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French and Indian War starts
The War started because both the British and French wanted to extend their North American colonies into the land west of the Appalachian Mountains, known then as the Ohio Territory. The War, which led to the American revolution, altered the power balance of the world. -
French and Indian War ends
The French and Indian War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The war provided Great Britain with territorial gains in North America, but disputes over paying the war's debts led to colonists discontent, and ultimately to the American Revolution. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an act that required all colonists to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used The primary goal of the Stamp Act was to raise money, but the act was heavily opposed, and later lead to the fight against Taxation without representation in the revolution. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act placed a tax on glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea. The Townshend Act was the second intolerable act, and it reignited anger in the colonists against the British government again after the Stamp Act. This act helped start the revolt against Britain. -
Tea Act
Although the Tea Act imposes no new taxes on the American colonies, the Tea Act, passed by the British government granted the British East Indian Company Tea a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies. The colonists were not only angered by the continued taxation of tea, but they also believed any tax violated their rights as British citizens. They didn’t have representatives in parliament to vote on the proposed taxes, which fueled their fight against taxation without representation. -
Lexington and Concord
On the night of April 18, 1775, hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to nearby Concord in order to seize an arms supply. The Americans won this first battle. The first battle of Lexington and Concord kicked off the American revolution. -
The 2nd Continental Congress began to meet
The 2nd Continental Congress began meeting in 1776, to discuss the idea of declaring independence from England. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, after being appointed to the head of the committee. This draft eventually lead to our independence. -
George Washington was elected at the Commander Chief
The Continental Congress commissioned George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. George Washington’s leadership lead the colonists to independence from Britain. -
The final draft of the Declaration of Independence was approved
This document explains Americans complaints with England and its parliaments, as well as why we should be free. This document declared our independence, and it’s approval date is still celebrated by Americans to this day. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Americans won this battle with a surprise attack, after a string of losses. This victory brought the French to the colonists side. This victory was important to the Americans success in winning the following battles. -
Battle of Yorktown starts
Both French and American forces planned to trap General Cornwallis and his troops at the battle of Yorktown. Cornwallis was defeated when he and his troops were trapped by the French and American troops. This battle was won mostly due to the help the colonists received from the French troops, following their victory at the Saratoga battle. Winning this battle was an important turning point in America’s history, as it was the final battle in the revolution. -
Battle of Yorktown ends
In this final battle, the Continental Army forced the British to surrender. At the end of this war, the colonists won, and we became the United States of America. -
US Constitution passed
The US Constitution is a document that states laws and principles by which the United States is governed. The US Constitution establishes separation of power (the three branches of government legislative, executive, and judicial), division of federal and state power, and protection of personal liberty. -
Bill of Right was passed
The Bill of rights are the first 10 amendments in the US Constitution. The Bill of rights gave American citizens the followings rights: freedom of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembling, the right to remain silent, the right to guns, right to say no to soldiers staying in their home, protection from unreasonable search, right to a trial in front of a jury, fair and impartial trial, no cruel or unusual punishment, state and federal government have other rights -
Democracy in America by Tocqueville was published
Democracy in America is a book about the democratic revolution in the United States, and Tocqueville’s observations of the society in the country. Tocqueville’s book not only hits subjects such as money, government, religion, press, racism, and the judicial system, but his work is also often credited for making predictions about the dissension over the end of slavery that would lead to the Civil War as well as the rivalry between America and Russia, which then lead to the Cold War.