the colonists on Breeds Hill. The colonists didnt have much ammunition so they would fire at the british when they were 150 feet away.This worked until they became fully out of ammunition and got defeated.Over 1,000 British men and 400 americans were killed or wounded.This showed that the Colonists could fight and the British were in shock.This would soon lead to many battles -
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence saying that we were free from Britiain. On July 4,1776 was the Declaration passed by congress and approved by the king.John Hancock signed it first and 55 delegates signed it a month later. When the declaration was first drafted you could read it in newspapers and George Washington even read his troops it.The declaration has 4 parts the preamble,natural rights,list of grievances and the Resolution of Independence.After the war we were free. -
Crossing the Deleware
The British had been winning most of the battles and soliders were ready to quit.George Washington knew he had to do something,On Christmas night soliders left and crossed the river in small boats.They had to walk in the snow to reach the British fort.On December 26, 1776 they attacked from both sides.They retreated and started a fire in the middle of the night and left.When the British got there they saw they had been tricked and they damaged their own fort. Next was the battle at Saratoga. -
Battle at Saratoga
British General John Burgoyne had a plan to block of New York from the colonies. He started attacking all the forts until Geogre III told him to attack in Philadelphia. His troops were waiting for help but never recieved any, he knew that winter was close and he had to fight. The Americans surrounded the British and gave Burgoyne no choice but to surrender. This showed that the Colonists could fight and that we could beat British. Many countrys were amazed that we beat them and many allies came -
Valley Forge
Washington’s army suffered through the winter of 1777 while the British were having partys.11,000 Continental soldiers were not feed, clothed or housed and 1 in 5 soldiers were sick.They had very little clothes and only had thin soup and dry bread to eat. Many were suffering and cold. Once Americans found out about this they sent help immediatly.Food,medicine,warm clothes and ammunition was sent.This helped the soldiers learn discipline and improve their skills.There was only 1 more battle. -
French Alliance
France wanted to weaken Britain so they sent over troops and supply for help. They didnt want to give any help until they were sure that the colonists had a chance of winning. The battle at Saratoga showed them we had a chance of winning. In Feburary 1778 the France signed a treaty with the Americans and was the first country to do so. -
Help from Spain
Towards the end of the war Americans got help from Spain. Spain was mad at Britain and wanted Florida back. They controlled the land from Louisiana to Mississippi. Before the Spainish had a war Bernando de Galvez helped the Americans by giving them money and munitions. He helped the British mainly from 1779-1781, he helped capture forts along the Mississippi river and Gulf of Mexico. The last battle would soon come close. -
Last Battle
The British only had control of Charles Town and Savannah.The Americans wanted to attack. Cornwalls moved his army to the Virginia peninsula but the French fleet came over by sea.Washington brought his troops over to meet up with the British and the French came over also.The British were in-between the Americans and the French and blocked by the land and sea.The British surrendered and the British had to drop all their weapons so everyone knew they quit.This was the last major battle and we won. -
Treaty of Paris
Britain finally decided that it was time to make peace with the Colonies. The Treaty of Paris was going to be made; this listed the independence of the United States. It listed the boundaries and that we were free. We agreed to restore the rights and the property taken from the Loyalists during the war. Most of the states ignored this though. On April 5, 1784 Congress approved this treaty. The war was over and had gone on for 8 years.
