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The French Indian War
LINKThe French Indian War was the war that arose from conflicts between Britain and France in North America. The British wanted land to conquer and control while the French wanted to settle and trade. The war didnt start out to bright for the British they were facing a loss an important naval battle in Europe. After this though in 1757 things turned around when Britain defeated France in a battle in India and conquered Canada. Britain won the war and the Treaty of Paris was created. -
Treaty of Paris
linkThe Treaty of Paris was the treaty that came about from the French Indian War. The treaty gave Britsin all the mainland territory that was Frances including Quebec and the Ohio Valley. The New Orleans Port and Louisianna territory went to Spain. The British was there tohelp the Americans get rid of the French but now they would linger in their colonies. -
The Royal Proclamation
LINKThe Royal Proclamation was created by Britain after the Treaty of Paris gave them all the land known as the Ohio Valley. The Proclamation said that settlement was prohibited beyond the Appalchian Mountains in that new land. Also this law stated that private citizens and colonial governments could not buy land from the Indians. The Bristish didn't trust the Indians so they wanted to protect the colonist from them, and this was part of their idea to do so. Many people didn't follow this law though -
Sugar Act
LINKThe Sugar Act was a act passed that would raise the taxes on foreign sugars and molasses imported from West Indies. This was the first act passed that made the colonist pay taxes to the crown. The colonist didn't like this at all and got the price reduced alittle. The act also stated that other good be fined too, such as wines and coffee. The colonist evaded paying these by getting sugar and neccessities elsewhere, hurting the market for Britain. So Britain placed more men in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
LINKThe Stamp Act meant that the colonist had to pay for the costs of sending, outfitting, and maintaining the troops in the colonies. also for every piece of printed paper used. They had to pay for trrops they didn't even want. THe tax required a stamped paper saying that they payed. The British did this because they needed money to pay for war debt and defense. The people in Britain have had to pay a larger tax for the same thing but still this was unfair because the Americans didn't want them. -
Stamp Act Congress
LINKThe Stamp Act Congress was an intercolonial conference used to disscuss the way the Colonist would go after the Sugar and Stamp Acts were enforced. Only 9 Colonies sent delegates to the meetings, and they agreed they were fine with laws being made in the Colonies by Parliament, but taxation was not. Not everyone at first was down for the Stamp Act Resolves, but after some time every delegate but one approved of it. These meeting gained unity in the US and helped them with Independence. -
Townshend Acts
LINKThe Townshend Act, named for Charles Townshend were once again taxes placed on the colonies to pay for efense of America and the salieries of the Royal goveners. The items that were taxed were items such as, lead, paint, paper and tea. The Colonist boycotted this because they hated paying all these taxes. The British used the repeal of the Stamp Act as there excuse for this act coming into play. -
The Boston Massacre
LINKThe Boston Massacre eas a violent event that occured in Boston when a group of British Soldiers were guarding the Boston Customs House after reinforcements were called because of angry Patriots. The 60 or so Patriots were throwing rocks and snowballs at the guards and one got angry and frustrated, so he fired. This killed 5 men and wounded several more. The killing was done without order by the Captains orders. They were tried but only faced a branding of the thumb. -
Boston Tea Party
LINKThe Boston Tea Party was the event at which the radical colonists dressed up as Mohawk Indians and raided the British boats out in the Boston Harbor for Tea. What they did with the tea was surprising. The 200 radicals dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor. What sparked this uprising were the amount of taxes applied to the colonists. Evidently this could have been the event that sparked the revolution, because the King had lost so much money from that tea, he was angry. -
First Continental Congress
LINK The First Continental Congress was formed by Americans in order to disscuss troubles they were having with Britain. The meeting were held in Carpenters Hall in Philidelphia Penn. Each colony sent delegates to the meeting to represent them except Georgia. These meetings discussed problems like the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Intolerable Acts and other such things. Peyton Randolph was the head of the Congress. -
"Give me Liberty"
LINKPatrick Henry was a delegate in the colony of Virginia who wanted independence from Great Britain. When the second Virginia Convention met on March 20th Henry offered resolutions to organize a militia for Virginia. 3 days later he asked to raise a volunteer calvary or infantry for Viginia. In his speech toconvince Peyton Randolph, he closed with "Give me liberty or give me death". -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
LINK The midnight ride of Paul Revere was the ride that Paul Revere took to spread news that the Redcoats were coming to Lexington to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Paul was joined by William Dawes and Samuel Prescott on different routes. Dawes and Revere were arrested at one point but after were freed up and the message got through. The colonist were ready for the Redcoats and Adams and Hancock were safe.Lexington Green was on! -
Lexington and Concord Battles
LINKThe Battles of Lexington and Concord are the first signs of Revolution by the Colonists. At Lexington Green the Militia was ready for the Redcoats because of Paul Revere and they were ordered by the Redcoats to lay their weapons down. They refused and a shot rang out. The battle ended with 8 colonists dead. The Redcoats moved on to Concord for gunpowder but were halted by the Militia and forced back to Boston. 300 Redcoats died that day to the under 100 Militiamen. -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
LINKFort Ticonderoga was under British control until Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys took it away. The boys snuck across the river and took attack on the Fort. At the gate there was only one guard and when he misfired he ran away. When the colonists entered the Fort they surprised the British who only had 48 men inside. Ethan Allen declared Fort Ticonderoga his and no one was killed in the attempt. The Colonists got the Fort because they needed the cannons held there to bring back to Boston. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
LINK The Battle of Bunker Hill was the fight that occured for poession of the Hills in Boston. The Colonist had heard of an attack by the British and they created their own. The British set up a decoy attack and a real attack. The Militia couldn't get reinforcements and soon ran out of ammo as the Redcoats keept attacking. Soon the Colonists had to retreat, but the British in the end lost 1000 to the 500 Militiamen lost. -
"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine
"Common Sense" was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to encourage Independence in the Colonies. In the pamphlet he says how it is wrong for an island nation to try to rule an entire continent. He also states that if we continued to be apart of Britain we could be dragged into future problems in Europe. Also America would not be able to trade freely because Britain wouldn't allow them. Thomas was trying to get the people on his side to Revolutionize. In response "Plain Truth" was written. -
British Evacuate Boston!
