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Starting in 1754, The French and Indian war occured because the British and French were fighting over land across the Ohio River Valley. The war spread out over French territories and the British conqured the french in Quebec in 1759. -
After the British win the war against the French, they begin to tighten their authority over neighboring colonies. The Proclamation of 1763 restricted colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains in order to avoid conflicts with Native Americans. They also taxed colonies around them. SchoolTube -
The Stamp Act was a tax placed on colonists to help pay for the costs of the previous war by the British. The tax was placed on legal papers, newspapers, pamphlets, and cards. The act had been passed by Parliament without colonial representation, meaning the people had no say in whether the tax was right or not. Eventually the upset colonists protest the Stamp Act and the British end the taxing. The Sons of Liberty was a group created to oppose the Stamp Act, other taxes and to disobey laws. -
A tax reinforced on molasses and sugar. It reduced the price of molasses in half but prohibited the the importation of rum and increased the cost of sugar. YouTube -
The Quartering Act stated that Great Britain soldiers would be housed in American houses, no matter what. SchoolTube -
Another tax from the British. Put mainly on lead, tea and paint. Tax was placed on colonists to help pay for the costs on the war. Many colonists did not pay the tax. YouTube -
The tension between the colonists and the British could be cut with a knife. Eventually the colonists acted out and boycotted British goods. The British responded by sending out more troops to the colonies. Soon enough the colonies and soldiers got into a fight, a soldier ran into the crowd of 50 to 60 colonists and killed five. Crispus Attucks was one of the five men killed, possibly the first killed by the British. YouTube -
This tax, more or less, wasn't to raise the price on colonists but to bail out the East India Company. Which was a key player in the British economy. -
The British repealed some of their taxes on goods but kept the increase of cost on tea. In return the colonists boycotted some of the British tea and smuggled others from other sources. Eventually the British faced bankruptcy and had to sell tea as much as possible so they decreased the tax on the tea. Colonists still wished for the recognition from the Parliament they deserved, resulting in protests and dumping 342 chests of tea overboard. -
Boston was essentially placed under martial law after the Boston Tea Party. The Quartering Acts gave the colonial governor rights to empty houses and buildings. Colonists referred to these laws as the Intolerable Acts and Boston became the center of colonial resistance. YouTube -
In response to the Intolerable Acts, the First Continental Congress gathers in Philadelphia. All colonies are represented but Georgia, they ask for the British to cancel the Intolerable Acts but instead they send more troops. YouTube -
The battle where Masachusettes colonists defied British authority and started a lengthly war. Paul revere warns the people that the British are marching toward Concord. The army of 700 British soldiers meets the 77 minutemen on the colonist side, a shot is fired but it's unclear from who. At Concord the British are met by hundreds of militiamen and are outnumbered. -
Congress reconvened. Liberty Kids
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The first main battle of the American Revolution. Even though colonists lose, Britain loses more than 40% of their men. The patriots proved they could hold their own against the red coats -
A petition adopted by the congress, sent to the King to try to prevent formal war from being declared. -
A 47 page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to fight for independence from Great Britain. YouTube -
A document signed by Congress. It officially announced the colonists independence from Great Britain. It included violations of the colonists freedoms and it inspired freedom movements beyond the United States. Ben Franklin was one of the Congress men that helped draft The Declaration of Independence. -
British troops attacked American forces stationed on the western end of Long Island. YouTube -
George Washington and his army cross the Delaware river, at the end they face and defeat a group of Hessian Mercenaries. This boosted the morale of the American troops. -
During the second year of the American Revolution. Included two crucial battles, fought 18 days apart. It was a crucial turning point in the Revolutionary War. General John Burgoyne was the British general of this battle, he is remembered for his defeat by superior american forces. -
Washington and his soldiers camp for the winter at Valley Forge, 22 miles northwest of British-occupied Philadelphia. Their time there is marked by widespread disease, hunger, and bitter cold, but they emerge in the spring as a stronger force. Benedict Arnold was one of George Washingtons best men, at first. He felt that he did not get the recognition he deserved, and became a traitor. He worked with the British against the colonies. -
The Continental Army remained in the field while the British Army redeployed to New York, just as both would have if the battle had never been fought. -
British general Charles Cornwallis surrendered to general George Washington on October 19, 1781. Virginia declared this the last main battle of the war and a start for independence. -
A treaty signed by the colonies and Great Britain. Formally ended the Revolutionary War and declared the United States as an independent nation.