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Virginia Slave Codes of 1705
In 1705, the House of Burgesses passed the Virginia Slave Codes. These were laws that applied to the slaves and stated that slaves needed written permission to leave their plantation, that slaves found guilty of murder or rape would be hanged, that for robbing or any other major offence, the slave would receive sixty lashes and be placed in stocks, where his or her ears would be cut off, and that for minor offences, such as associating with whites, slaves would be whipped, branded, or maimed. -
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French and Indian War
This war was fought between British and French colonists. This war allowed England to expand its territory in the New World, but ultimately left the colonies in war debt. This war ended with the Treaty of Paris and rose tensions which led to the American Revolution. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fired upon a crowd of protesting colonists. 5 were killed in the massacre and this led to the colonists disliking the British even more. Events such as this continued to grow tensions between the colonists and England. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists snuck unto a ship that imported tea from the British East India Company and dumped tea into the Boston Harbor as a protest to England about high taxes. This is were the saying "taxation without representation" came from. -
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American Revolution
This is a war fought between the American colonists and England for independence. The war began at Lexington and Concord when an unknown shot was fired and ended in the siege of Yorktown when the colonists defeated the British. The Americans gained their independence from England and became a new nation. -
George Washington is Elected President
George Washington was elected the first president of the United States through the votes of state electors. He was considered a great candidate because of his great leadership during the American Revolution. -
U.S. Constitution
On this day, the United States Constitution officially went into effect as it was ratified by nine states. These states were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. -
John Adams is Elected Second President
John Adams is elected the second president of the United States after George Washington finished serving two terms in office.