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French and Indian War Begins
<The French and Indian war broke out due to border tensions between the French and British over the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississsippi River. a href='http://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/FrenchIndianWar' >Office of the Historian - French and Indian War</a> -
Treaty Of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris was a peace agreement between Britain and France, ending the French and Indian War. It gave the British land past the Appalachians, which the colonists wanted. Office of Historian - Treaty of Paris -
Royal Proclamation (1763)
The Royal Proclamtion phohibited the colonists from settling in the region past the Appalachians. It caused unrest among the colonists because they believed that land was theirs. The King did this to temporarily resolve relations between the Brits and the Indians. Yale Law - The Document -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was put on the colonists to nickel and dime them on sugar and molasses from the West Indes. The colonists became very angry because of this new tax system. GA Tech - Sugar Act -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a new tax system put on the American colonists making them pay for every peice of paper they used. This includes, newspaper, boat papers, birth certificates, and even playing cards. Indiana U - Stamp Act -
Stamp Act Congress
At the Stamp Act Congress, delegates from around the colonies met in New York. Here they dicussed what was to be done about the Stamp Act that had been recently put on them. DigitalHistory - Stamp Act Congress -
Townshed Acts
The Townshed Acts were taxes put on the colonists for paint, tea, lead, glass, and paper. This only brought back the anger from the Stamp Act. The opposition in Boston caused Redcoats to occupy the city. US History - Townshed Acts -
Boston Massacre
America's Library - Boston MassacreOn this date, March 5, 1770, colonists taunted a British sentry standing gaurd outside the Customs House in Boston. Things got out of hand and colonists began throwing snowballs at the group of Redcoats forming. The soldiers fired upon the colonists, killing 5, and injuring 6 more. This was one of two events that added to the fire in the colonists hearts that started the Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
UWW - Boston Tea PartyOn the night of December 16, 1773, 150 revolutionaries dressed themselves as Natives and boarded a British Tea ship. In protest of the Tea Act of 1773 and the fact that the British were only sending them cheap tea, they dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. They were led by Sam Adams and John Hancock. This led to the British to shut down the Harbor and Boston until the tea was paid for. This made the other colonies angry towards British rule. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from 12 of the colonies met at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia where they dicussed liberty and the rights of the colonies. For the first time, the colonies are working together as one. They all agree that Britain should not be passing laws for them. USF - 1st Continental Congress -
"Give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry gave his famous sppech in front of his fellow Virginians at St. John's Church. He talked about how they should get rid of British rule for it was too harsh. He ended his speech with "Give me liberty or give me death." USF - Patrick Henry's Full Speech -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Paul Revere rowed across the Charles River out of Boston to a horse waiting for him. He then went about warning the countryside that "The Regulars are out!' He was riding to Leington to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock that the Redcoast were coming to arrest them. He rode with to other riders, Willliam Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott. Paul Revere House - His Ride -
Battle of Lexington
WPI - Lexington and ConcordOn the morning of April 19, 1775, the Redcoats came across a group of the Lexington militia. The militia had been warned by Paul Revere that the Redcoats were coming to sieze weapons and arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock. The militia were ordered by their commander to disband. Someone fired a shot, causing the battle to ensue. Minutemen had to retreat after they recieved 18 casualties. The Redcoats marched on to Concord.After fighting the Lexington militia at Lexington, the Redcoats marched on. -
Battle of Concord and British Retreat
