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King George III
King George ascends to the throne of England. Unknown at the time, King George III would later begin to pass many laws and acts on Americans. Many of these will have to do with taxes, but all of them will ultimately lead to the American Revolution. -
Period: to
The American Revolution
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The Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 is issued by King George III after the end of the French and Indian War / Seven Years' War to organize the new North American empire and stabilize relations with Native Americans. No British settlements are allowed west of the Appalachian mountains. Settlers already in these areas required to return east. -
The Sugar Act and The Currency Act
The Sugar Act doubles the duties on foreign goods reshipped from England to the colonies. A court is established in Halifax, Nova Scotia with jurisdiction over all of the American colonies in trade matters. The Currency Act prohibited the colonists from issuing any legal tender paper money. -
Boycott of British Luxury Goods
In July, the phrase, "taxation without representation s tyranny" is attributed to James Otis. He also published his book, "The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved." In August. Boston merchants begin a boycott of British luxury goods. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament as a means to pay for British troops on the American frontier. Colonists violently protest the first direct tax on the American colonies. Americans were forced to pay tax directly to England. and not to their own local legislatures in America. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required American colonists to house British troops and supply them with food. -
Americans begin to oppose British Acts
May: Patrick Henry presents seven Virginia Resolutions claiming that only the Virginia assembly can legally tax Virginia residents. July: The Sons of Liberty is formed - a secret organization opposed to the Stamp Act. October: The Stamp Act Congress prepares a resolution to be sent to King George III requesting the repeal of the Stamp Act. -
Stamp Act Repealed
Stamp Act repealed - Ben Franklin argued for repeal and warned of a possible revolution in the American colonies if the Stamp Act was enforced by the British military. -
Declaratory Act
March 18: Declaratory Act passed asserting the British right to make laws binding on the colonies. January: New York assembly refuses to fully enforce the Quartering Act. August: Violence breaks out in New York between British soldiers and members of the Sons of Liberty due to the continued refusal to comply with the Quartering Act. -
Boycotting for Repeal of Townshed Acts
July: Merchants in Boston and New York boycott British goods until the Townshend Acts are repealed September: Boston colonists encouraged to urged to arm themselves September: English warships sail into Boston Harbor leaving two regiments of English troops to keep order. -
The Treaty Of Fort Stanwix
The Treaty of Fort Stanwix, the Treaty of Hard Labor (both 1768) and the Treaty of Lochaber (1770) opened much of what is now West Virginia and Kentucky to British settlement.
October. British troops arrive in Boston to enforce customs laws. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act claiming a threepenny per pound import tax on tea arriving in the colonies and provides the British East India Company a virtual tea monopoly by selling directly to chosen tea agents, bypassing and underselling American merchants who acted as middlemen. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party occurs when activists disguise themselves as Mohawk Indians then board the ships and dump all 342 containers of tea into the harbor. The Colonial activists were believed to be organized by Samuel Adams and the "Sons of Liberty" group. Samuel Adams then began to make his case for independence to John Adams, his second cousin, and a wealthy merchant named John Hancock. -
The Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts (called Intolerable Acts by Americans) in response to the rebellion in Massachusetts. The Coercive Acts included:
Massachusetts Government Act
Administration of Justice Act
Boston Port Act
Quartering Act
The Boston Port Act shut down all commercial shipping in Boston harbor until Massachusetts payed the taxes owed on the tea dumped in the harbor and compensation to the East India Company. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress meets and declares its opposition to the Coercive Acts. The rights to "life, liberty and property" are asserted and delegates agree to a boycott English imports, place an embargo of exports to Britain and discontinue the slave trade. -
Massachusettes Rebels!
