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Delaware Charter
William Penn agrees to allow two separate assemblies to represent the colonies of Pennsylvania and Delaware respectively; Delaware receives it colonial charter. -
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Queen Anne's War
A conflict that broke out in the New World as a counterpart to the War of Spanish Succession in Europe. It was a conflict involving France, Britain, and Spain. -
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The Great Awakening
An evangelical revival period in America that had a lasting impact on Protestantism. Major leaders of this revival included George Whitfield, John Wesley, and Johnathan Edwards. Movements in the Southern states had a lasting impact on the number of those enslaved and free who were converted to Christianity. (1730s-1750's) -
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French and Indian War
This was also known as the Seven Year's War. It was a conflict between the imperial nations of Britain and France that continued in the New World over claims to the land and resources there. During the 1763 peace conference, Britain gained territories in Canada from France and Florida from Spain which opened up the Mississippi valley for westward expansion. -
Royal Proclamation of 1763
After the conclusion of the French and Indian War, King George II issued a royal proclamation designed to protect the rights of indigenous people. He decreed that no one could settle the lands west of of the Appalachian Mountains. This angered many colonists because they had been given land grants to settle the area. -
Sugar Act of 1764
This act imposed new taxes on the importation of sugar into the American colonies. At the time, the American colonies were still trying to recover from the French and Indian War, so the new taxes were difficult. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The British Parliament creates the Stamp Act of 1765 in an attempt to raise money in order to pay for the large amount of troops they had stationed in the American colonies. Angered by the new taxes, colonists began to protest. The Stamp Act became one of the main causes of the American Revolution. -
Townshend Acts 1767
This was a collective group of new taxes on imports such as glass, tea, lead, paper, and other items imported into the American colonies. This lead to merchants and colonists boycotting British goods and civil unrest in Boston which had become the heart of economy at the time. -
Boston Massacre
As a result of the civil unrest taking place in Boston, more British troops were sent there. In 1770, a group of civilians surround a group of British soldiers and threatened them with clubs and stones. The soldiers opened fire on the civilians, killing three of them and wounding two others. This incident became known as the Boston Massacre. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a large-scale protest that was organized by the Sons of Liberty an organization that spanned all 13 colonies as a way to protest British political and economic policies. It was a protest in response to the new British tax on tea. They boarded the British ships and threw the chests containing the tea into Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from all 13 colonies meet to discuss the Intolerable Acts recently passed by the British Parliament. They agreed to sent a list of grievances to King George II and also discussed setting up a militia for the colonies. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first armed engagements of the American Revolution. This is were the "shot heard 'round the world" was fired beginning the American Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
Delegates from the all 13 colonies reconvened to discuss the war. They also became the governing body for the colonies -
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Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is written, signed, and sent to Britain telling Britain the colonies are no longer under British rule. It becomes one of the cornerstone documents of what will become the United States of America. -
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Battle of Saratoga
There were two battles at Saratoga. The first was a British victory, but the British could not break through the American lines. The second was an American victory and this victory finally convinced the French to join the American forces in an alliance. This was crucial to America's eventual victory in its Revolution. -
Battle of Yorktown
This battle was a joint effort of the American and French force by land and sea against the British at Yorktown. The British army was forced to surrender and this was the end of the Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty signed between the American colonies and the British that effectively ended the Revolutionary War. Great Britain accepted defeat and recognized the independence of the United States of America. -
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United States Constitution
The Constitutional Convention was held to discuss the government of the newly free nation. They also discussed how the states should exist under this government and how free the states should be. They also discussed the powers of the President. -
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The Federalist Papers
These were a collection of essays and articles that explained the Constitution. They were written in order to gain support for the Constitution. They were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. -
Washington D.C. Becomes the Capital
As a result of the Residence Act of July 16, 1790, it was decided that the nation's capital would be moved to Washington D.C. The states of Maryland and Virginia each gave up land to create the District of Colombia so no one state would have control over the nation's capital. -
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The Whiskey Rebellion
Due to heavy debts after the American Revolution, the U.S. government decided to place a tax on the producers of whiskey. This new tax greatly affect small producers who began to protest the new tax. People refused to pay the tax and threated officials who tried to collect it. The protests were so wide spread, militia's were sent in to control the crowds. Eventually the tax was repealed. -
Bill of Rights
These were Amendments to the original ratified Constitution. They were a collection of 10 amendments that were mainly concerned with the rights of citizens of the United States such as the right to assembly, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and legal rights. -
The Whitehouse
President John Adams and his wife, Abigail Adams, become the first to create the tradition of the U.S. Presidents living in the Whitehouse.