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Sep 4, 1174
First Continental Congress
Sept. 4-Oct. 16, 1174-
During this meeting they decided to ban all trade with Britain until the Intolerable Acts were repealed. In this meeting they also told each Colony to start training troops. This meeting marked a key step in Americas history, it also was a part of starting our first continental governmant. -
French and Indian War
1754-1763,
The French and Indian War was a long expensive war between France & Britain and their Native AMerican allies for control over North America. After Britain won the King began taxing the colonists to pay for the war wich angered the colonists. -
Proclamation of 1763
Throughout 1763-
This event started with an attempt to repay the Indian allies who has helped Britain defeat the French. This caused the colonists to feel that they deserved the land for fighting. This also moved the British troops to stay in the colonies. -
The Sugar Act
Throughout 1764-
The Sugar Act was the first of many taxes designed to bring in money from the colonies, the tariff was raised on sugar wich might make business less profitable. The colonists did not like this tax but they did not protest. -
The Stamp Act
This tax was a tax on all legal documents and virtually all paper products. The colonists felt thir rights were being taken away. (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) They also had no vote in parlaiment. -
The Quartering Act
This act was when the colonies had to provide housing for troops. This act was supposed to cut costs of deploying troops and protect the colonists from the Indians. Most colonies do not get away with not following the Quartering Act. -
The Townshend Act
The Townshend Act is the tax on things the Colony imports such as lead, paint, paper, glass and tea. This Act strengthened the power of the British over the colonies. This Act caused the colonists to become more and more violent. -
The Declaratory Act
The Declatory Act was announced by Parlaiment saying that they have the power to legislate the colonies " in all cases whats so ever." This sets the stage for more to come. -
Boston Non-Importation Agreement
This agreement was between the merchants of New York and Boston stating that they will no longer purchase merchandise from England. This was to fight back towards The Stamp Act. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre started with the Bostonians harassing the "Redcoats", this harassment led up to shots being fired. 11 people shot, 5 dead. After the Boston Massacre Paul Revere gets orders by Sam Adams to make a Propaganda picture of the Massacre showing how eveil the British were. In the end the troops were not found guilty in trial. Even though the Bostonians lost there trial they used the Massacre to there advantage to convince people to join the Sons of Liberty. -
The Tea Act
Many of the taxes had been repealed before the Tea Act was inforced by parlaiment to show that they still had the right to tax the colonists. Sam Adams reminded people of liberty and started to form a "Committeeof Correspondence:. Pretty soon Committee's where being created everywhere. Tea was very popular and it gave the British East India Trading Company controll of the American tea trade and selling of the tea. This made the colonists and the merchants mad. -
The Boston Tea Party
Protests of the Tea Act spread rappidly. Im Boston the Sons of Liberty organized the Boston Tea party. The men disguised themselves as Indians and boarded 3 tea ships, the dumped and destroyed 342 chests of tea. There hopes of the Tea Act being repealed were crushed and this incident just made the British even moren mad than they already were. -
The Intolereable Acts
Mar, 31- June, 22, 1774-
The Intolerable Acts as the colonists call them the "Coercive Acts" as the British call them was a harsh way to punish Mass. for dumping tea overboard. These acts closed the port of Boston until the tea was paid for. This also allowed them to house Redcoats wherever they please, it also moved the trials to Britain. To inforce the Act Britain appointed Thomas Gage as governor. -
Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty, or give me death" speech
Patrick Henry was one who beleived that the war was coming. His speech was saying that the British are ready for war and we can not just sit around and have them kill us. His words are still rememberd, "Give me liberty of give me death." -
Paul Revere & WIlliam Dawes "Midnight Rides"
On this day the British troops were sent to capture a stockpile of colonial weapons put in Concord, Mass.. The spy network hear if the plans and warn everyone in the area that the British are coming. Paul Revere and William Dawes also warn people that the British are coming. A poem made about Revere and Dawes made the both of them famous even though they were not the only ones spreading the word. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
This battle began with the "Shot heard around the world", no one knew who took the first shot but it was the first shot fired in the war of Democracy V.S. Monarchy. The British than chased the malitia off and moved towards Concord. To the British's suprise 700+ Colonists malitia where waiting for them. The British were sent to raid houses, and by day more than 3,800 colonists joined in wich helped us to win. Even though we won we lost 49 colonists, 39 wounded. Less than British's amount. -
Second Continetal Congress
This meeting was a major part of our history even though it is not talked about alot. During this meeting they decided to make a continental army. Washington was named General. They authorized the printing of paper money to pay the troops. The congress was starting to act like a governmant. -
Ft. Ticonderoga Seized by Ethan Allen & Green Mt. Boys
Americans attackes this Britsh fort led by Ethan Allen. The group that tookover were known as the Green Mountain Boys because the were backwoods men. Not only did they capture the fort but the artillary. They used the artillary they got for later purposes. -
Washington named Commander and Cheif of Continental Army & Navy.