LINKThe Evactuation of Boston was when the British were finally forced out of the heart of the Colonies to Nova Scotia. This happened because the cannons captured by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys were brought to Boston and placed on Dorchester Heights on March 5th. The cannons were aimed at the British fleet in the Harbor and 12 days later the British gave up and left. The 2nd Continental Congress finally saw the oppurtunity for Independence. -
2nd Continental Congress Meets
LINKThe 2nd Continental Congress had a few people that weren't part of the first one. These people met for the same reason as the first, to disscuss problems with England. At this meeting they decided to completely break off of Britain. The delegates also decided to organize the colonies militia better, creating the American Continental Army, lead by Geroge Washington. This group of people also decided that it was time to start printing money. The 2nd Continental Congress was really important then. -
Declaration of Independence Announced
LINKThe Declaration of Independence was the document written primarily by Thomas Jefferson and the Commitee of 5 to Declare their parting ways with Britain. Jefferson wanted to incorporate ideas of John Locke and the Social Contract in the document. There are 5 sections to the document, such as the intro, preamble, 1st body, 2nd body, and conclusion. After written the 2nd Continental Congress approved the document and it was printed on July 4th 1776. The date of Americas Independence. -
"The Crisis" Published
LINK"The Crisis" written by Thomas Paine were a series of essays about the War. The first one was published on Dec, 19th 1776 as a way to keep the American soldiers hearts going. The soldiers were feeling bad and were sure what to do, until Washington read out Paines first publication of "The Crisis". The document began with "These are the times that try men's souls." Washingtons troops would later win at Trenton after hearing the document. -
Washington Captures Trenton
LINKThe Battle of Trenton was organized by George Washington, after crossing the deadly Delaware River in the winter. After crossing, Washingtons troops marched to Trenton to surprise attack Hessian Soldiers. The Hessian Soldiers were not ready because they had lowered their guard of the American. This lead to most of them surrendering. About two thirds of the 1500 men there were captured by Washington. This was a moral booster because the Army had been defeated back in New York a few times. -
British Defeated at Saratoga
LINKThe Battle of Saratoga was the turning point for Americans in the American Revolution. Earlier before October 7th, Gates' Army was positoned betweened Burgoyne's Army and Albany. On the 7th Burgoyne attacked south of Saratoga and his command was broken up. The Americans took 86% of his command from him. Also this Battle gave France the courage to step into the war on Americas side. They now could trust that America could fight. -
Winter at Valley Forge
LINKGeneral Washington and his Army camped at Valley Forge for the winter to watch the British Army in Philidephia. Valley Forge contained shortages of food, clothing, and medicine also it was cold. Washington's troops were growing weary until Baron Von Steuben came and helped train the Army right! Roughly 4000 men were lost after the winter was over, but they were much stronger now with the new trained soldiers. -
John Paul Jones Defeats the Serapis
LINKJohn Paul Jones was a naval commander and a fierce one. He was daring and smart. When he was in control of the Bonhomme Richard (named for Ben Franklin) he attacked the Serapis. In this battle he got his ship right next to the Serapis' and went at it. After Jones' ship had faced some damage, Richard Pearson asked if Jones' had enough. He replied, "I haven't yet begun to fight." and a few hours later took control of the enemies ship. -
Benedict Arnold Plans Found Out
LINKBenedict Arnold was an American soldier who wa in charge of West Point at the time that he became a traitor to the country of America forever. Arnold was planning to turn over West Point to the British for a large sum of money and a Major General in the British army. The plan was almost successful until the man he was doing buisness with, Major Andre was captured and hung. Now Benedict Arnold is known as a traitor to America. -
Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown
LINKCornwallis was forced to surrender to the Americans and French when 17000 of them surrounded Yorktown at which he and his troops were held. Cornwallis was waiting for the British navy to come help, but the navy was held back by the French. This lead to the British in Yorktown to starve because they were being cut off from supplies. The British had no food or ammo to keep fighting, so Cornwallis was forced to give up, giving Independence to America finally.
