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The French and Indian War Ends
In 1754, the French and Indian war started. France became allies with the Native Americans to fight against Britain and their colonies. The Treaty of Paris 1763 ended the war with Britain and their colonies defeating the French and Native Americans. The war awarded England the French’s territory in North America. However, England was in great debt from the War, and believed the colonies should contribute to paying off the debt because the colonies benefited from the War. -
The Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were laws that set guidelines and regulations on trade with the British Isles and British colonies around the world. The Acts also imposed restrictions on colonial trade itself. American colonist had to use British vessels for shipping, which resulted in smuggling. The Navigation Acts became a reason why the colonists called for independence. -
The Stamp Act
After the French and Indian War, Britain’s treasury was drained. Britain figured since the war was fought on the colonies’ land, they should help pay for the debt. Britain issued the Stamp Act, which taxed on legal and commercial documents like pamphlets, diplomas, contracts, playing cards, even on dice! This Act was repealed in 1766 due to colonists boycotting British goods. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre took place on King Street in Boston, Massachusetts. The protesting colonists were throwing snowballs and rocks at the British troops until they suddenly opened fire on the colonists. Five of the colonists died due to the massacre. This event helped lead the colonists to the American Revolution and their fight for independence. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act’s purpose was to remove the colonial middleman in trade. The Act helped bail out the struggling British East India Company and it made tea cheaper. Britain thought the colonies would like this tea (because of cheaper tea), but they were surprised when colonists were furious and opposed this “tax.” As a result, the Boston Tea Party occured. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest against Britain’s Tea Act. This event also marked the colonies’ first defiance to British rule. A group called the Sons of Liberty assembled and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. King George III, the King of Britain, responded to the colonists’ actions with the Coercive/Intolerable Acts. -
The Coercive/Intolerable Acts
The Coercive/Intolerable Acts were a series of four acts that were placed on the colony Massachusetts as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. These acts stated that British officials were immune to prosecution in the colonies, the Boston port was to be closed until colonists pay off all the money lost from the tea, turned governor’s council 5o an appointed body, and the colonists in Massachusetts were required by law to house any British soldiers who wanted to. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress included 12 out of the 13 colonies (Georgia was not in attendance because the colony was having trouble with the Native Americans). The meeting ended on October 26. The 55 delegates (two representatives per colony) assembled because of the tool of the Coercive/Intolerable Acts, which the agenda for this meeting was to decide how to respond to these Acts. The delegates decided that they should boycott British goods until the British Parliament repealed the Acts. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
These battles were the first battles of the American Revolution. The battles were a result of tensions between the colonies and Britain in Massachusetts. During the Battle of Lexington, it is unknown which side shot first. There were 700 British troops and 77 colonist militiamen; eight of the militiamen died in battle. However, the British soldiers shot first, which became known as “the shot heard around the world.” -
The Second Continental Congress
During the Second Continental Congress, the delegates of the First Continental Congress (including Georgia this time) had to figure out how to deal with the British army. They decided on creating the Continental Army, but first wrote the Olive Branch Petition as an attempt to make peace with Britain. This group continued to manage the colonial war efforts until the meeting ended on March 1st, 1781. -
The Declaration of Independence Adoption
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, was the first formal statement of declaring independence from Britain. This document summarized the colonists’ motives for their independence and the first founding document of the United States of Americ -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga (New York) was actually two different battles fought eighteen days apart. One battle was fought at Freeman’s Farm and the second was fought at Bemis Heights. The Continental Army was victorious for these battles. These battles are crucial to the colonies because the Battle of Saratoga victory gained France as an ally and support for the American Revolution. -
Winter at Valley Forge
General George Washington and his army camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania for a six month encampment in 1777 and 1778 after numerous losses, including Philadelphia. Washington tried to maintain his struggling army during the harsh winter. Von Steuben, a former Prussian officer, successfully trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge until the encampment ended in June 1778. This was the turning point of the war. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The French and Continental troops surrounded the British Army at Valley Forge, Virginia. The battle lasted until October 19th 1781. The British lost the battle, which cost them the American colonies. This was the last major battle of the war. -
The U.S. Constitution is Written
During the Philadelphia Convention (also known as the Constitutional Convention), the U.S. Constitution was written. This convention lasted from May 25th to September 17th 1787. This document was a better version of the Articles of Confederation. The U.S. Constitution established the fundamental laws, government, and the basic rights for all the citizens of the United States. -
The U.S. Constitution is Adopted
The U.S. Constitution is officially adopted in June after New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify this document. The Constitution became the new law of America.
