-
John Locke Social Contract
John Locke maintained that people would have natural rights to life like liberty and property. He contended every society is based on a social contract, an agreement in which that people consent to choose and obey to government. If the government violates the social contract by taking away or interfering with those rights, people have the right to resist and even overthrow the government. -
French and Indian War
In 1754 the French and Indian war brought financial crisis brought new laws that reinforced the colonist opinion. During the French and Indian war the british found out about colonials smuggling to ensure that people were not doing business in French held territories. -
Writ of Assistance
The Writ of Assistance was a general search warrant that would allow british custom officials to search any colonial ship or building. -
Treaty of Paris
The war ended in 1763 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris -
Proclamation of 1763
The proclamation line along the appalachians that the colonist could not cross. However the colonist were eager to expand westward. -
Sugar Act
In 1764 Parliament had been prometect to enact a law called the Sugar Act. The Sugar Act did three things, one of them was having the duty on taxes to make them cheaper in hope that it would stop people from smuggling. It also placed duties on certain imports that have not been taxed. At last it provided colonist accused of violating the act. -
Stamp Act
In March 1765 Parliament passed the stamp act. The act imposed a tax on documents and printed items such as wills, newspapers, and playing cards. A stamp would be placed on a item to show that tax had been paid. In 1765 the colonist united to defy the law. Boston shop leaders organized a secret resistance group called the Sons of Liberty. -
Sons of Liberty
In May of 1765 the colonist united to defy the Stamp Act and created their own secret resistance group called the Sons of Liberty to protest the law. One of the founders of Son of Liberty was Samuel Adams. -
Declaratory Act
On the same day that Stamp Act was passed Parliament also passed the Declaratory Act. The Declaratory Act asserted Parliament's full right to bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever. -
Townshend Acts
In 1767 Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, it taxed goods that were imported the colony. Goods such as lead,glass,paint, and paper. The act also imposed a tax on tea. The townshend acts were costing more to enforce than they would ever bring in. -
Boston Massacre
A mob crowded outside the boston customs house they threw snowballs, stones, and sticks. Several colonists were killed. -
Tea Act
While in deep trouble the British Parliament passed the Tea Act in 1773. The act granted the company the right to ship tea directly to colonies without first landing it in England. -
Boston Tea Party
On December 16, 1773 a large group of Boston rebels disguised themselves as Native Americans and went against the British and took over three ships anchored on the harbor. These "Indians" dumped 18,000 pounds of the East India Company's tea into the waters of Boston harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
After the Boston Tea Party the Intolerable acts were punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774. The laws were meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their defiance in the Tea Party protest. The three parts were
1. Boston Ports act March 31, 1774
2. Massachusetts Government Act in May 20, 1774
3. Administration Justice Act on May 20, 1774 -
First Continental Congress
In response to Britain's actions the correspondence assembled the First Continental Congress. On September 1774, 56 delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up the declaration of colonial rights. -
Second Continental Congress
May 1775 the colonial leaders called the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to debate their next move. The loyalties that divided colonists sparked endless debates. -
Minutemen
Minutemen were civilian colonists who independently organized to form well prepared and self trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies. Minutemen were ready to fight the British. -
Continental Army
In 1775 despite such differences Congress agreed to recognize the colonial as the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander. -
Loyalists and patriots
As war began Americans ended up being on different sides the Loyalists and Patriots.
The Loyalists - Independence and remained loyal the the British king included judges and governors. Modest people were also apart of the Loyalist. Loyalist thought British were going to win and wanted to avoid punishment as rebels.
Patriots - Supported the independence, people who saw political and economic opportunity in an independent America. Many Africans fought on the side of the Patriots. -
Battle of Lexington
On April 18, 1775 Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode out to spread the word that 700 British troops were headed for Concord. The king's troops the "Redcoats" reached Lexington Massachusetts, five miles short of Concord that was April 19. The British commander had ordered the minutemen to put down their weapons down but the colonists began to move out without laying their muskets down. The Battle of Lexington in the Revolutionary war only lasted 15 minutes. -
Battle of Concord
The American Revolution started on the night of April 18 1775 when hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to nearby Concord in order to seize arms. The Americans won the battle of Concord, the British retreated back to Boston. The battle of Concord ended after less then a day on April 19, 1775 -
Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 17th 1775 Gage has sent 2,400 British soldiers up to the hill. The colonists had held their fire until the last minute and began to mow down the redcoats before retreating. When the smoke cleared the colonists had lost 450 men while the British suffered over 1,000 casualties. This was one of the deadliest wars -
Olive Branch Petition
By July the Second Continental Congress was preparing the colonies for war though still hoping for peace. On July 5th the Olive Branch Petition was adopted by congress then on July 8th congress sent the king the Olive Branch Petition urging a return to harmony between Britain and colonies. -
redcoats push Washington's army across the Delaware river in Philadelphia
The British sailed into New York in 1776 with the help of 32,000 soldiers. The Continental Army attempted to defend New York in late August. The untrained and poorly equipped colonial troops soon would retreated. By late fall British had pushed Washington's army across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. -
Christmas Night
On Christmas night 1776 Washington risked everything. Him and his troops they faced a storm. He led 2,400 men in small rowboats across the Delaware river. Washington and his troops marched to Trenton, New Jersey and defeated a garrison hessian in a surprise attack. -
publication of common sense
In 1776 "Common Sense" sold nearly 500,000 copies and was widely applauded and in April 1776 George Washington wrote " I find Common Sense is working a powerful change in the minds of many men" -
Declaration of independence
The Declaration of Independence was signed by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, Roger Sherman. On July 2, 1776 the delegates voted unanimously then on July 4th 1776 the Declaration of independence was adopted. The colonist had declared their freedom from Britain. But the Declaration of independence wasn't officially approved by congress until August 2nd 1776. -
Saratoga
Burgoyne rounded up at Saratoga, where he surrendered on October 17th 1777. The surrender turned out to be one of the most important events of the war. -
French American Alliance
The French had secretly aided the Patriots since 1776. Saratoga victory bolstered France's belief in Americans that they could win the war as a result the French signed a alliance with the Americans in February 1778 and joined them in the fight. -
Valley Forge
Washington and his Continental Army ran low on food and supplies and fought to stay alive at winter camp in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. More then 2,000 soldiers died. -
American Revolution
The American Revolution was a struggle between 13 American colonies and Great Britain.
The war lasted for eight years
The American colonists supporting independence were named Patriots.
The American Revolution was a colonial rev that started in 1765 through 1783 lasting eight years. The Patriots defeated the British with the assistance of France winning independence from Britain.
