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The Stamp Act of 1765 required colonists to pay a tax on printed materials like newspapers, legal papers, and playing cards. Colonists opposed it, arguing “no taxation without representation” since they had no voice in Parliament. Their protests and boycotts forced Britain to repeal the law in 1766, but it increased tensions and pushed the colonies closer to revolution. -
British taxation, and especially the Stamp Act. They were responsible for boycotts, producing and publishing messages about the injustice of the British rule, and sometimes depending upon protests or resistance They were instrumental in the growing movement during this time that unified colonists and increased distance from being a colony or becoming independent from Britain. -
The Townshend Acts of 1767 taxed imported goods like glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea. Colonists protested with boycotts, arguing it was “taxation without representation.” Most taxes were repealed in 1770, but the tea tax stayed, keeping tensions high before the Revolution. -
The Boston Massacre unfolded on March 5, 1770, when conflict between British soldiers and Boston colonists boiled over. The people in Boston were already furious about there being British soldiers there, and that night a crowd started shouting and throwing snowballs, rocks and other things at the soldiers. The soldiers became frightened and fired into the crowd, shooting killing five settlers. -
The Boston Tea Party occurred on December 16, 1773 when the American colonists demonstrated against the Tea Act of the British. Members of a group known as the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Native Americans and threw 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor. They were offended at having to pay taxes without representation in Parliament. When is the Boston Tea Party also known as the turning point bringing the British and the colonies closer to war? -
September 5, 1774 – October 26, 1774: The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. Delegates from 12 colonies (except Georgia) united to oppose the Intolerable Acts, organized boycotts, and petitioned King George III—an early step toward revolution. -
officially marked the beginning of the American Revolution. British troops were on their way to Concord to confiscate weapons belonging to the colonies when they first encountered colonial militias in Lexington. A shot was fired — often referred to as the shot heard 'round the world — and fighting broke out. The British continued on to Concord, but eventually, militia forces forced them to retreat to Boston. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775) was one of the first major battles of the Revolutionary War. The British won, but the Americans proved they could stand up to the powerful British army. Even though the colonists ran out of ammunition and had to retreat, the battle boosted their confidence and determination to fight for independence. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775) was an early Revolutionary War battle near Boston. The British won, but the Americans fought fiercely and only retreated after running out of ammunition. This showed the colonists could stand up to the British and gave them confidence to keep fighting
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The Battle of Trenton (December 26, 1776) was a surprise attack led by George Washington after his troops crossed the icy Delaware River on Christmas night. The Continental Army defeated the Hessian forces and captured nearly 1,000 prisoners. This victory greatly boosted American morale and proved that the fight for independence still had a real chance of success. -
The Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780) was a major defeat for the Americans in South Carolina. General Horatio Gates’s poorly prepared army was crushed by British forces under General Cornwallis. Many American soldiers fled, and the loss lowered morale in the South -
The Battle of Yorktown, fought in October 1781, was basically the last big fight of the American Revolution. American and French forces surrounded the British army in Yorktown, Virginia, cutting off their escape by land and sea. After weeks of bombardment, British General Cornwallis realized he was trapped and surrendered on October 19. This huge victory pretty much ended the war, since it convinced Britain that trying to keep control of the colonies wasn’t worth it anymore.
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The treaty saw Britain acknowledge the independence of the United States and set its boundaries, running from the Atlantic coast in the east to the Mississippi River in the west, and from Canada in the north to Florida in the south. A very important outcome of this agreement was the confirmation of America’s freedom, and the new nation received some very valuable land and resources. The United States became an independent nation as a result of the Treaty of Paris. -
The Great Compromise of 1787 represented a fight in a group project (between big and small states). The big states wanted more power due to their population, and the small states did not want to be left out. This created the establishment of a two-part Congress where one was the House of Representatives, based on state population, and the other was the Senate, which had two seats for each state.
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The Bill of Rights was adopted on December 15, 1791 as the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It protects important freedoms like speech, religion, and the press, and it also guarantees rights such as a fair trial. The Bill of Rights was significant because it limited government power and ensured that individual liberties would be protected.