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Road to Revolution
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French and Indian War
War between Britain and its two enemies. The enemies were the French and the Indians of North America. American colonists fought on the side of Britain, who won and was able to keep Canada and other areas in the new world. Gave the British complete power of the area and the colonists wanted their own power. -
The Sugar Act
Tax on sugar, coffee, indigo, and banned imports of rum and french wines. The tax was raised without the consent of the American colonist. First example of when colonists wanted a say of what the taxes on them should be. -
The Stamp Act
First direct tax on American colonists, in which newspaper, pamphlets, and other public papers had to have a British stamp or seal on it. Colonists were angry because they had been doing all these things free for many years before the stamp act. The Sons of Liberty started in response to this act. -
The Stamp Act Congress
A congress made to deliver the reactions of the colonists to the crown. After seeing the hostile reactions of the colonists the British finally decided to repeal the Stamp Act in March 1766 -
Townshed Act
Act that imposed taxes on taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. Colonists had the same reactions to this as the past taxes that Britished put on them. Due to this the British put more troops in the colonies which also made the colonists mad. -
The Boston Massacre
British troops opened fire on colonists after they said to have thrown rocks and other weapons at the troops. Shot five colonists and killed one African-American. Increased the distrust colonists had in the British. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty, dressed as Mohawk Native Americans, dumped 342 crates of British tea into the Boston Harbor. Other acts like this happened elsewhere throughout the colonies which eventually produced the boycott of tea inside the colonies. Showed the anger of the colonists toward the British and their taxes. -
The First Continentaal Congress
Group of 56 delegates from 12 colonies, everyone except Georgia, met in Philadelphia in 1774. They came to discuss the intolerable acts. They met in private so the British would not know about this meeting. This was the first real sign of revolution. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord.
First shots fired between colonist and British troops. The British were traveling to Concord to try to destroy a stockpile of colonists weapons, but when crossing through lexington shots were exchanged between the colonists and the British. “The shot heard around the world” was the first shot in lexington; shots were exchanged between the two groups with the final result being the Americans retreating. This slowed down the British, giving the colonists time to move their weapons in Concord. Thi -
The Second Continental Congress
Met in 1775 when the revolution was already in full swing. Created continental army, appointing George Washington as its leader. The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Marines Corps all were comprised from this congress. The colonists finally declared independence from the British. -
George Washington Named Commander in Chief
Fought for the British in the French and Indian war. Continental Congress named Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental army that fought against the British in the American revolution. Washington was such a good general that this gave the Americans an advantage in the war. After independence Washington was named first president of the United States, where he served two terms. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Two day battle between British troops and American colonists. British attacked Breed’s hill and captured the hill but had many casualties. The Americans, even though they lost Breed’s hill, they were able to lessen the number of redcoats without losing many of their men. The battle was fought on Breed’s hill but is remembered as the battle of bunker hill. -
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" Published
An American patriot and also a soldier whose most famous contribution was publishing a piece of writing called “Common Sense”. This piece of writing created increased anger in the colonists that furthered the cause of revolution. -
British Evacuates Boston
Due to successful placement of fortifications and cannons on Dorchester hill, the British forces were forced to evacuate Boston. Gave colonists their city back which before this had a eight year hatred with the troops of Britain. -
Richard Henry Lee Proposes Independence
Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, proposed independence at the second Continental Congress. This was amazing at the time that a colony of a world superpower proposed the idea of independence. -
Declaration of Independence adopted
Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson, a delegate from Virginia, was adopted by all the 13 colonies that were there. Great Britain's response to this Declaration was to continue the revolutionary war. -
Declaration of Independence signed
The Declaration of Independence was signed by many of the delegates on this date. John Hancock was the only person to sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776
