-
Proclamation Line
When the French and Indian war was over the colonists wanted to start setteling in the newly won lands. But the American Indians did not want to give up their land so they started to attak British forts and settlsments. To end fighting King George lll issued the proclamation line it ordered colonists to stop setteling in lands west of the Appalachain Mountain. Colinists alredy living past the line had to move. Some colonists ignored the orders they did not want to be told were to live. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed to pay for the French and Indian War. The British government had borrowed money to pay for the war and now the money had to be repaid. The Stamp Act taxed all printed items, basically any public or legal documents on paper. The Stamp Act was not the only tax considered unfair by the Colonists. -
The Boston Tea Party
In 1773 the British Parliament passed the Tea Act, which taxed tea. Many Colonists were upset and boycott tea. One night 150 members of the Sons of Liberty dressed as Indians went to Boston Harbor. The group, led by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, boarded three British ships and threw more than 300 chests of tea into the harbor. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from 12 out of the 13 colonies excluding Georgia. They met to consider the proper response to the Intolerable Acts, which Parliament had passed to punish the Colonists for the Boston Tea Party. The Congress was attended by 56 members appointed by the Colonies' legislatures. They agreed to petition the King and if their petition failed to meet again the next year. -
Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty" Speech
During the Second Virginia Convention, outspoken Delegate Patrick Henry was proposing the idea of starting a Virginia Militia to defend against the British. When others disagreed, he spoke the famous words, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me; give me liberty or give me death." His words inspired Colonists and became a famous favorite patriotic slogan. -
Battles of Lexington And Concord
The British soldiers marched to the towns of Lexington and Concord. Their plan was to arrest two leaders of the Sons of Libety and capture the group's weapons. Paul Revere found out about the secret mission and rode his horse ahead of the troops to warn the villagers. Minutemen from the towns met the British in battle and lost, however, the leaders and weapons had been secured. The Minutemen later followed the British on their return to Boston fighting them along the whole way. -
Approval of The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Ben Franklin and John Adams. On July 4th 1776 members of the Continental Congress voted to approve the Declaration. Members signed the document on August 2nd 1776. The Declaration stated the grievances of the Colonists against the King and why they needed to break away and become their own country. -
The Boston Massacre
To control the Colonists, Parliament sent British troops to the Colonies. Four thousand were sent to Boston. Most Colonists did not want the soldiers in their towns. They would call the soldiers names and some soldiers in response destroyed Colonists property. One night, an angry crowd in Boston shouted insults at a group of British soldiers and threw snow balls and rocks. When the crowd moved forward, the soldiers fired their guns. Five Colonists died. -
Battle of Saratoga
At the Battle of Saratoga, British General Burgoyne lost to the American Army led by General Horatio Gates. This battle in New York state ended the planned invasion fom Canada and helped Benjamin Franklin convince the French to become an American ally. French support would later make the difference between victory and defeat. This major turning point in the war gave the American cause confidence and renewed hope. -
Surrender at Yorktown
In 1781 British General Cornwallis set up his headquarters at Yorktown, Virginia on the Chesapeake Bay. Its location was easily supplied by British ships but was also easily surrounded. The Americans and their French allies decided to defeat Cornwallis at Yorktown. American and French armies surrounded the town while French ships took control of the Bay, trapping Cornwallis. After being shelled for weeks and without any new supplies or reinforcements, Cornwallis surrendered, ending the war. -
Signing the Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris 1783 officially ended the Revolutionary War. It was signed by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay in Paris. Details included British recognition of the newly independent country and establishment of the country's boundaries. It also dealt with the debts owed to Britia, the status of Loyalists and the return of British troops from America.
