Timeline: Road to Revolution

Jan 17, 1706

Benjamin Franklin

served in Second Continental Congress and helped draft Declaration
lead negotiator in the signing of the Treaty of Paris
Started out loyalist, turned patriot

Feb 22, 1732

George Washington

Leader of Continental Army
led attack in Valley Forge(1776); major turning point in revolution
Patriot

Jan 1, 1735

Paul Revere

bearing news of an impending British invasion to the town of Lexington, Massachusetts
primary engraver of propoganda drawing of the cartoon of the Boston Massacre
Patriot

Jan 23, 1737

John Hancock

signer of Declaration of Independence and governor of Massachusetts
President of Continental Congress and first signer of Declaration
Loyalist

Apr 13, 1743

Thomas Jefferson

served in continental congress and governor of Virginia
Author of Declaration of Independence
Patriot

Apr 15, 1764

Sugar Act

Tax on all sugar and molasses by King George 3 of Britain
The Sugar Act represented a significant change in policy: whereas previous colonial taxes had been levied to support local British officials, the tax on sugar was enacted solely to refill Parliament’s empty Treasury.

Oct 9, 1766

Stamp Act

Tax on all paper/documents coming in and out of American; imposed by the british king and enforced in America
Led to development of Coercive acts, Continental Congress, and eventually Declaration.

Jun 4, 1771

Declaration of Independence

The Declaration summarized the colonists’ motivations for seeking their independence. By declaring themselves an independent nation, the American colonists were able to conclude an official alliance with the government of France and obtain French assistance in the war against Great Britain.
a lot of people signed it

Dec 16, 1773

Boston Tea Party

Colonists dumped 3 ships full of tea into the water, refusing to pay taxes after being taxes
This was the first official source of rebellion for the colonists; time to prove they weren't all talk.

Apr 19, 1775

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts
Neither side won
It showed that the colonists could stand up to one of the strongest armies in the world and succeed.

Jun 17, 1775

Battle of Bunker Hill

Bunker Hill, Massachusetts
British won but the Continental Army inflicted significant casualties; it was a mood booster for the C.A

Dec 26, 1776

Battle of Trenton

Trenton, New Jersey
The battle was a resounding physical and moral victory for Washington and his American troops

Oct 7, 1777

Battle of Saratoga

south Saratoga, New York
A stupendous American victory in October 1777, the success at Saratoga gave France the confidence in the American cause to enter the war as an American ALLY. Later American successes owed a great deal to French aid in the form of financial and military assistance.