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1492
Columbus discovers North America
Christopher Columbus tries to sail from Spain to Asia by crossing the Pacific ocean, but ends up discovering the continent of North America -
Roanoke Founded
The colony of Roanoke was founded by Sir Walter Raleigh. It was the first British colony in the Americas and was used as an example of how colonies should be founded. However, all the colonists disappeared, leaving the fate of Roanoke unknown today. -
Jamestown Colony founded
The Jamestown colony in Virginia was founded in 1607 and quickly became one of the most profitable colonies due to growing tobacco. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act passed by the British parliament was a measure meant to protect British sugar interests and discourage people from buying sugar not made in the British colonies. This act put a tax on all foreign sugar and molasses coming into the colonies. The colonists really didn't like the fact that they were getting taxed for what they believed to be Britain's issue. The sugar act and other similar tax acts are often cited as the main reason the colonies rebelled. -
Currency Act passed
The currency act of 1764 forbid the American colonies from printing their own currency. The colonists saw this as another transgression on their rights that they felt they didn't deserve -
Quartering and Stamp Acts passed
The stamp act imposed a tax on all paper products used in the Colonies and the quartering act required that colonists allow British soldiers into their home. Of course, these acts were hugely unpopular with the colonists,and abuses of the Quartering act by British soldiers didn't help either. -
Repeal of Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was repealed in response to the enormous outcry over unfair taxes being put on the colonies.However, it fell on flat ears by those who viewed the repeal as a bribe to keep the colonies from full rebellion -
Boston Massacre
The British army shot and killed members of a mob arguing against British rule. The incident, which killed 5 people, was highly publicized as a reason for the colonies to rise up against oppressive British rule. -
Tea Act passed
The Tea Act was meant to help the East India trading company get rid of their extra tea and help the business financially, but it put a tax on British imports of tea into the US. Colonists were so upset by what they saw as another way to increase Britain's wealth while hurting the colonies that they threw tea into the Boston Harbor i protest. -
Boston Tea party
In response to the Tea Act of 1773, rebels known as the Sons of Liberty dumped 342 crates of tea into the Boston Harbor. This was the most outspoken of protests against the British and was a major inciting incident for the Revolutionary war. -
Intolerable Acts passed
The Intolerable (or Coercive) acts were a set of 5 punitive acts that sought to punish the colonies for the events of the Boston Tea Party. The acts closed the port of Boston, brought Massachusetts completely under the rule of England, gave the royal governor more powers, and reinforced the Quartering act. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from 12 out of 13 of the colonies met to discuss the Coercive acts and sent out a notice to King George III to reaffirm the colonies' loyalty to Britain, but rgue against unfair taxation. -
Start of the Revolutionary War
Shots are exchanged between colonial militias and British soldiers at the battlefields in Lexington and Concord. This is the official start of the Revolutionary war. -
Period: to
Revolutionary War
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Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a petition sent specifically to King George in hope of reconciling with England. It was written by John Dickinson and sent out by the second Continental Congress. -
Declaration of Independence
The declaration of independence was approved on July 4th by delegates form the 13 colonies. This document outlined the grievances of the colonies against British rule and outlined their independence from British rule. Today, this document is widely regarded as one of the most important in the history of our country, as it outlines the ideals that the new country would be founded upon. -
The battles of Saratoga
The battles of Saratoga were two battles that happened 18 days apart. The rebels won a significant victory over thie British which hurt British morale. This victory is often considered as the turning point in the American Revolution. -
The Battle of Yorktown
This battle, which the colonies won, marks the end of the civil war. After losing the battle, British commander Charles Cornwallis surrendered. The British wihdrew, and the colonists celebrated their new independence. -
Annapolis Convention
The Annapolis Convention was a failed attempt at creating a formal constitution for the new country, and addressing issues between states (which were kind of like their own small countries at the time). Only 5 states were represented. -
Shay's rebellion
Shay's rebellion was an armed uprising by men in Massachusetts who wanted changes to the current economic and political situations, as the US government still had many problems under the Articles of Confederation. The rebellion helped further the cause of constitutional reform. -
First set of States ratify the Constitution
Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey ratify the constitution. -
Constitutional convention
The constitutional convention was a meting in Philadelphia by all of the 13 colonies except Rhode Island in order to finalize states and the system of government. After adjourning, the first draft of the constitution was completed -
Constitution Signed
The constitution was signed by 39 out of the 55 delegates who attended the constitutional convention. This document outlined the new government of the United States of America and is the most well-known and important document in the history of our country and our government. -
More states ratify the Constitution
Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York ratify the constitution -
The Constitution goes into effect
