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The French and Indian War
French and Indian War A conflict between the French and British in North America was very likely because of how close they were. Many Native Americans in the region sided with the French because the French actually had trading interests with them. The English were able to defeat the French with the help of the colinists. The war ended officially in 1963 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. -
The Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris The signing of the Treaty of Paris marked the end of the French and Indian War. This treaty extended British control to the Mississippi, however the colonists were unhappy becuase King George III did not allow them to settle on this new land. This was one of the initial disagreements between England and the colonies leading to America's struggle for independence. -
Royal Proclamation of 1763
Royal Proclamation The Treaty of Paris gave Britain control of more land west of the Appalachians, but they did not want colonists moving onto this land. It would be too difficult to control them and they did not want more conflict between the colonists, Amerindians, and French settlers beyond the mountains. For these reasons, King George III issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763, declaring the boundaries for the colonists to be the Appalachians -
Sugar Act
Sugar Act Parliament passed the Sugar act to increase revenue put towards the protection of the colonies. They taxed sugar, wine, coffee and other foreign goods and heavily enforced that these taxes be paid. These taxes greatly affected trade between colonies and other countries and increased tension between England and the colonists. -
The Stamp Act
Stamp ActThe Stamp Act placed a tax on all paper goods from documents and licenses to newspapers and stamps. Although the cost of these taxes wasn't too high, it angered the colonists how easily parliament could tax them without any consent from colonial representatives. It worried them that there may be more taxes to come that they couldn't do anything to prevent. -
Stamp Act Congress
Stamp Act CongressIn New York, delegates from nine colonies held the first meeting held the first meeting of the Stamp Act Congress. They gathered to discuss the issues they faced with the Sugar and Stamp Act after realizing that complaints from individual colonies were not helpful. The Congress wasn't successful, but it was the beginning of colonial unity needed to achieve independence from England. -
Townshend Acts
Townshend ActsThis series of acts taxed glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea. Colonists protested to the taxes on these common goods by boycotting them. To enforce the collection of the taxes, British troops were sent to the colonies. Overall, the Townshend Acts led to much more conflict including the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Massacre
Boston MassacreColonists protested against British soldiers in Boston. One of these protests was a riot of colonists throwing things at some soldiers. The soldiers fired, killing 5 and wounding others. This event only angered the colonists even more and pushed the movement towards freedom from England. -
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea PartyTo protest against the tax on tea, many merchants stopped buying tea from England. Howver in Boston, some men took the protest further by boarding British ships dressed as Indians and dumping over 300 crates of tea into Boston Harbor. This was a major step from the colonists towards a revolution. -
First Continental Congress
First Continental CongressThe First Continental Congress met for almost two months in Philedphia with elected delegates from every colony but Georgia. The colonies united for authority against England. They agreed to resist the threatening control of England and meet again a year later. -
Patrick Henry "Give Me Liberty"
Give me liberty or give me death!Patrick Henry, a delegate of the Second Virginia Convention proposed that Virginia organize a militia. His opponents argued that they should wait until England responded to their petition for reconciliation, but Henry claimed that they should get their defense ready, ending his speech with the famous revolutionary words "Give me liberty or give me death!" -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Midnight Ride of Paul RevereDr. Joseph Warren sent Paul Revere to Lexington to tell Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British authorities were coming to arrest them. Afterwards Revere met up with William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, alerting more people of British arrival on their way to Concord where there were weapons and supplies. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
In the morning, opposing British and colonial armies met at Lexington Green, where an unknown soldier from one of the militias fired the first shot of the first battle of the Revolution. After casualities on both sides and the colonists retreating, the British advanced to Concord. The colonists were better prepared at Concord and did more damage to the British army while they tried to retreat. These bLexington and Concord -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Capture of Fort TiconderogaFort Ticonderoga was built by the French during the French and Indian War, but was later controlled by the British during the beginning of the Revolutionary War. However, Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen, leading the Green Mountain Boys were able to take the fort for the colonial militia. It was strategically placed with water routes to both Canada and New York. -
Socond Continental Congress
Second Continental CongressThe Second Continental Congress met once again in Philadelphia. The war had already begun and the Congress organized the Continental Army with George Washington as commander. They also sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III trying to negotiate peace but he wouldn't have it. The Congress was left with the choice of either attempting peace with England or continuing the movement towards independence, -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker HillThe British woke up to find the Continental Army threatening from above with canons. They made three charges up the hill, hoping each time that the colonists would retreat, which they did after the third attack. The British took control of the area, but had many more casualties than the colonists and were now trapped in Boston. -
"Common Sense" Published
Common Sense by Thomas PaineCommon Sense was a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine arguing for American indpendence and the establishment of a democratic republic. Although many of the point Paine made were considered incredibly extreme, Common Sense greatly increased support of the independence movement. -
British Evacuate Boston
British evacuation of BostonThe British were trapped in Boston for 11 months, and on the Charlestown peninsula after the Battle of Bunker Hill. The Continental army was able to set up fortification and aim canons at British ships in the Boston Harbor, forcing the British to surrender and evacuate after their long eight year occupation of Boston. -
Declaration of Independence Announced
Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and signed by the Second Continental Congress, declaring independene from England. The document stated the reasons for American independence and created an alliance between American and France. -
"The Crisis" published
The CrisisThe Crisis was a series of writings by Thomas Paine following the Common Sense series. These articles enforced the idea of standing up for your nation and fighting for what you believe in. It also encouraged the colonists that Britain would eventually give America independence but they had to fight for it. -
Washington Captures Trenton
Battle of TrentonAfter crossing the Delaware River, George Washinton and the Continental army charged the city of Trenton, New Jersey. After fighting with the Hessians, German soldiers employed by the British, they had won the battle and taken many prisoners. This was an important battle to take back American control of New Jersey. -
British defeated at Saratoga
The Battle of SaratogaThe British army led by General John Burgoyne attacked the continental army twice at Saratoga. The first battle was a British victory, but during the second they were forced to retreat ans surrender. This American victory made the French see the importance of their cause and join the war as an American ally. -
Winter at Valley Forge, PA
Winter at Valey ForgeAt this time, the British had taken control of Philedelphia and George Washington's army was too weak to attempt to take back control. He led the Continental army to Valley Forge where they stayed for the winter. He taught them better discipline while they stayed but unfortunately they did not have the food or clothes they desparately needed for the harsh winter. Many of the men died and many more left the army, but those they were left after Valley Forge made up a much stronger militia. -
John Paul Jones defeats the Serapis
John Paul Jones defeats SerapisJohn Paul Jones of the American navy led an attack on British war ship, the H.M.S. Serapis. At the end of this sea battle off the coast of England, John Paul Jones was victorious, defeating the British against all odds, even when he was fighting from a sinking ship, the French Bon Homme Richard. -
Benedict Arnold plans found out
Benedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold entered a deal wirh rhe British in 1779, helping British troops in exchange for money. After a meeting with British Major John André who had some important documents regarding the deal André was captured and the documents were found. Arnold new his plans had been found and he fleed to join the British in the war. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
Cornwallis's surrenderGeneral Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington after a siege by the Americans and the French. This surrender signifies the end of the Revolutionary War.
