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Enlightenment
What was the Enlightenment? During the 18th century, there was an emphasis on European politics, philosophy, science, and communication. Enlightenment thinkers did not want to stick to traditional ways. The European philosophers wanted to improve humanity. The Enlightenment produced numerous books, inventions, laws, wars, and revolution. -
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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was the most important sequence of colonial problems between the British and the American colonists on one side. The French and Native Americans on the other side. Fighting began in March 1754. French and Britain did not advocate war until May 1756. The signing of Treaty of Paris in February 1763, France lost all control to the continents in North America. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first internal charged towards the American colonists by the British Parliament. The act inflicted a tax on all paper documents in the colonies. The British was heavily in debt from the Seven Years' War. The colonists persisted that the Stamp Act was wrongful & they resorted to mob violence to scare stamp collectors to stop. Parliament passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765 & cancelled it in 1766. 10 years later, colonists rebelled against the British. -
Boston Massacre
This street brawl all began when around 2,000 British soldiers lived among 16,000 colonists. The soldiers enforced British tax laws which made the colonists feel repressed, so they rebelled. On March 5, private Hugh White was guarding the Custom House on King Street while colonists threatened violence. White had finally had enough and struck a man with his bayonet. The colonists then proceeded to fight Hugh White as he called in reinforcements. The fight ended with 5 dead colonists. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest that happened on December 16, 1773, in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists were angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation,” A group of colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians dumped 342 chests of tea in the water in Boston Harbor. The event was the first major act of resistance to British control over the colonists. The act proved to Britain that Americans are fighting for their freedom. -
Olive Branch Petition sent to England
This event was a final attempt by the colonists to avoid going to war with Britain. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of Olive Branch Petition and John Dickinson wrote the last draft. The reason of the Olive Branch Petition was to calm King George lll and prevent the problems between the colonies. The terms of the Olive Branch Petition begins with explaining why the colonists recently rebelled against the British government. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Common Sense Explained On January 10, 1776 Thomas Paine published his pamphlet "Common sense" putting out his arguments in favor of American Independence. Pamphlets were meaningful mediums for the spread of ideas in the 16th-19th centuries. When "Common Sense" was published anonymously at first, it encouraged independence for the American colonies from Britain. Paine's pamphlet is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history. -
Declaration of Independence
This document was the first official statement that was for the people to choose their own form of government. After going through war with Britain, the continental congress wrote a statement about the colonies intentions. It was then adopted in Philadelphia on July 4th. We now celebrate this date annually as our national independence day. -
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Battle of Yorktown
Troops of colonial and French soldiers led by George Washington and General Comte de Rochambeau attacked the British army in Yorktown, Virginia. The British forces ended up surrendering and peace negotiations began shortly after. This was the final battle of the american revolution. -
Treaty of Paris
This was a peace agreement between colonists and Britain to end the war and have America become independent. It was signed in Paris by King George's representatives and some representatives from the United States. -
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Constitutional Conventions
After the end of the American revolution, delegates had several meetings to decide their new nations values to be able to write the constitution. These meetings were held in the old Pennsylvania State House in Pennsylvania. -
3/5 Compromise
3/5 Compromise Explained The three-fifths compromise was proposed at the constitutional convention by a liberal northern delegate named James Wilson. This was made to gain support from the southern states so that they would have a disproportionate power in electing presidents. Every three out of five slaves would be counted in determining political representation in the house. -
Constitution Ratified
In order for the constitution to be accepted, nine states needed to vote on it. There was a deadline of six months to meet and ratify what was proposed. The first state to do so was Delaware. -
Bills of Rights
The Bills of Rights was adopted on December 15, 1791. The first ten amendments of the Constitution makes up the Bills of Rights,. James Madison wrote the amendments, which states specific proscriptions on the government's power. The Bills of Rights powerfully influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which was written by George Mason. Anti-Federalists argued that the Bills of Rights was necessary to protect individual liberty.
