History timeline

  • Sugar act

    Sugar act
    April 5th, 1764 Although it reduced the tax on molasses, the Sugar Act was strictly enforced, so colonist ended up
    paying more taxes.
  • Taxes

    Taxes
    April 1765 Those who opposed the British taxes called themselves “Patriots” and the Sons of Liberty was born with
    Sam Adams as its leader.
  • Stamp act

    Stamp act
    March 22nd, 1765 The Stamp Act was the tax on printed items was the first direct tax on the colonists. It added a fee
    to printed materials such as legal documents and newspapers.
  • French and Indian war

    French and Indian war
    March 24th, 1765 Following the French and Indian War, Britain maintained a standing army in the colonies. The
    Quartering Act required colonial assemblies to house and provision soldiers
  • Sons

    Sons
    Aug 13th, 1765 A Mob led by the Sons of Liberty tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector.
  • Declatory act

    March 18th, 1766 The Declatory Act repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament’s right to rule the colonies as
    saw fit.
  • 1767

    1767
    1767 Import taxes on a variety of goods were collected to support royal officials in the colonies, removing the
    responsibility from the colonial assemblies. The Townsend Acts were so unpopular that all the taxes were
    repealed, except the one on tea.
  • colonist

    March, 5th, 1770 A group of colonist hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists.
  • tea act

    tea act
    May 10th, 1773: The Tea Act was created to save the East India Tea Company. Although it lowered the price of tea, it
    gave the company a monopoly and threatened the business of colonial importers.
  • Boston

    Dec. 16, 1773: Boston Patriots dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships laden with tea and Dumped the tea
    into the harbor. The event became known as the Boston Tea Party.
  • intolerable act

    Jan 1774 The Intolerable Act officially called the Coercive Acts, these laws were meant to force Massachusetts to pay
    for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The laws closed Boston Harbor and forced colonists to house
    British soldiers in their homes.
  • congress

    Sept 5th, 1774 The First Continental Congress meets. Agree to boycott British goods.
  • olive branch

    July 1775 Congress sends an “Olive Branch” to King George III. He rejected the petition and sent more troops to
    Boston.
  • patrick henry

    patrick henry
    March 1775 Patrick Henry, gives his most famous speech, in the House of Burgesses. “Give me Liberty or give me
    Death”
  • lexington

    April 19th, 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord
  • congress

    May 10th, 1775 Second Continental Congress meets. Congress names George Washington commander of
    Continental Army
  • bunker hil

    bunker hil
    June 17th, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill
  • common sense

    Jan 9th, 1776 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
  • drafted

    July 4th, 1776 Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence was approved.
  • Period: to

    winter

    Winter 1777-1778 Baron Von Steuben trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Penn
  • saratoga

    saratoga
    Oct 17h, 1777 Patriots win in Saratoga
  • france

    Feb. 6th 1778 France signs an alliance with the United States.
  • clinton

    May 1780 General Clinton captures 3000 Patriot soldiers as he takes Charlestown, South Carolina.
  • cornwallis

    cornwallis
    Oct 19th 1781 General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown.
  • paris

    Sept. 3rd, 1783 Treaty of Paris signed