-
1492
Columbus lands in the New World
Columbus tried to sail to India but landed in the Americas. There was more land for Europe to explore and inhabit. -
Jamestown founded
The English started the first permanent settlement in the New World sending three ships with about 100 people. This colony was established by the Virginia Company of London. This was the start of the creation of the Orgininial 13 British colonies. -
Pilgrims land in Plymouth
The 102 pilgrims and strangers landed in a harbor at the tip of the Cape Code. Since they were outside the jurisdiction of the Virginia Company, a conflict started to occur because many strangers argued that its rules no longer applied. This led to the creation of the Mayflower Compact. -
French and Indian War
The British wanted the Ohio River for farmland which was the start of the French and Indian War where the French allied themselves with the Natives who wanted to trade fur. The British won which resulted in the end of salutary neglect and French influence. The British were also in debt and gained massive amounts of land. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin came up with the idea of the Albany Plan of Union where all the colonies would unite or die. The colonies rejected this idea because they wanted to be free. This shows the colonies' desire for independence foreshadowing the upcoming events. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the 7 Year War between the British and colonies against the Natives and France. The British now control all the land to the Mississippi, are in massive debt, and salutary neglect ends. -
Proclamation Act
An act enforced by the British Crown stating that colonists could no longer settle west of the Appalachian Mountains which was resented by the colonists because of the limitation. -
Quartering Act
The British Crown sent soldiers to the colonies to try to control rebellious behavior but they didn't have any homes so they ordered the colonial assemblies to provide the housing. This caused New York and New Jersey to stop approving any funds for supplies and forcing the troops to stay on the ships. The British government then suspended New York's Assembly until they agreed to obey. This was the start of the upcoming conflict ahead. -
Stamp Act
British had a massive debt from the Seven Year War so they decided to make the colonists pay. They used the Stamp Act which required colonists to buy a stamp for every piece of paper they bought. The colonists protested and refused to buy stamps until the act was withdrawn. This led to the British Crown sending troops and forcing the colonists to house them. -
Townshend Act
The British Crown decided to tax all British imports to the colonies from Britain and created a new customs commission. Colonists were unhappy and started to boycott, protest, and produce their goods. After Massachusetts' governor removed the colonial assembly, South Carolina supported their sister colony by sending over 45 candles and 92 glasses as an act of rebellion. The British crown then sent more troops. This eventually led to the Boston Massacre. -
Boston Massacre
Private Hugh White was on watch when he hit a young colonist on the head after being teased and quickly found himself surrounded by many other colonists. They started daring him to fire as they pelted him with ice, sticks, and curses and he called for backup. Eventually, he was hit with a stick and fell and when he tried to rise, he fired his musket. 5 colonists died and 6 others were wounded. This is important because this started other colonists talking badly about the British government. -
Tea Act
The British government made a deal with the East India Company that no other company was allowed to sell tea in Britain or its colonies. The colonists were infuriated and did not want to pay the taxes so they looked to Dutch smugglers because their tea was cheaper and just as good. This is important because these Acts later led to the Boston Tea Party which led to the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists who were enraged by the Tea Act dressed up as Natives and went to the harbor where they destroyed 3 ships and threw over all of the crates of tea. The colonists dressed up as Natives did not take the tea even though many others tried. The armed British ships surrounding them did not attempt to resist them. The Boston Tea Party is important because it led to the Coercive Acts being made as punishment for the loss of money and disobedience. -
First Continental Congress
The Continental Congress had representatives from the 13 colonies to discuss the challenges they faced. The colonists decided to boycott imports of British goods since they wanted to avoid war and favored a policy of economic coercion. This meeting was important because it showed the colonies working together. -
Intolerable (Coercive) Acts
The Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Quartering Act, and Administration of Justice Act made up the 4 Intolerable Acts which all restricted the colonist's freedom to control them which is important because it led to the colonists rebelling. -
Second Continental Congress
In this meeting, the colonists decided they should send an olive tree to Britain which they ignored so they decided they should defend themselves and made a continental army. They also named George Washington as their commander. This is important because it shows that the colonies still wanted peace but since Britain refused, they had to prepare for the upcoming war. -
Battle of Lexington
When the British troops got to Lexington to confiscate the colonist's weapons, colonists were in the middle of the town and fired, the troops in return killed 7 colonists. This is important because it shows the colonists are ready and prepared to fight for their freedom if the British do not negotiate. -
Battle of Concord
The British sent 3 companies to secure the Northern Bridge where colonists came to challenge them. The British retreated after the colonists killed 3 British troops. This event is important because more people started to support the idea of a revolution. -
Olive Branch Petition
The members of the Second Continental Congress wrote the Olive Branch Petition with the hopes of avoiding full-scale war with the British. King George lll ignored it and wrote a proclamation stating that the colonists were traitors and needed to be held to justice. This is important because it shows that the colonists were open to reasoning and were hoping to avoid war while the British did not attempt peace. -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine wrote and printed a pamphlet around the same time the colonists received the news that the King ignored the Olive Branch Petition and the proclamation he made. He wrote that it was common sense to fight the British and take the next step after all of the abusive acts they had faced. This is important because it convinced many colonists to fight and shows that many colonists wanted their independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by the representatives of America and stated that King George lll deprived the colonists of the basic rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and they now had the right to abolish the government and create a new one, then they listed all of the crimes committed against them including many of the Intolerable Acts. The Declaration of Independence is important because it shows that the colonists had had enough and decided to fight. -
Period: to
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the war between the colonists and the British for their freedom. The colonists were severely outnumbered, but due to their training at Valley Forge and France's alliance, the colonists won. There were many battles but in the end, the British surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown and the Patriots won. The American Revolution is important because the colonist's debt was paid off, they gained a massive amount of land, and they gained their freedom from Britain. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was between Britain and America for America's independence. The treaty gave the Americans their freedom, gave them a massive amount of land, and the colonists's debt was paid off. The Treaty of Paris is important because it doubled the colonists' land size making it easier to trade, gave the Americans independence, and stopped a war that killed thousands. -
Shay's Rebellion
The colonies were in debt from the war so they decided to increase taxes by 500%. But the colonist's farms were ruined so there was no way to make a profit and the colonists' paper currencies were worthless. The colonists felt that the new government was acting like the British so they started rebelling. The government had no Navy or National government to control the rebels which led to 4 deaths. This showed that there needed to be a change or else other countries could invade and take over. -
Congress Ratifies the US. Constitution
The Articles of Confederation were not working so Congress decided to establish the Constitution which outlined the structure of America's new federal government. This event is important because it was the beginning of our country and helped unite the states as one nation and under one federal government. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Farmers started making whiskey so the government decided to tax it to finally pay off their debt. The farmers got mad and started rebelling violently. George Washington was tasked with his first major problem in office and handled it by trying to negotiate. Still, the rebel leaders did not accept his offer of peace, so he sent the military to get the protesters under control. This event is important because it shows that the government is strong and civilians can't rebel to get what they want. -
XYZ Affair
The US had a treaty with France but the US. still called neutrality and did not help France in the war with Britain. France got mad and started capturing the US. ships. The US then tried to negotiate a new treaty with France but France sent 3 agents back who said that France was demanding $250,000 as well as a loan to meet with the minister. The US got mad claiming it was a disgrace to ask for that much money. This is important because the US isn't strong enough to go to war with France yet. -
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was between the British and America because Britain did not respect America as an independent nation and was capturing US ships trying to trade and making them fight in the war against France. The war ended when both countries decided to stop fighting and made a new treaty. This war was important because America gained a lot of respect from other countries and pride from their citizens, and the number of federalists started to dwindle and fizzle out.