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Zenger's Trial
Zenger's trial is the first case where truth is a defense to an action for libel in America; it's constituionally protected. It's also one of the first cases where jury nullification is exercised in America. -
Albany Congress
Colonial representatives met to develop an agreement with Indians to plan the defense of the colonies againd the French. They adopted Benjamin Franklin's plan but it was rejected by England and the colonies. -
Seven Years War
The British colonies suffered many defeats by the French and their Indian allies over the French expansion into the Ohio River Valley. Finally, the British won. It's important because this is what united the colonies under a common cause and they started being conisidered united as opposed to thirteen scsttered colonies. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty concluded the French and Indian War. The French renounced all land east of the Mississippi, except new orleans, to the British; the British restored the west indies to France. -
Pontiac's Rebellion
It was a confederation of Native American tribes that were unhappy with the postwar British policies after the Seven years war. they took over British forts. In the end, King Goerge III issued proclamation giving all the land west of the Appalachians to the Indians. -
Sugar Act
This act by Parliament placed a duty on sugar imported into the colonies for th sole purpose of raising revenue and increased the restrictions on colonial commerce- making it harder to smuggle things in. The colonies responded to this through nonimportation of British goods, so the Brithish came up with the Stamp Act. -
Stamp Act
Because of Parliament, the colonies now had to pay a tax for stamps that were placed on all legal documents, publications and newspapers. The British thought that since the troops stationed in North America were beneficial to the colonists, they should at least pay the expense that came along with it. -
Repeal of Stamp Act
Colonists argued "no taxation without representation". They held a Stamp Act Congress to address their concrens with this. Four months later, parliament repealed the stamp act and declared the declaratory act. -
Declaratory Act
After the Stamp Act was repealed this was enacted by Parliament. This allowed the British Parliament to do whatever they see fit for the greater good, meaning they could create more laws that the colonies had to abide by. One of the factors that angered the colonists and eventually led to the Revolutionary War. -
Boston Massacre
This was a result of the Townshend Acts. It raised tensions among the British and the colonists because this is when the first killing took place (Crispus Attucks). The colonists now realized that the British were trying to put an end to their liberty, and this was another leading cause of the Revolutionary War. -
Tea Acts
This was a tax break for the East India Tea Company. This made it hard for colonists to smuggle, which the British were in favor of because they feared that with more money the colonists would spend it on efforts against the British. -
Boston Tea Party
On this day the Bostonians dressed up as Indians and dumped pounds of tea into the Boston Harbour to protest the Tea Acts. This outbreak showed the British that they needed to have more control over the colonies. This led to the Intolerable Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a series of rules made to punish Massachusetts and strengthen the British:
-Boston Port Act: shut down Boston Harbour (important port)
-Massachusetts Government Act: shut down MA government
-Administration of Justice Act: criminals are now tried in England.
-Quartering Act: they have to open up their home to the troops
-Quebec Act: appointed permanent government to Canada
This resulted in the First Continental Congress. -
First Continental Congress
This was a result of the Intolerable Acts. This event is important because this is the first effort that the colonies made to unite to be independent for Britain. Important people include Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams and John Jay. -
Lexington and Concord
The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagement in the Revolutionary War. This showed that the colonies had a fighting chance and that the British had outdated fighting techniques and it didn't help that they weren't familiar with the land. It also proved that the British underestimated the colonies and their ability to win. -
Second Continental Congress
The second continental congress was significant because this was when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. This acted as the government for America during the war; it raised an army and navy, approved the Articles of Confederation, and negotiated peace with Great Britain. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Although the British won, it resulted in many casualties for them. The colonial forces were able to retreat and regroup. This battle proved that the colonial forces, that didn't have much military experience, were able to have a chance against a big a power as the British. -
Olive Branch Petition
This showed that America didn't care whether or not it was a part of England. They just wanted to go back to the time before the French and Indian War when they were allowed to practice self government. It was an attemp to prevent going into a war, but King George III rejected this petition. -
Common Sense
Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine. It challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. He used plain language to speak to the coommon people, and it was the first work to openly ask the British for their independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The declaration of independence stated that the colonies were no longer under the British's rule; America is now an independent nation. Most of the core ideas came from the priniciples of the Enlightenment, and it was written by many including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. -
Virginia Declaration of Rights
It was written mainly by George Mason to express the inherent rights of man, including the right to rebel against the government if necessary. Later, the Bill of Rights and France's Declaration took ideas from it. -
Battle of Long Island
This was the first battle after America declared its independence for Great Britain.This defeat forced the Americans into New Jersey, but they were able to still participate in the war. -
Fort Ticonderoga
This fort was built by the Canadians and the French on Lake Champlain in upstate New York during the French and Indian War and was strategically placed between the Hudson and St. Lawrence Rivers. -
Battle of Saratoga
This was a major victory for the American forces and a turning point in the war. It was the first battle the British surrendered in. The French were now recognizing America and they became allies, as the French were supplying them with soldiers and supplies. -
Valley Forge
This was the site in Pennsylvania where the American Continental Army was. The soldiers went through a lot; they were undernourished, poorly clothed, and living in terrible conditions. Emerging from these conditions, it prepared the colonies for a future defeat of the British. -
Ratifications of the Articles of Confederation
The articles of confederation had to be ratified by all thirteen colonies before it could be official; it started with Virginia and ended with Maryland. The reason it took four years to be unanimously accepted among the states was because Virginia and Mayland were buckering over land claims. -
Battle of Yorktown
In Virginia, the Americans, with the help of the French, surrounded the British. This ended the revolutionary war because Cornwallis lost power of Virginia and was forced to surrender. -
Treaty of Paris
This ended the revolutionary war between the British and the Americans. The allies of the Americans had their separate treaties. It was signed by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Under the articles of confederation, Congress was not allowed to raise revenue by direct taxation, so the purpose of this was to raise money through the sale of land to the west of the states. -
Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
This was written by Thomas Jefferson to promote religious freedom for the state of Virginia. This desteblished the Anglican Church which was previously recognized as the state religion. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
This was the first organized territory of the United States out of the region south of the Great Lakes, north and west of the Ohio River, and east of the Mississippi River. The United States was now expanding westward across America as opposed to just the land they already had. -
George Washington Inauguration
This marked the first four-year term of the presidency of George Washington, America's first president. It took place in New York and John Adams was in office as vice president.
