The Road to Independence

Virginia House of Burgesses

Jul 30, 1619

First assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America

Road to Independence

Period: Jul 30, 1619 to Jul 4, 1776

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Jan 24, 1639

• First written constitution in the colonies- Elected representative assembly- Popular election of a governor and judges

French and Indian War

Apr 5, 1754

British begin defending the land the colonists occupy against the French.

King George Takes the Throne

Oct 25, 1760

King George wants to tax the colonists to pay the debt of the French and Indian War

Sugar Act

Oct 1, 1764

First of a series of taxes to pay off the debt.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

Tax on all paper goods: including stamps, books, newspapers.
Followed by the: Stamp Act Congres and the Stamp Act Grievances

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

A response to the Tea Act

Coercive Acts

Apr 22, 1774

Also known as the Intolerable Acts
British response to colonists' protest
Limited the assembly rights of the colonists

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

12 of 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to respond to the Coercive Acts
Sent a list of grievances to King George

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

Formed an army and named George Washington as commander in chiefDeclare Independence from EnglandWrite the Articles of Confederation

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

• Written by Thomas Jefferson, and revised by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams- Adopted on July 4, 1776, signed on August 2, 1776- Natural rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness- The “why” we became independent from Britain