Taizon's Consitutional Timeline

By tbarrett94
  • Period: to

    ten events from the end of the Revolutionary War through the ratification of the Constitution

  • Signing of the Treaty of Paris

    France ceded all mainland North American territories, except New Orleans, in order to retain her Caribbean sugar islands. Britain gained all territory east of the Mississippi River; Spain kept territory west of the Mississippi, but exchanged East and West Florida for Cuba.

  • Sugar Act

    The first attempt to finance the defense of the colonies by the British Government. In order to deter smuggling and to encourage the production of British rum, taxes on molasses were dropped; a levy was placed on foreign Madeira wine and colonial exports of iron, lumber and other goods had to pass first through Britain and British customs.

  • Boston Massacre

    Angered by the presence of troops and Britain's colonial policy, a crowd began harassing a group of soldiers guarding the customs house; a soldier was knocked down by a snowball and discharged his musket, sparking a volley into the crowd which kills five civilians.

  • Boston Tea Party

    Angered by the Tea Acts, American patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians dump £9,000 of East India Company tea into the Boston harbour.

  • Battle of Lexington & Concord

    First engagements of the Revolutionary War between British troops and the Minutemen, who had been warned of the attack by Paul Revere.

  • Olive Branch Petition

    Congress endorses a proposal asking for recognition of American rights, the ending of the Intolerable Acts in exchange for a cease fire. George III rejected the proposal and on 23 August 1775 declared the colonies to be in open rebellion.

  • Continental Congress issues Declaration of Independence

  • Battle of Trenton, New Jersey

    Provided a boast to American Morale!

  • British surrender of 5,700 troops at Saratoga

    Lacking supplies, 5,700 British, German and loyalist forces under Major General John Burgoyne surrender to Major General Horatio Gates in a turning point in the Revolutionary War.

  • Consittutional Convention

    Adoption of the American Constitution