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Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ends the Seven Year's War. Britain receives all land east of the Mississippi River. Spain maintains territory west of the Mississippi, but exchanges East and West Florida for Cuba. France surrenders nearly all mainland North American possessions, except New Orleans, in order to keep the Caribbean Islands. -
George III becomes Prime Minister of Britain
He is concerned about Britaish debt. -
Proclamation of 1763
This is established by the British in order to devide the colonists and the Natives along the boundary of the Appalachians. -
Revenue Act (Sugar Act)
This act reduces the tax on imported molasses, though strictly enforcing the tax. The act also adds to the list of products which the colonists can export only to Britain. -
Currency Act
This act is passed by Parliament, declaring that the only legal currency in the colonies is the British pound. -
Stamp Act
Parliament passes this act which requires the colonists to purchase and apply stamps on all legal documents, newspapers and other items. -
Quartering Act
This act requires public funds from the colonists' to be used to support British troops stationed to enforce the Proclamation of 1763. -
Virginia Resolves
Encouraged by Patrick Henry, the Virginia House of Bourgeoisie adopts the Virginia Resolves protesting the Stamp Act. -
Hanging of tax-collector effigy and riots in Boston
The first widely known act of the Sons of Liberty, colonists in Boston protest the Stamp Act through riots and the hanging of an effigy of Andrew Oliver, a stamp distributor. -
Stamp Act Congress
Colonists gather in New York in response to the Stamp Act and author a declaration saying that Britain cannot directly tax them without representation in Parliament. -
Stamp Act Repealed
Britain repeals the act due to the colonists' negative responses. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament reaffirms their right to tax the colonists by passing this act. -
Townshend Acts
Parliament passes the last of four acts, together known as the Townshend Acts. Paper, glass, and tea are among the items that are taxed and must be imported from Britain. -
Redcoats march into Boston
Britain sent troops into Boston to demonstrate power in response to attacks on customs officials. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fire into a crowd of unruly colonists leaving five people dead. -
Townshend Acts repealed
Colonists boycotts of goods being taxed under the Townshend Acts are effective: Britain loses money and repeals all the Townshend taxes exept that on tea. -
Burning of the British ship "Gaspee"
A reward is set for the capture of the colonists responsible so they could be sent to England for trial. -
Tea Act
This act declares that colonists are only allowed to purchase tea from the East India Company in order to help the almost-bankrupt British company. Colonists are angered by yet another attempt by Parliament to tax and have control over them. -
Boston Tea Party
In protest of the Tea Act, a group of colonists let by the Sons of Liberty dress as Native Americans and board British ships and throw British tea overboard. -
Coercive Acts
Parliament passes a series of acts known in the colonies as the "Intolerable Acts". Among the results of these acts are the closure of Boston Harbor, immunities to all Royal British soldiers, and a new government in MA that has the right to break up any public gatherings. -
First Continental Congress meets
Delegates with different interests from all the colonies (except Georgia) meet in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26 to discuss their opposition to the taxes and acts that Parliament has passed. -
Revere and Dawes' midnight ride
Paul Revere and William Dawes are sent to warn the colonists that British soldiears have been sent to destroy colonists' weapons depot. The warning is received by Samuel Adams and John Hancock. -
The "shot heard round the world" fired
The first shot of the war is fired and the battles of Lexington and Concord are fought. -
Second Continental Congress meets
The Congress drafts the Articles of Confederation. The League of States formed could: regulate foreign affairs, manage the post-office, mediate boundary disputes between states, declare war, and pass resolutions but could not enforce them. -
Washington takes control of army
George Washington is put in charge of the colonial army. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Continental Congress issues the Olive Branch Petition as an attempt at reconciliation with Britain. The petition pledges allegiance to the king and states that Parliament is the issue. The king rejects it and declares the colonists to be in a state of rebellion. -
"Common Sense" Published
Paine criticizes the idea of reconciliation with Britain and argues why the Colonies should gain independence. -
American Declaration of Independence
Most of the ideas can be attributed to Cato's letters and to Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke.