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Boston Massacre
The final straw for the revolutionary tension brewing in the colonies. A group of British soldiers fired into the crowd, instantly killing 3 people while 2 more later succumbed their injuries. -
Pontiac's Rebellion
Pontiac's Rebellion consisted of a loose coalition of Native American tribes dissatisfied with British policies. With the end of the French and Indian War, Pontiac feared that the British would usurp their lands and fore them to migrate like so many other tribes. As a result, he gathered a force of several tribes and rose up against the British to prevent this. -
Proclamation of 1763
Forbade colonists from travelling west of the Appalachian Mountains, and forbade them from trading land. Only the Empire was allowed to trade land, and only licensed traders could travel across the divide. -
End of the French and Indian War
Ended by the Treaty of Paris of 1763. The french gave up much of their territory in the new world. Due to this, they would eventually come to the aid of the colonists to just spite Britain. -
Paxton Boys attack Pennsylvanian Natives
A group of men called the Paxton Boys attacked a native settlement, fueling the fiery rage of the Native Americans in Pontiac's War -
Sugar Act
This placed a tax on sugar and all products made with sugar. While this mainly only directly affected shipping companies, the colonies as a whole felt that the idea of taxing them without consent was an infringement of their rights. -
Stamp Act
This act taxed any piece of paper used in the colonies. Many colonists felt that this set a precedent for taxation without representation and planted the seeds of revolution. -
Townshend Acts
A series of Acts passed between 1767 and 1768 that placed taxes on every day items such as tea, lead, paint, glass, and more. This caused outrage, especially the tea taxes, since these were used everyday by everyone, raising prices everywhere while providing no extra income to the colonists. -
Treaty of Fort Stanwix
Settled land disputes between British families and governments, Colonial families and governments, and Native tribes. -
Somerset Decision
A slaveowner forcibly brought back a slave of his who led to England. The Judge ruled that it was illegal to do this, and proclaimed that the man must be discharged from his service. -
Boston Tea Party
This was the first major act of defiance towards Great Britain from the colonies. Colonists gathered and threw hundreds of chests of tea into the sea, costing the British government a large amount of money. -
Tea Act
This act placed a tax on tea. This is equivalent to taxing drinking water from a river. All the colonists felt that this was a step too far and that the Royal Crown was interfering with their daily lives at this point. -
First Continental Congress
The first congress established the grievances the colonies had with Great Britain and allowed them to propose ideas in order to deal with these issues -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts consisted of 4 different proclamations: Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and the Quebec Act. The first 3 were punitive acts mean to punish Massachusetts by banning most shipping, housing soldiers in private homes trying all soldiers who committed crimes outside the colony, and appointing British General Gage as governor. The Quebec Act set the Catholic church as the main body and a governing body would be appointed, not elected. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first battles of the Revolutionary War. The British brought several forces in order to capture several smugglers, yet did not expect any resistance. Instead, both cities had summoned militias to fight against the British. -
Second Continental Congress
This was a congregation of delegates from all 13 colonies this time. Major decisions made during this Congress was appointing Congress as the de facto government during the war, drafting and signing the Declaration of Independence, and coordinating the war effort. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
A battle of the Revolutionary war. The colonists captured and defended a fort from the British. While they eventually abandoned the fort due to dwindling supplies, this battle showed that the colonists had the potential to win the war. -
"Common Sense"
Anonymously published, but written by Thomas Paine, "Common Sense" was one of the most influential pieces of literature in regards to the American movement towards freedom. It advocated independence for the American colonies. -
Battle of Trenton
One of two battles that George Washington won within 10 days crossing the Delaware river. In the Battle of Trenton, Washington fought Hessian mercenaries and defeated them before withdrawing. -
Battle of Saratoga
A decisive victory for the Americans. British General John Burgoyne marched his army southward from Canada, expecting to meet similar British forces at a rally point. These Western and Southern forces never arrived, and Burgoyne found himself surrounded by American forces instead. He retreated to Saratoga and surrendered to the Americans, earning the rebels foreign assistance. -
Treaty of alliance