Washington was chosen as the Commander and Cheif of the Continental Army and Navy because of his knowledge of warfare. He had served during the French and Indian War. He had many great ideas and was going to reinforce them. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Militiamen had taken Bunker Hill and Breeds Hill behind Charleston and had build fortifications wich alarmed the British and turned them to attack. The Britsih marched up Bunker Hill and got forced down but came back up winning but losing 1,000 men and killiing only 400 casualties. -
American forces under Benedict Arnold fail to seaize Quebec
Dec. 30-31,1775-
The Americans had an elaborate plan to invade Quebec and take it over from the British and bring canadians into there camp. They had to go through a gruelling winter and when they got to Quebec they where defeated and had to go all the way back. -
Continental Army Wins at Princeton
Continental Army beats British at Princeton after the win at Trenton, Cornwallis left and left someone else in charge. While he was gone Washington attacked and won. -
Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense"
Many Americans at this time did not want to break away from the British until "Common Sense" was published. This document told everyone that the King was taken away our God given rights and we can stand on our own as a country.This document was a big step in leading us to independence. -
British Evacuate Boston
The Continental army had surrounded the British forces at Boston. Help was on the way though because cannons were being traveled for over two gruelling, snowy months. When they finnaly got there they went to the top of Dorchester Heights threatening to bombard the city wich pushed the British out of Boston. -
Decleration of Independence Adopted
The Decleration was a document declaring independence adopted by Congress. The Decleration was based off of the philosophy of John Locke wich is all people deserve god given rights wich can not be taken away. In this document they say if any governmant takes there rights the people have the right to start there own governmant. America had declared indpendence now it was time to fight for it. -
Hessian Mercenaries Arrive to fight for British
Throughout Aug. 1776-
9,000 Hessian Mercenaries (hired people to fight for a foreign country) joined the British army. The British needed more soldiers but no one wanted to join so they hired train soldiers from Germany. -
British Win Battle of Long Island, New york
Both the British and Washington realized the importance of controlling New York so Washington positioned his troops to wait for the British. After the battle about 300 of Washingtons men were killed, 800 wounded, 1,000 captured. The british had lost about 64 men, 293 wounded, 31 captured. The British Won. -
British Occupy New York City
For many months the British planned on taking over New York. After the win of the Battle at Long Island, New York City they tookover. -
Battle of Trenton
Washington's troops rowed across the Icy Delaware to New Jersey. They marched in the cold to Trenton & suprised the Hessians. The Americans captured and killed more than 900 Hessians and got there needed supplies. -
Marquis deLafayette arrives in colonies
Marquis de Lafayette arrived in the colonies just to join the army, he beleived in America. Not only did he join the army but was given command of an army division. He was alot like Washington in the way of leadership. He was hero to America and France. -
Battle of Saratoga
Sept. 19- Oct. 17. 1777-
This battle had multiple fights going on in New York, at a nearby free mans farm and at Saratoga. All these fights led to a surrender from Burgoyne. Its known as the battle of the Saratoga because of the Europeans Nations thought that we might win for our war of independence. Also several European nations decided to help American including Britains allies France and Spain. -
British Occupy Philadelphia
For many weeks General John Burgoyne was marching with his troops to go north to New York. The Americans took all the sources that Burgoyne needed along the trail so it took even longer. Mandy days later Burgoyne reveived a letter from General Howe saying that Howe has decided to go Philadelphia to invade it and capture Washington. They Captured Philadelphia not Washington. -
British Win battle of Germantown
In this battle the British had not only themselves but Hessian and loyalist forces. America had the Continental Army and Malitia. The Americans were planning to drive Howe away from Philadelphia and take it over. They had a plan, his plan was going well at the start but did'nt end up going his way. 152 Americans killed, 521 wounded, 400 captured. British Casualties had 71 killed, 450 wounded, 14 missing. The americans really did'nt cause that much damage to the army wich was why they were lost. -
Valley Forge
The travel to Valley Forge was gruelling and hard, things did not get better when they got there. They had no shoes, and only blankets to cover themselves. There legs sometimes grew black and even had to be amputated. They also could go days without food. Roughly a quarter of the men died from small pox & typhoid fever. -
U.S. and France form official alliance.
