The American Revolution

Navigation Acts

1660

These acts restricted colonial trade to England and decreased dependency on foreign trade.

French and Indian War Ends

1763

Also known as the Seven Years’ War, this war came to an end in 1763 after an imperial struggle between Britain and France.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

This act levied taxes on all commercial and legal documents such as: diplomas, pamphlets, newspapers, almanacs, dice, and playing cards. The act was eventually repealed.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

The Boston Massacre occurred on King Street in Boston, Massachusetts. It was originally a brawl between colonists and a British soldier, but it quickly escalated.

Tea Act

May 10, 1773

Monopoly on British tea ports. Many members of Parliament held shares. This act permitted the Company to sell tea directly to the colonies without colonial middlemen.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Occurred in Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. Colonists were upset at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation” and they dumped 342 chests of tea into the water.

Coercive/Intolerable Acts

Mar 28, 1774

The Intolerable Acts enforced the following:
1. Port Bill- closed Boston until compensated
2. Quartering Act - private homes!
3. Administration of Justice Act - British officials to be tried in England

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

55 delegates from 12 colonies (except Georgia). They wanted to figure out how to respond to the Intolerable Acts. 1 vote per colony.

Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

Known as “The Shot Heard Round the World”, this kicked off the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

Congress began to prepare for war. They established a continental army and they put George Washington in charge of the army. They also drafted an Olive Branch petition.

Declaration of Independence Adopted

Jul 4, 1776

Adopted on July 4th, 1776. This took place in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Battle of Saratoga

1777

Was considered the “Turning Point of the War”. France enters on the American side.

Winter at Valley Forge

1777

In 1777, George Washington took his army to Valley Forge for the winter. They experienced shortages of food and clothing and disease ran rampant through the camp.

Battle of Yorktown

1781

Lasting for almost a month, the Battle of Yorktown saw the British surrender to the Americans, thus ending the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis surrendered.

U.S. Constitution written

May 25, 1787

The U.S. Constitution was written and states had to ratify it in order for the constitution to work.

U.S. Constitution adopted

Jun 21, 1788

After New Hampshire became the ninth to ratify the constitution, the constitution was adopted.