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First Slave Code
In Virginia, the House of Burgesses passes the first comprehensive slave code. -
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First Great Awakening
Religious revival reforms religion in America, encourages individualism, and questions authority. -
Walking Purchase
A fraudulent deal marks the changing relationship between Pennsylvania and Delaware Natives. -
Stono Rebellion
The largest slave insurrection in British North America. A violent reminder that slaves were willing to fight for freedom. -
John Locke's Ideas Diffuse
John Locke's enlightenment philosophy that challenges authority spreads in North America. -
Widespread Legality of Slavery
Slavery becomes legal in every colony. -
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Seven Year's War
British victory brought about the fall of French Canada, the expansion of the British Empire which arose the need for increased taxation of colonies, and pushed the thirteen colonies politically closer. -
Quakers Turn Against Slavery
Quakers in Pennsylvania disowned members who engaged in the slave trade, the first colonial action against slavery. -
King George III takes the Crown
As King George III became the ruler of Britain, he represented an authoritarian vision of the British empire in which colonies would be subordinate to Britain. -
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Pontiac's War
Violent conflict with Native Americans alters the British government's policy towards Indians. -
Royal Proclamation
King George III forbids settlement west of the Appalachian mountains, sparking discontent among colonists hungry for land. -
Sugar Act
The act cut the duty in half but enforced it by having smugglers tried by vice-admiralty courts rather than juries. -
Currency Act
The act restricted the use of paper money and, therefore, hampered intercolonial trade. -
Stamp Act
The act becomes the first, direct tax on colonies, incentivizing resistance among colonists. -
Stamp Act Congress
The delegates asserted that colonists were entitled to the same rights as those in Britain and rejected taxation without representation. -
Sons of Liberty
Formed as a reaction to the Stamp Act in order to direct and organize resistance among colonists. -
Declaratory Act
Although Britain repealed the Stamp Act, it asserted that it reserved Parliament's right to impose laws. -
Townshend Acts
The act creates new customs duties and was met with an increasingly coordinated resistance -
Philadelphia Foments Print Culture
Philadelphia overtakes Boston as the center of colonial printing, due to the arrival of Benjamin Franklin and the wave of German immigrants. -
Boston Massacre
Generates sympathy for Boston and anger with Britain. -
Committees of Correspondence
Samuel Adams forms Committees of Correspondence to further communicate and coordinate resistance among the colonies. -
Tea Act
The act was met with an open rebellion that dumped all of the tea unto the sea and thus prompted a coercive response from Britain. -
Intolerable Acts
The acts attempted to increase British control over the colonies through further restrictions. -
First Continental Congress
Sought to unite twelve states in a continental resistance of nonimportation, nonexportation, and nonconsumption. -
American Revolutionary War Begins
War breaks out in Lexington and Concord -
Dunmore's Proclamation
The first mass emancipation of enslaved people in American history, in a British attempt to gain slave allies for a war against the colonists. -
Common Sense
Robert Bell issues thousands of copies of Thomas Paine's Common Sense and its argument of the logical fallacy of the British empire. -
Declaration of Independence
Continental Congress approves the public Declaration of Independence. -
Battle of Saratoga
American victory convinces the French to join the American Revolution against the British. -
Articles of Confederation
Continental Congress ratifies the Articles of Confederation, which creates a weak federal government. -
Siege of Yorktown
American forces led by George Washington joined by French troops siege the army of General Cornwallis. It was the concluding victory of the war that marked the definitive independence of the United States. -
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Shay's Rebellion
The rebellion proves the failure of the Articles of Confederation and the pressing need for a strong central government. -
Constitutional Convention
Delegates meet to revise the Articles of Confederation and write a new constitution. -
Constitution is Ratified
Congress announced that the new Constitution was now in effect. -
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George Washington is America's first President
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Bank of the United States
Congress approved a twenty-year charter for the Bank of the United States, as proposed by Alexander Hamilton. -
Religious Liberty
The First Amendment proclaims no official national religion and guarantees religious liberty. -
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Whiskey Rebellion
The rebellion proves the power of the federal government to quell it and demonstrates that poor westerners viewed the government as their enemy. -
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Haitian Revolution
Haitian Revolution inspired free and enslaved black Americans in their struggle for freedom. -
Bill of Rights
After the debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists for the ratifying of the constitution, the Bill of Rights is added to the Constitution. -
Creation of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney’s cotton gin allows southern plantations to dramatically expand cotton production -
Jay's Treaty
The treaty secures amity and commerce between the British and the United States. Debate over the agreement sparks the creation of Federalists and Republicans into temporary factions. -
John Adams is Elected President
The second presidential election marks the first peaceful transition of power within the government. -
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John Adams is President
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Alien and Sedition Acts
Acts prevent French sympathizers from overthrowing the American government and attacked Americans who criticized Federalists.
