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Enlightenment
The Period of Great Intellectual Thinkers in Colonial America. It began in the 18th Century when great thinkers like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson invented radical ideals like 'All Men are Created Equal.' Click Here -
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The French & Indian War (Seven Years War)
A seven year long war between Britain and France over the Ohio River Valley. The British were victorious and gained lots of territory, but the war nearly made the British broke, forcing them to begin taxing the colonies. Click Here -
The Stamp Act
A tax passed by British Parliament to help pay for British Troops stationed in The Colonies during the Seven Years War. The act required everyone to pay a tax on any document, marked with a red stamp. Click Here -
The Sons of Liberty
A grassroots protest group that sought to protest the Stamp Act of 1765. The group were infamous for their attacks on Loyalist tax collectors and later on for the Boston Tea Party. Click Here -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of acts passed by the British in 1767 which taxed imported goods in the American Colonies. This angered many Americans, who coined the phrase "No taxation without representation!" Click Here -
The Boston Massacre
A riot turned deadly when Colonists began throwing snowballs at British Soldiers in Boston and the soldiers open fired on the crowd, killing five and wounding six colonists. This event enraged colonists across the colonies, including Paul Revere, who made the infamous engraving shown below depicting the event. Click Here -
The Boston Tea Party
It was a protest against the Tea Act, where the Sons of Liberty dressed up as natives and dumped 92,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. The British were furious and revoked their charter and sent troops to Boston to control the tempers of the colonists. Click Here -
The Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts were punishment acts passed by the British parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea party by the sons of liberty. The colonists viewed these acts as violations of their rights which eventually led the the revolutionary war in April of 1775. Click here -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 British colonies that formed America to talk about what to do with the British threat. The delegates met from September 5th to October 26th, 1774. Click Here -
Common Sense is Published
Published in Philadelphia, Thomas Paine's 47-page pamphlet would become a rallying cry for the budding revolution. George Washington later mandated that all Continental Troops be issued a copy of the pamphlet. Click Here -
The Battles of Lexington & Concord
The Minutemen were alerted to approaching British Troops by a frantic Paul Revere, and in a minutes notice the Men were up and arms and ready to fight. The men at Lexington were pushed back to Concord, but the Minutemen at Concord defeated the much smaller British Army, forcing them to retreat. Click Here -
Second Continental Congress
After the fighting at Lexington & Concord had ended, The delegates met in Philadelphia again. They decided that there was no longer any chance for peace, and Declared War against Great Britain. Click Here -
The Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 5th 1775. The petition was the final attempt to avoid war with Great Britain. Click Here -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement of the colonies intentions. A five man committee was formed that contained: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, the Declaration of Independence was officially accepted by Congress on July 4th in Philadelphia. Click Here -
Articles of Confederation
After considerable debate and alteration, The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress and served as the first Constitution. It was replaced shortly after by the Constitution we know now. Click Here -
The Battle of Yorktown
With the French fleet blocking his retreat, and the Continental Army slowly winding down his forces, General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to a combined American and French Army. With Great Britain being unable to finance the war any longer, and Cornwallis defeated, Great Britain had no choice but to admit defeat. Click Here -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the war of Great Britain against the United States, recognizing American independence and establishing the nation's borders. The delegates sent by the United States were Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams. Click Here -
The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was held so that the newly free colonies could decide how they were to govern themselves. 70 Delegates were chosen to preside over the meeting, but only 55 could actually make it. Click Here -
3/5ths Compromise
The Northern and Southern states could not come to an agreement on how slaves would be counted in a population census. Eventually, both sides compromised and decided that every five slaves counted as three men. Click Here -
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise, also called the Connecticut Compromise, created two legislative bodies in Congress. They were the House of Representatives, and The Senate. Click Here -
The Constitution
The second government of the United States under the Constitution established the fundamental laws of America and ensures the protection of it's citizen's rights. George Washington was appointed the first president of this new government. Click Here -
Bill of Rights
Inspired by the Magna Carta, the United States Bill of Rights and it's 10 Amendments were added to the Constitution. It guaranteed the individual rights of every citizen, and to this day new amendments are being added to protect the rights of our great nation's citizens. Click Here
