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Treaty of Paris (1763)
The peace settlement at Paris forced the French off of the North American continent making no further threat to the British colonies and colonial way of life. It officially ended the French and Indian War. -
Pontiac's Uprising
The rebellion consisted of Native groups and remaining French traders laying siege to British forts and cities like Detroit. Ottawa chief, Pontiac, led the uprising. The British retaliated with cruel, primitive warfare. This led to an uneasy truce and convinced the British to preserve relations with the Indians. -
Proclamation of 1763
This law was issued by King George III as a response to Pontiac's Uprising. It prohibited colonist from crossing the Appalachian Mountains into the newly acquired territory. The goal was to prevent further bloodshed between the colonists and Native Americans. -
Sugar Act of 1764
This law, also known as the Revenue Act, was the first passed for the colonies relating to taxes. It increased tax revenue on imported sugar from the West Indies. After protest from the angered colonist, the taxes were lowered but still remained in place. -
Stamp Act of 1765
Of the three acts issued during this time, the Stamp Act was the most controversial. It mandated the use of stamped paper showing a tax had been paid. The act included legal documents, playing cards, newspapers, and more. The popular phrase, "No Taxation with Representation", arose during this time period. Due to this law, the colonist began to rebel. -
Quartering Act of 1765
This act required certain colonies and colonist to provide food and quarters to British soldiers residing in North America. This not only took away liberties and freedoms from colonist but as well as caused financial distress for them. Furthermore, in early June, the act was expanded to private homes. -
The Stamp Act Congress and Nonimportation Agreements
In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress met after the passing of the Stamp Act. The congress tried to convince the King to repeal the act and recognize the rights of the colonists. They made little to no influence within England and Parliament. However, the Nonimportation Agreements adopted by the congress eventually got to British Merchants, forcing Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act in 1766. -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of acts passed by the new British Prime Minister, Charles Townshend. It placed a tax on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea, which would all be paid as indirect customs at American Ports. The colonists continued their protests and revived the Nonimportation Agreements against these new taxes. -
The Boston Massacre
Due to unruly behavior in the colonies and a disregard for the law, two regiments of British troops were sent to Boston. Colonists despised the Redcoat presence, and during one encounter shots were fired. The British soldiers open fired, killing and injuring 11 people. -
The Committees of Correspondence
After the Townshend Acts and other run-in’s in the colonies, Samuel Adams organized the first committee in Boston. The idea spread, and about 80 other colonial towns set up similar organizations. Their main goal was to keep the spirit of rebellion alive. These groups evolved into intercolonial organizations and later into the first American Congress. -
The Boston Tea Party
After the British East India Company was facing bankruptcy, they were granted a monopoly of the American Tea Business. Many cities, filled with revolutionaries, forced turned away the ships of tea. When the ship landed in Boston, roughly 100 Bostonians boarded the ship at night, dressed as Indians, and dumped over 300 crates of tea in Boston Harbor -
The Intolerable Acts
After the Boston Tea Party, Parliament issued a series of laws, including the Boston Port Act, that was known in America as the Intolerable Acts. This act took away many of the liberties that colonial Massachusetts previously held. There were also restrictions on town meetings and other liberties. Due to the colonists feeling that the laws were unjust, they took their anger out on British officials and tax collectors as depicted in the picture. -
The First Continental Congress
As a response to the Intolerable Acts, 12 of the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress. They were a consultative body, hoping to readdress colonial issues. By the end of the congress, they ended up writing several documents to the King, British Citizens, and other people within England. -
The Battles at Lexington and Concord
In April of 1775, a military detachment was sent to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to take Samuel Adams and John Hancock hostage. When the colonial “minutemen” refused to back down, shots were fired. In total, there was 300 casualties from this day with about 70 men being killed. -
The Second Continental Congress
A month of the bloodshed at Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. This time all 13 colonies were represented. The Congress wrote more appeals to the King. Also anticipating more fighting, they set up funds for an army, navy, and appointed George Washington to head the army. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
As warfare increased, an American force captured seized a large store of gunpowder and artillery, now known as Bunker Hill. The British attacked Bunker Hill and were slaughtered by the American forces. When the gunpowder stores ran out, the fighting stopped and the Americans scattered in disarray. -
The Olive Branch Petition
The Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch Petition, which declared loyalty to the British Crown and begged the king to stop the fighting. As a response to The Battle of Bunker Hill, King George III decided against reconciliation and declared the colonists as rebels that could be hung for treason. -
"Common Sense" and Thomas Paine
In 1776, Thomas Paine published his revolutionary pamphlet, “Common Sense”, which gradually changed the minds of many Americans about the necessity of independence. This was one of the many ideas of which the foundation of America was built upon. -
The Declaration of Independence
Members of the Philadelphia Congress decided towards a clean break from Britain. After the Congress decided on separation, Thomas Jefferson was tasked with writing a formal statement. On July 4th, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. -
The Battle of Long Island
After the British forces evacuated Boston, they decided on taking the seaport city of New York instead. British General Howe brought in 500 ships and 35,000 troops to New York, bringing disaster to the American troops. Washington and his troops barely escaped defeat by crossing to Manhattan Island and eventually the Hudson River into New Jersey. -
Crossing the Delaware in Trenton, NJ
During the cold winter, Washington and his troops crushed the Delaware River into Trenton, New Jersey. During the night of December 26th, the American forces attacked over 1,000 sleeping Hessians. A week later he attacked a British detachment at Princeton. Washington's New Jersey Campaign was a huge success. -
Battle of Saratoga
At this battle lasting numerous days, General Burgoyne was forced to surrender the entirety of his command to the American general Horatio Gates. Saratoga was one of the most decisive battles of not only American history, but also world history due to its revival of the colonial clause. It also ensured American independence through foreign aid from France. -
The Battle of Yorktown
In September of 1781, the American and French forces attacked the British in Chesapeake Bay. By October, British General Cornwallis surrendered his men. Fighting continued in other parts of America for more than a year, but America eventually won through the Treaty of Paris (1783). -
The Treaty of Paris (1783)
Set in Paris with negotiators from both sides including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, the countries met to discuss the ending of the Revolutionary War. The treaty granted independence to the United States and new boundaries set as far west as the Mississippi River. Furthermore, the British were able to rebuild its army and navy which were heavily effected from the economic downfalls of the war leading to Britain regaining its stronghold of dominant world power in the nineteenth century.