France was skeptical of working with America at first because they did not want to get defeated by Britain again. It was after the Battle of Saratoga where France offically signed an alliance with the U.S.. -
British abandon Philadelphia and return to N.Y City
The British were in control of Philadelphia for almost 9 months. The British left because France entered the war with America and France has a good navy so the British left on land. -
British Capture port of Savannah, Georgia
Throughout Dec. 1778-
In this month the British forces launched a suprise attack on the American Forces who were defending Savannah Georgia. The Americans were out numbered. Howe ordered that they stop fighting and that everyone evacuate. 83 men were killed, 483 captured, alot more than British's 3 men lost, 10 wounded. -
Battle of Bincennes/Ft. Sackville
Feb. 23-24, 1779-
These battles all started with George Rogers Clark who talked the Virginia Governor into defending Kentucky. He got the okay and started raising his army. Clarks srategies were to suprise them and sneak so they could take the forts. He also used trickery and had to go by boat, by foot, and walked through swamps and chest deep water. They eventually captured the forts. -
Spain declares war on Britain
At the start Spains King Charles lll was reluctant to join allies with America. They were scared of the British but France negotiated a treaty and Spain joined the war against Britain. -
Battle of Flamborough
A small naval fight that was between the Americans & the British. No one really knows what happened. -
British capture Charleston, S.C
When the British captured Charleston they beleived that most loyalists lived in the south so thats why they captured it, also sea ports and slaves. This hurt the Americans be cause they lost almost all of there southern army. -
First French troops arrive to help the American War Effort
French troops arrive to do there part in the American forces. They brought the needed supplies and soldiers. -
Gen. Benedict Arnold commits treason
Sep. 21-25, 1780-
He commited treason because he did not feel respected and he had a loyalist wife. -
Battle of King's Mountain, S.C.
In this battle America surrounded the British at the border of North and South Carolina. They than slaughtered them. This was revenge for loyalist raids and an event where the British butchered the Americans. -
Articles of Confederation Adopted
America decided on a basic foundation for the rules of there governmant was founded on. -
British troops return to Britain
Sept. 28- Oct. 19, 1781-
After the war the British were definetly not welcome in America so they left to go back home. -
French Fleet drives British out of Chesapeake Bay
The French troops came and had a really long battle with the British to get Chesapeak Bay and the French took it over. -
Battle of Yorktown
Sept. 28- Oct. 19, 1781-
In this battle the American and French troops bombarded Yorktown turning the buildings into rubble. Cornwallis had no way out and was forced to surrender. Yorktown was the last major battle. After the war many British leaders would have to resign. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty of Paris ended the revolutionary war. The treaty stated Americas Independence and there terms and conditions. One of the conditions was to repay the pre-war debts that they owed the British and they didnt follow through, the British also didnt follow through with returning runaway slaves. -
U.S. Constitution Signed
The leaders of the United States made a document stating how the governmant would be ruled.