The U.S. and France signed a treaty pledging that they will both fight Great Britain, so long as neither side concede to a separate peace with Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
The first outline for government in America, basically a prototype Constitution. Weak points include a lack of federal government and a lack of overall unity. -
Lord Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington
The last major battle of the Revolutionary War. After Cornwallis Surrendered to a combined force that consisted of the Continental Army and the French army, peace negotiations were commenced in order to prevent more bloodshed. -
Treaty of Paris (Revolutionary War)
Marked the end of the Revolutionary War. Britain recognized the United States as a sovereign country and could no longer interfere insides it's borders. -
Newburgh Conspiracy
A possible coupe that might have been planned where the Continental Army would attack congress over unfulfilled promises about pensions. The dispute was settled when Washington pleaded to them to support congress, which would approve a compromise where former soldiers would be given 5 years of full pay rather than a lifetime at half pay. -
Shay's Rebellion
A rebellion of disgruntled former soldiers, who had turned to farming, who were disenfranchised with the new government's economic policies, leading them to poverty. This rebellion shed light on the failings of the Articles of Confederation. -
Annapolis Convention
A convention summoned by Virginia to deal with the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation. However, only 5 states sent delegates, prompting them to draft an act for congress to summon a full convention a few months later to deal with the Articles -
Constitutional Convention
Called to help improve the Articles of Confederation, many delegates felt that an entirely new system of government should be devised, and thus the Constitution was born. -
Northwest ordinance
Established a government for the newly acquired Northwestern Territory, created a way to add states to the Union, and guaranteed a bill of rights to the new Territory. -
The Federalist Papers Published
Used to influence the ratification of the Constitution, an attempt to provide a more stable federal government. -
Election of George Washington
The first president of this newly created United States of America, Washington is the only president with a unanimous vote. -
Beginning of the French Revoluton
Inspired by the American Revolution, French peasants led revolts against the aristocratic government in order to gain a more democratic government. -
Washington D.C. Chosen as Capital
Established a new central city where the seat of government would lie. Only city to be established by the Constitution -
Hamilton's First Report on Public Credit
Recommended paying all U.S. debts at face value to create goodwill, or credit, and allow the U.S> to be able to gain better loans. -
Bill of Rights Ratified.
The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, providing an outline for government. -
First Bank f the United States Chartered
Served as the nations first central banking system -
Whiskey Rebellion
Lead by former Revolutionary War Generals, this rebellion was based on a tax imposed on all distilled spirits, many felt that this was a violation of the American principle of no taxation without local representation. However, the government maintained that this was a legal expression of Congress' ability to tax. -
Hamilton's Report on Manufactures
Proposed subsidized industry, tariffs, and more. -
Citizen Genet Affair
A French minister was sent to privateer american ships to wage war against Spain. Washington felt that this was a violation of U.S. sovereignty. -
Battle of Fallen Timbers
Final Battle of the Northwest Indian War. The war was fought between Indians and British generals against the US for control off the Northwestern Territory. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Established a friendly relationship between the U.S. and Spain. -
Treaty of Greenville
Ended the Northwest Indian War in Ohio, limited Indians to specific parcels of land. -
Jay's Treaty
Averted war between the US and Britain due to unsolved issues caused by or missed in the Treaty of Paris. Divided the country and angered France. -
Election of John Adams
First US election where opposing Parties played a role. Only election where the President and Vice-President were from two different tickets. -
XYZ Affair
Caused by a request for bribes, the Federalists in the U.S. used this political incident to build up the military and wage an undeclared war on the French that became known as the Quasi-War. -
Quasi-War with France
An undeclared war wage at sea between France and the U.S. The U.S> refused to pay it's debt to the French, claiming it was wed to a regime that no longer existed. outraged, the French used privateers to attack U.S. ships. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
banned criticism of the government and made it almost impossible for foreigners to become citizens or even residents of the US. -
Judiciary Act of 1801
Reorganized the Judicial system of the government. Changed the Number of Justices on the Supreme Court from 6 to 5. Eliminated the Supreme Courts circuit duties. Repealed in 1802