February 9: English Parliament declares Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion. March 23: Patrick Henry delivers the "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech. March 30: New England Restraining Act requiring New England colonies to trade exclusively with England. April: Massachusetts Governor Gage is ordered to enforce the Coercive Acts and suppress the "open rebellion." -
Minute Men
Shots fired at Lexington and Concord where weapons depot destroyed. "Minute Men" force British troops back to Boston. George Washington takes command of the Continental Army. -
America Gains Support from France
The American revolution gains support from King Louis XVI of France. This is a very important event, becuase, even though they still aren't stronger than Britain, America gains a lot more power. -
Continental Congress Meets
Richard Henry Lee from Virginia delegate presents a formal resolution to the Continental Congress for America to declare its independence from Britain. This is where thet will begin to write the Declaration of Independence. -
The Declaration of Independence is presented
Thomas Jefferson presents the United States Declaration of Independence . The Declaration of Independence is a letter addressed to the King of England stating all the freedoms America wants. They also say all of their dislikes about the King's ruling and tall him that they are breaking off from Great Britain. -
British forces attempt to crush rebellion
A huge British force under the command of General William Howe arrives in New York harbor to crush the rebellion. Their attempt is clearly unsuccessful. In fact, it angers the Americans and gives them more reason and will to fight. -
Signing of Declaration
Members of Congress sign the United States Declaration of Independence. Among these men are, Delaware • George Read • Caesar Rodney • Thomas McKean Pennsylvania • George Clymer • Benjamin Franklin • Robert Morris • John Morton • Benjamin Rush • George Ross • James Smith • James Wilson • George Taylor Massachusetts • John Adams • Samuel Adams • John Hancock • Robert Treat Paine • Elbridge Gerry New Hampshire • Josiah Bartlett • William Whipple • Matthew Thornton Rhode Island • Stephen Hopkins • -
Washington makes a comeback after the defeat at Brandywine
September 11 General Washington defeated at Brandywine October 7: American victory at Battle of Saratoga October 17: Americans capture Burgoyne and his army at Saratoga. -
Battle of Long Island and Battle of Harlem Heights
August 27-29: The Battle of Long Island lasts for two days. In the end it is a British victory. September 16: Battle of Harlem Heights where Washington's army repulses British attack. -
France signs a treaty of alliance with the United States
American and French representatives sign two treaties in Paris: a Treaty of Amity and Commerce and a Treaty of Alliance. France now officially recognizes the United States and will soon become the major supplier of military supplies to Washington's army. Both countries pledge to fight until American independence is won, with neither country concluding any truce with Britain without the other's consent, and guarantee each other's possessions in America against all other powers. -
The Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth occurs in New Jersey as Washington's troops and Gen. Clinton's troops fight to a standoff. On hearing that American Gen. Charles Lee had ordered a retreat, Gen. Washington becomes furious. Gen. Clinton then continues on toward New York -
Spain declares war on England
Patriot Commissioners, who were to meet with heads of state in Europe, were sent by the First and Second Continental Congresses to offer them the return of lands lost in the French and Indian War and to grant favored trade nation status to any country or duchy that would provide war materiel and/or other aid to the Patriots. In result, Spain declares war on England but no alliance with America. -
The war carries on throughout the year
May 6: British capture Fort Moultrie at Charleston May 12: Charleston falls to the British June 23: Battle of Springfield American victory August 16: British victory in South Carolina -
French fleet of de Grasse
Off Yorktown, a major naval battle between the French fleet of de Grasse and the outnumbered British fleet of Adm. Thomas Graves results in a victory for de Grasse. The British fleet retreats to New York for reinforcements, leaving the French fleet in control of the Chesapeake. The French fleet establishes a blockade, cutting Cornwallis off from any retreat by sea. French naval reinforcements then arrive from Newport. -
The siege of Yorktown begins
The siege of Yorktown begins. It involved, joint Franco-American land and sea campaign that entrapped a major British army on a peninsula at Yorktown, Virginia, and forced its surrender. The siege virtually ended military operations in the American Revolution. -
The Final Battle
The final battle of the Revolutionary War when Americans retaliate by attacking a Shawnee village in Ohio. -
The Treaty of Paris
When the British heard of the surrender at Yorktown, the House of Commons was in an uproar. They now were concerned of losing the war.
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1782. The treaty was ratified on January 14, 1784, and it officially ended the American Revolution.
