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Treaty of Paris (French and Indian War, 1763)
The Treaty of Paris made clear the boundaries of different countrys' land in North America. Britain claimed all land east of the Mississippi River. The French were basically forced to leave from most of North America by this treaty. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was passed so that colonists and Native Americans would keep peace. This Proclamation forbid colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists were angered by this, for they thought that they had earned the right to settle there. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1764. It placed a tax on sugar, molasses, and other products shipped to the colonies. Stricter enforcement and punishment pertaining to smuggling goods was also part of the Act. Colonial traders were angry with it. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act required all legal and commercial documents to carry a stamp. The stamp proved that the tax on the item has been paid. This greatly angered many colonists and was a very important point to spark the Revolution. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required colonists to do several things for the British army. For one, the colonists had to house British soldiers. They also had to supply the troops with whatever they needed. Colonists did not like these requirements. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, a group of dockworkers and a group of redcoats started throwing insults at each other. Soon it grew into a fight and the soldiers fired at the civilians. Five were killed. The Sons of Liberty used this event as a way to make colonists resent the British more. Cite: History Textbook. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act placed a tax on tea. Tea was very popular in the colonies, so this enraged many colonists. Since most tea was smuggled, it had a large effect. Britian controlled almost all tea trade. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Boston Tea Party
When the Tea Act went into action, colonists were furious. This led a group of men to dress themselves as Native Americans and board three tea ships. They destroyed 342 chests of tea that night, which infuriated officials back in Britain. Cite: History Textbook. -
Intolerable Acts
The Coercive Acts (called Intolerable by colonists) were passed by Parliament as a last measure. They closed the port of Boston until the destroyed tea was repayed. They banned committees of correspondence and let British officials stand trial in Britain. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
First Continental Congress
After the Intolerable Acts were passed, the colonies knew something had to be done. Delegates from all of the colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia. They decided to ban all trade with Britain and start training troops. Georgia also agreed to the terms. Cite: History Textbook. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Britain's General Gage found out that American leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock were in Lexington and that the rebels were storing ammunition in Concord. They tried attacking these places, yet Paul Revere and his comrades had already alerted the militiamen to the British presence. Nearly 4,000 Minutemen and militiamen were there to help, forcing the British to retreat. Cite: History Textbook. -
Second Continental Congress
At the Second Continental Congress, delegates decided to form the Continental Army. They put George Washington in charge of the army. They also authorized the printing of paper money to pay the troops. Cite: History Textbook. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place mostly on Breed's Hill. It is called the Batlle of Bunker Hill because that is where the battle was intended to be fought. The British won this battle although they suffered major casualties. Cite: Wikipedia. -
"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine
"Common Sense" written by Thomas Paine was a very successful pamphlet. It argued that America should break from Britain and that all monarchies are corrupt. This pamphlet changed the minds of many Americans who thought we should stay with Britain. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Declaration of Independence
America had had enough. The colonists wanted a break with Great Britain. They appointed Thomas Jefferson to write a document called the Declaration of Independence. This document declared America's independence from Great Britain. Cite: History Textbook. -
Battle of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn)
The Battle of Long Island was fought over the city of New York. The British won the battle and the Patriots suffered a major defeat. It was a very important point for the British. Cite: Wikipedia. -
"American Crisis" by Thomas Paine
"The American Crisis" was written by Thomas Paine. He wanted the Patriots to not give up and to keep going. When he wrote "The American Crisis", he had these thoughts and ideas in mind. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Battle of Trenton
The battle of Trenton was fought after Washington and his men crossed the Delaware. The Hessian mercaneries had been celebrating and were not prepared for an attack. Therefore, Washington and his men defeated the Hessians with ease. Cite: Wikipedia. -
Battles of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga were an important turning point in the war. The Continental Army faught against Burgoyne's army, and the Continental army won. This proved to foreign nations that the colonies could win the war. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Washington's army had to retreat from Philadelphia. This caused him and his army to have to set up camp at Valley Forge for the winter. They had very little supplies and about a quarter of them died that winter. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the war. George Washington and General Jean Rochambeau blocked Chesapeake Bay where Cornwallis had set up his base. Then they bombarded Yorktown with cannon fire until Cornwallis surrendered. Cite: History Textbook. -
Treaty of Paris (Revolutionary War, 1783)
The Treaty of Paris declared the United States of America independent. Its borders were the Mississippi River, Canada, and Florida. Debts were to be repayed, along with numerous other conditions. Cite: History Textbook, Wikipedia.
