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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian war started after France defeated George Washington, Britain decided to declared war. The two fought over control of the valley. After the war was over Britain and the Indians made the Proclamation of 1763 that did not allow colonists to settle on land west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
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Road to Revolution
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The Sugar Act
The Sugar act was passed because the British wanted more money to help provide more security for the colonies. Due to the Indians and fights with foreign powers security for the colonies was expensive. British hoped that the act would force colonists to sell their goods to Britain rather than selling to other countries. The Sugar Act upset colonists because by only trading with Britain, their goods would sell for less. Some colony leaders began boycotting, and stopped buying British goods. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was meant to make American colonists pay direct taxes, as a result of war that had left Britain In debt.The new tax law stated that all American colonists were required to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. However the Stamp Act was viewed by the colonists as a direct attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. If this new tax law were allowed to pass without hesitation, colonists feared more taxes were to c -
The Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress was held in New York City with twenty-seven representatives from the thirteen colonies. The meeting led to the creation of the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which stated that there would be no taxes imposed on colonists without their consent or that colonists could not receive a tax from someone who is a non- representative. Many Colonists saw The Stamp Act as a direct violation of their rights, and the thirteen colonies realized they could do more united than ap -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts originated by Charles Townshend and was passed by the English Parliament just after the Stamp Act was repealed. The Townshend Acts were designed to collect revenue from American colonists by putting a fee on the importing of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The colonists boycotted English goods which led to the Boston Massacre. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was the outcome of the Townshend Acts. British soldiers had been sent to enforce laws, and got into conflicts with the colonists. The conflicts rouse when a crowd of colonists confronted some soldiers, yelling insults and throwing snowballs. Misunderstanding Captain Preston's command to not fire, the British soldiers opened fire on the colonists, killing five and wounding six. The soldiers who fired, as well as Captain Preston, went on trial with John Adams as their lawyer. -
The Boston Tea Party
The British passed the Tea Act which allowed tea to be undersold in America. Since tea would be sold at an extremely cheap rate, wholesalers in America were going to be seriously affected,for this reason, the colonies resisted the Act. Since British tea was already being boycotted due to the heavy price on it, the Act in America was seen as a bribe from the British. In Boston, men dressed as Indians and boarded a British tea ship, and dumped all the tea aboard into the sea. While the people in B -
First Continental Congress
Representatives from each colony, except Georgia, met in Philadelphia. The representatives gathered to discuss their response to the British "Intolerable Acts."The congress had three objectives: to write a statement of colonial rights, to identify British’s violation of those rights, and to provide a plan that would convince Britain to restore those rights.All members agreed to boycott British goods. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
British troops were sent to Concord to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams, but both men had already been warned about the British attack the night before. American colonists were pulling back when someone fired a shot, and the British troops started to fire back.The British killed many colonists and wounded many more in the Battle of Lexington. After the fight, the British found out that Hancock and Adams had escaped. The British headed towards Concord looking for ammunition. As the British w -
The Second Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. They first asked how the colonist would meet the military threat of the British, agreeing that a Continental Army would be created. George Washington was appointed commander of the army.They then asked how would supplies be paid for, and The Congress authorized the printing of money. -
George Washington named Commander and Chief
Two days before the battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, George Washington was appointed commander of America’s army by the Continental Congress. Washington was to achieve independence from the British. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Took place on the Charlestown Peninsula on the North side of Boston Harbor. The British suffered some 1,150 killed and wounded. The American casualties were estimated at 450 killed and wounded. -
Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' published
Thomas Paine wrote, Common Sense, which challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. Paine used plain language that spoke to the American people. This was the first book to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. -
The British evacuate Boston
After the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the Americans had the British blocked off in Boston. Though the British defeated America in the Battle of Bunker Hill, the British were in need of help. To support Washington's troops, Henry Knox, and the Chief of Artillery, brought the artillery captured at Fort Ticonderoga to strengthen their position around Boston. On the evening of March 4th, cannons were positioned on top of Dorchester Heights aiming at the British ships in the Boston Harb -
Richard Henry Lee Proposes Independence
Acting under the instruction of the Virginia Convention, Richard Henry Lee, during the Second Continental Congress proposed independence for all colonies. His resolution contained three parts: a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and "a plan for confederation." -
Declaration of Independence adopted
The Declaration of Independence is a statement that was adopted by the Continental Congress, which announced that the 13 American colonies, that were at war with Great Britain, were now independent states, and were no longer a part of the British Empire. They had formed a union that was becoming a nation known as the United States of America. John Adams was the leader in pushing for American independence, which was unanimously approved on July 2nd. -
Declaration of Independemce signed
On August 2nd John Hancock,and the President of the Congress signed the Declaration of Independence. The other delegates, followed behind signing in an arrangement by states from northernmost New Hampshire to southernmost Georgia. Although not all delegates were present on August 2nd, almost every delegate signed the document.
