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Treaty of Paris (French & Indian War)
The signing of the treaty officially ended the Seven Year's War, also known as the French and Indian War. This treaty was signed by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal after Britain's defeat over France in the war. This treaty did NOT involve Russia or Austria, because they signed a different document call the Treaty of Hubertusburg. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by King George III following Great Britain's aquisition of French Territory in North America after the French and Indian/Seven Years' War. This made it illegal for colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mtns. -
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The American Revolution
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Sugar Act
This law placed a tax on sugar, molasses, and other products shipped to the colonies. It also called for strit enforcement of the act and harsh punishment of smugglers.
James Otis thought that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies because they weren't represented in Parliament. -
Quartering Act
General Thomas Gage, (commander of British troops in North America) could not pursuade Colonial Assemblies to pay for quartering and provisions for his troops. Therefore he asked Parliament to do something about it. The act that they created was far more powerful than Gage wanted. The Quartering Act required colonists to pay to house and feed the troops. -
Stamp Act
The stamp act was was passed by Parliament in 1765. All items had to hold an official stamp proving that a tax had been payed. Things such as contracts, wills, newspapers and books had to have the tax stamp. The colonies protested to this obsene tax without any representation in Parliament. Patrick Henry was a member of Virgina's House of Burgesses, and he had a large role in the repeal of the stamp act in 1766. -
Boston Massacre
5 civillian men died and 6 others were wounded. This was caused by the locals of Boston in 1770 creating an angry mob and throwing rocks, snowballs, and verbal insults towards the British soldiers that were stationed in Boston at the time. Eight soldiers fired into the crowd without an order to do so, and them plus an officer and four civilians were charged with murder. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. Its principal overt objective was to reduce the massive surplus of tea held by the financially troubled British East India Company in its London warehouses and to help the struggling company survive. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party (initially referred to by John Adams as simply "the Destruction of the Tea in Boston") was a nonviolent political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. Disguised as Indians, the demonstrators destroyed the entire supply of tea sent by the East India Company in defiance of the American boycott of tea carrying a tax the Americans had not authorized. The British governent responded harshly; thus the American Revolutionary War. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts, primarily known as the (Coercive Acts) were passed by the British Parliament in 1774, as punishment to Massachusettes for the Boston Tea Party. The acts stripped them of their self-government and historic rights, triggering outrage and deffiance in the thirteen colonies. This was key in the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a group of delegates from 12 colonies. (Georgia was not present) They met at the Carpenter's Hall in Philadephia in the early part of the American Revolution. It was called in response to the Intolerable Acts, put into place by Britain's Parliament. The Congress was attended by 56 members appointed by the legislature. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay. Within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, (present-day Arlington), and Cambridge. About 700 armed British soldiers were given secret orders to obtain guns and ammunition from the Massachusetts militia in Concord. The "shot heard round the world" was shot just as the sun was rising in Concord. 1,700 British & 500 American malitiamen. -
The Second Continental Congress
The 2nd Continental Congress was preceding the 1st Continental Congress. On May 10th of 1775 it was established, and on March 1st of 1781 it was disbanded. It was succeeded by th 1st Confederation Congress. The 2nd Continental Congress met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia for a few years to begin with, then the locations were random. This congress had representatives from all 13 colonies. It also adopted the Declaration of Independence in July of 76'. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Originally took place on Breed's Hill, across the way from Bunker Hill. Over 800 wounded and 226 killed on the British side, the Americans proved their ability to stand up against an army like the British. Over 1,200 british soldiers tried three times to make it up the hill and capture it as their own, twice they had to retreat in a battle that lasted all night long. This was seen as somewhat of a victory for the Patriots. -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. This inspired the people of the thirteen colonies to declare and fight for independance from Great Britain in the summer of 1776. It had the largest sale and circulation of any book published in American history. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson on request from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The Declaration was presented to the Second Continental Congress and edited. Then it was voted for in favor, and all 56 of the Congress representatives signed it and affirmed it on July 2, 1776. Independence day was scheduled for July 4, 1776. -
The Battle of Brooklyn
A major victory for the British and defeat for the Americans under General George Washington. It was the start of a successful British campaign that gave the British control of the strategically important city of New York. In the American Revolutionary War it was the first major battle to take place after the United States declared independence in July, 1776. In terms of soldiers, it was the largest battle of the entire conflict. -
American Crisis by Thomas Paine
The American Crisis is a collection of articles written by Thomas Paine during the American Revolutionary War. The essays collected here constitute Paine's ongoing support for an independent and self-governing America through the many severe crises of the Revolutionary War. General Washington found the first essay so inspiring, he ordered that it be read to the troops at Valley Forge during their hardships. -
Battle of Trenton
This battle took place on Christmas morning after George Washington and his men left camp and fled across the Delaware River during a foggy night, to escape a raid from the British that would have surely ended the war then and there. When they reached the Hessian camp on Christmas morning, and after a brief fight, they captured and overcame the Hessian army. This battle helped boost American support and reenlistments. -
Battles of Saratoga
The turning points in the American Revolutionary War were fought in two battles, (18 days apart). Burgoyne was forced to surrender on October 17th when his British forces were completely surrounded and outnumbered by the Americans. This was a crucial victory for the Patriots; it was impetus for France to enter the war and eventually drive the Americans to victory. -
Winter at Valley Forge
The Continental Army arrived on Dec. 19, 1777. 12,000+ men suffered horrible weather condittions, famine, disease, and lack of supplies. During the summer of 1777-78, over 2,000 soldiers were sent to hospitals along the countryside. Also, many of the soldiers' wives, sisters, and daughters helped with laundry, nursing care, and gathering supplies for the men. -
Battle of Yorktown
A decisive victory by a combined force of American Continental Army troops led by General George Washington and a French Army of 5,500 soldiers led by the Comte de Rochambeau. The American-French navy was an intense force, which eventually caused the British to surrender. General Cornwallis of the British claimed "ill", but 7,000 British soldiers were captured and the Treaty of Paris in 1783 was negotiated. -
Treaty of Paris (Revolutionary War)
The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary war between Great Britain and the Americans + the American alllies. It's called 'The Treaty of Paris' because it was signed on Sep. 3, 1783 in Paris, France.