WPI - Lexington and ConcordAfter fighting the Lexington militia at Lexington, the Redcoats marched to Concord, unaware that the weapons cache there were looking for had been moved. The Concord minutemen had to retreat over the Old North Bridge due to their low numbers. As they waited on the other side of the river, militia members from local towns joined them. They attacked the Redcoats who began their long retreat back to Boston. The Redcoats suffered 300 plus casualties on their retreat. -
Fort Ticonderoga
At the outbreak of the war, The Green Mountain Boys, a militia group in Vermont led by Ethan Allen, they captured the Fort on May 10th 1775. This was three weeks after the battles at Lexington and Concord. The militia then waited until the winter to bring the artillery pieces there to Boston by oxen.America's Fort - Story of Fort Ticonderoga -
Battle of Bunker Hill
WPI - Battle of Bunker HillAfter retreating into Boston, the Redcoats became worried about the hills surrounding it such as Dorchester Heights and Bunker and Breed's Hills. They planned on attcking these hills. The militia learned of this oncoming attack and situated themselves on Bunker and Breed's Hills. On June 17, 1775, the Redcoats attacked Breed's Hill. The militia held out for as long as they could but had to retreat unto Bunker Hill and then retreat again of the peninsula. -
"Common Sense" Published
Thomas Paine, an American Patriot and author, writes Common Sense. In this pamphlet, that was very acessible to the colonists, he talks about how the colonies must separate from England. He state that it is dumb for a small island nation to try and rule and entire continent. This document helped get more colonists on the side of independence. Hoover Archives - Thomas Paine -
British Evacuation of Boston
Following a siege by the militia, using the canons dragged from Fort Ticonderoga, the British and loyalists had two choices, leave Boston or face another brutal bombardment by the militia, led by George Washington. On March 17, 1776, 11,000 redcoats and hundreds of loyalists evacuated Boston by boat. Mount Vernon - Seige of Boston and Evacuation -
Second Continetal Congress
The members at the 2nd Continental Congress were in a tight spot. Most members wanted peace between them and England. Those that wanted peace sent the Olive Branch Petition to the King. It stated that the colonists wanted to negoiate tax laws. ThinkQuest - 2nd Continental Congress -
Declaration of Independence
At the 2nd Continental Congress, the delegates form the "Committee of Five" to write the Declaration of Independence. The main writer was Thomas Jefferson. He took many ideas from the Enlightenment Thinkers. -
The Crisis is Published
The Crisis was a series of essays written by Thomas Paine during his time at Vally Forge.It was read to the disheartened and weary soldiers around the camp. Its main purpose was to increase morale in the soldiers. Indiana U - American Crisis -
Washington Captures Trenton
On this date, Washington and the Continental Army surprise the Hessians, german mercenaries, at Trenton. They are able to catch them off gaurd as they are sleeping off their Christmas Day festivities. Mount Vernon - Battle of Trenton -
British Defeated at Saratoga
This was a major turning point in the war for the Americans. This victory at Saratoga, made the British move south to the middle colonies and got the French on their side. British General Burgoyne lost nearly 86% of his 7,000 man strong army in this battle alone. US History - Saratoga -
Winter at Valley Forge, PA begins
After trying but failing to take Philadelphia, General Washington and the Continental Army camped outside of Philadelphia at Valley Forge. Here, they spent the winter. The soldiers suffered from the cold due to lack of supplies. Towards the end of there stay, a Prussian officer, Baron von Steuben, came to train them in the art of fighting. US History - Valley Forge -
John Paul Jones defeats the Serapis
On their way back from fighting the British Navy in the Irish Sea, John Paul Jones and his fleet ran into the British Serapis. After a long battle through the night, the American fleet captured the Serapis and rode it to a dutch port, proudly displaying the American flag. The Mariners Museum - John Paul Jones -
Benedict Arnold's Plans Found Out
After Benedict Arnold took control of the American army at West Point, he planned on surrendering the fort to the British and defect. His plans were found out and he escaped to the British held New York before he could be capture. Benedict Arnold - Traitor -
Cornwallis Surrenders
British General Cornwallis had brought 8,000 troops to Yorktown, VA. He had been pushed there after constant defeats throughout the South. He was expecting to be picked up by a British fleet, but this was impossible due to the French Navy cutting off any entrance to the Chesapeake Bay area. He had no choice but to surrender. America's Library - Yorktown
