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Stamp Act
The Seven Years’ War (1756-63) ended the long rivalry between France and Britain for control of North America,government decided that those colonists should shoulder part of the war’s cost.Britain had long regulated colonial trade through a system of restrictions and duties on imports and exports. http://www.stamp-act-history.com/ -
Boston Massacre
squad of British soldiers, come to support a sentry who was being pressed by a heckling, snowballing crowd, let loose a volley of shots. Three persons were killed immediately and two died later of their wounds; among the victims was Crispus Attucks, a man of black or Indian parentage. The British officer in charge, Capt. Thomas Preston, was arrested for manslaughter, along with eight of his menhttp://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre -
Tea Tax
Colonists objected to the tax without representation and to the new bureaucracy that was to be put in place to collect the taxes, and the use of the taxes to pay officialswho had to pay high duties on the tea they importedhttp://www.historywiz.com/teatax.htm -
Lexington / Concord
As many as 3,500 militiamen firing constantly for 18 miles only killed or wounded roughly 250 Redcoats, compared to about 90 killed and wounded on their side. Nevertheless, they proved they could stand up to one of the most powerful armies in the world. News of the battle quickly spread, reaching London on May 28. By the following summer, a full-scale war of independence had broken out.http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battles-of-lexington-and-concord -
Bunker (Breed’s) Hill
On June 17, 1775, early in the Revolutionary War (1775-83), the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. Although commonly referred to as the Battle of Bunker Hill, most of the fighting occurred on nearby Breed’s Hill.http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-bunker-hill -
Common Sense
As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of calling the right of it in questionAs no Answer hath yet appeared, it is now presumed that none will, the Time needful for getting such a Performance ready for the Public being considerably past. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickednesshttp://www.gutenberg.org/files/147/147-h/147-h.htm -
Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends,http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/ -
Battle at Trenton/Princeton
Between 29th and 31st December 1776 Washington brought his troops back across the river into Trenton. He there received information that Lord Cornwallis and Major General Grant were at Princeton with 8,000 British troops and artillery and about to advance upon him. Washington force numbered 1,500 soldiers. Cadwalader was south of Trenton with 2,100 men, while at Bordenton General Mifflin waited with 1,600 Pennsylvania militia.http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-princeton.htm -
Battle of Saratoga
Fought eighteen days apart in the fall of 1777.Saratoga were a turning point in the American Revolution. On September 19th, British General John Burgoyne achieved a small, but costly victory over American forces led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold. Though his troop strength had been weakened, Burgoyne again attacked the Americans at Bemis Heights on October 7th, but this time was defeated and forced to retreat.://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of- -
Continental Army wintering at Valley Forge
With the onset of the bitter winter cold, the Continental Army under General George Washington, still in the field, enters its winter camp at Valley Forge, 22 miles from British-occupied Philadelphia. Washington chose a site on the west bank of the Schuylkill River that could be effectively defended in the event of a British attack.http://www.ushistory.org/us/11f.asp -
Battle of Yorktown
Virginia. Led by George Washington and French General Comte de Rochambeau, they began their final attack on October 14th, capturing two British defenses and leading to the surrender, just days later, of British General Lord Corwallis and nearly 9,000 troops. Yorktown proved to be the final battle of the American Revolution, and the British began peace negotiations shortly after the American victory.http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/siege-of-yorktown -
War in the south/Charleston
Many serious Union attempts were made to capture or cut off the city, which became one of the leading ports for blockade runners. Battles on land and sea were fought within a few miles of the city's famous waterfront. But the Confederates managed to hold Charleston until February 1865, suffering periodic shelling from long-range Union guns.http://www.civilwartraveler.com/EAST/SC/Charleston.html
