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The French and Indian War
French and Indian War
A war between the English, colonists, and Amerindians loyal to them against the French and the rest of the Amerindians over territory in North America. The colonists fought for the Enlish and expected to e able to settle in the land between the Mississippi River and the Alppalachian Mountains after the war was over. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris
After the French and Indian War, the Treaty of Paris was signed to officially end the war. The English were given the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River that General George Washington had scouted out before the war. The colonists were happy with this, until they were told that they could not settle on this land after fighting for it in the war. -
The Royal Proclamation
The Royal ProclamationA proclamation from the British made that was intended to keep both the Indians and the colonists happy and prevent border wars. It prohibited colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian Mountains, and eliminated a border which helped solve the colonists' problems with the Indians. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act
The British instituted the Sugar Act in 1764 on the colonies. They put a tax on foreign sugar in an effort to raise more money to pay off debts for war and defenses. The colonists ended p boycotting the act and getting it repealed, along with a few others. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act
An act passed by the British to the colonists that put a tax on stamps. The money from these taxes made the colonists pay for the maintaining and outfitting of troops in the colonies, and the colonists were extremely reluctant and angry at having to pay them. They boycotted paying the taxes, and eventually in 1766 got the acts repealed. -
Stamp Act Congress
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress was a conference between the colonies, of which nine of them sent delegates to, to discuss and resolve the issues on taxation. The Congress came up with the Stamp Act Resolves which were signed and sent to the king to repeal the Stamp Act. -
The Townshend Acts
Townshend Acts
The British placed taxes on goods imported from England in the Townshend Acts, including lead, paper, paint, and tea. The purpose of these taxes was to pay for the protection of the colonies and to pay the salaries of royal judges and governors. These taxes were collected at ports, where colonists would openly boycott them. -
The Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
While boycotting the Townshend Taxes near the customs house where they were collected, a group of colonists started to taunt the British soldiers standing guard. The colonists attacked the soldier and continued attacking the backup called in, so the British shot at the mob. Three colonists were killed, and eight were wounded. -
The Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
The British had imported cheap tea from the East India Tea Company to sell to the colonies to make money, The colonists did not want to buy the tea because they fel that Parliament was just trying to appease them, so they refused to unload it or sell/buy it. When the British refused to move the tea, annonymous patriots dressed like Mohawk Indians boarded the ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
Britain was very angry at the colonists for their blatantly rebellious acts, such as the Boston Tea Party. The wanted to punish the colonists severly. In reaction to the punishment carried out, a group of 55 delegates from each colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia to discuss the ways to find resolution with England. -
Patrick Henry "Give Me Liberty"
"Give Me Liberty"
Patrick Henry, a delegate from Virginia, made his speech to the First Continental Congress to try to persuade them to take action on the British and not wait for a reply to their plea for peace. He proposed to prepare troops in the colonies, and the last well known line of his speech inspired many. -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Paul Revere's Ride
The British were preparing to attack the colonists by surprise at Concord. Paul Revere, along with Samuel Prescott and William Dawes, attempted to ride to Concord at midnight on April 18th to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock of the British arrival. They alerted the colonists also, and prepared them all for attack. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Battles of Lexington and Concord
After being warned by Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott, the colonists were ready for a British attack. The colonists were ordered to lay down their weapons, but when they refused, a shot was fired, from which side is unclear. Thus began a battle which moved from Lexington to Concord to search for ammunition, where the militia forced the redcoats to retreat back to Boston. -
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga
Ethan Allen and a group of men called the Green Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga and took the cannoncs from the fort. The militia was in need of a cannon to drive the British out of Boston, because they had no weapons or any kind of force to get them out. -
Second Continental Congress Meets
Second Continental Congress
Prior to the Battle of Bunker Hill, the meeting of the Second Continental Congress was going to discuss the continuation of boycotting the Intolerable Acts, like the First Continental Congress. The Olive Branch Petition was sent to Britain, pleaing to negotiate taxes. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The colonists set up on the two highest points next to Boston, Breed's Hill which was closer, and Bunker Hill, which was higher. The colonists held off the persistat attacking English until they ran out of ammunition and had to retreat. It was a victory for the English, but they suffered double the casualties. -
"Common Sense" Published
Common Sense Pamphlet
The king announced the colonists to be carrying out a rebellion, and forced all colonists to pick a side. Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense in easy to uderstand language to try to persuade colonists to join the side of the revolution. He pointed out many wrongs in the British rule, and advanages of independence. -
British Evacuate Boston
British Evacuate Boston
The militia brought the cannons from Fort Ticonderoga over from New York to Boston during the winter of 1775-1776.With George Washington leading the army, the cannons placed on Dorcheser Heights threatened the British enough that they left Boson for Nova Scotia after a week of intimidation. -
Declaration of Independence announced
he Declaration Of Independence
The "Committee of Five" was organized by the Continental Congress to write the Declaration, and the task was given to Thomas Jefferson. Once he was finished, his work was brought to the Second Continental Congress for approval and then publishing. -
Washington Captures Trenton
Capture of Trenton
Washington was losing many battles and enlistment time was running out, so he made a bold move and crossed the icey Delaware River during the night on December 26th with his troops. The attacked the sleeping Hessians ad caught them by surprise, winning a victory over them quickly. -
British Defeated at Saratoga
British Defeat at Saratoga
After the victory at Trenton, Washington pushes the colonists forward, winning battle after battle. The militia began to lose hope for the fight for independence, but then they defeated the British at Saratoga, right outside of Albany New York. Their hope for the revolution was restored. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Winter at Valley Forge
After the victory at Saratoga, Washington and his men spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge. There, there were trsined by Baron von Steuben and others in classic European fighting style. -
Benedict Arnold Plans Found Out
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold was a patriot fighting in the Revoution. He helped the Americans win many battles, but he felt underappreciated for his feats. He entered into secret negotiations with the British, and almost gave them the plans to West Point Fort, which was a crucial spot for the Americans. He was caught before he could give up the information.
