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Jamestown founded
This settlement became the first permanent English settlement in North America and paved the way for future colonization. -
House of Burgesses first meeting
House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly in the colonies that helped to bring order to the colonies and started the colonial trend of self government -
The creation of the Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first formal framework of government established in what is now the United States. -
The Massachusetts Town Hall meetings begin
The first of many democratic showcases allowed New Englanders to elect officials, appiont schoolmasters, etc. Thoomas Jefferson said the town meeting was "the best school for political liberty the world ever saw". -
Salutary Neglect begins
This lasts up until 1760 and The problem with this salutary neglect was that was when the British later tried to be more strict, the colonists didn't like the change in rules, and felt that their rights were being violated. That led to the American Revolution. -
The Albany Congress
The Albany Congress was the first time in the 18th century that colonial representatives met to discuss some manner of formal union. -
The end of The French and Indian War
After this grueling war that left Britain in monstrous debt, the colonies were hastily gripped again by the Crown, thus ending the period of salutary neglect. -
The Stamp Act
This direct tax set the colonists on the mindset that the British was trying to control the press, and thus violating one of the colonists' rights. The enforcement of the Stamp Act fed the fire of the unhappy colonists who would retaliate. -
The Boston Massacre
Several colonists were killed and this led to a campaign by speech-writers to rouse the anger of the colonists to see the oppresion of the british -
The Intolerable Acts
These acts (intended to punish the colonists after the Boston Tea party) targeted Massachusetts but were resented by all colonies because the same scenario could happen to them. -
The Battle of Lexington & Concord
This battle was the first of many encounters of the American Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
All states represented, this congress produces an "Olive Branch Petition" which is sent to the King stating their grievances and a last chance at reconciliation. -
The Battle of Fort Ticonderoga
Colonist possession of the fort blocked easy transportation for British troops and supplies southwards from Canada to where they had main forces positioned in the northern colonies. Also, many of it's firepower was transported, then used in the Seige of Boston -
The Declaration of Independance
The Americas removed themselves from British rule -
Battle of Trenton
With the continental army in ful retreat, Washington surprises the Hessian-occupied Trenton and takes the city in a small skirmish, giving the colonial soldiers much needed morale -
The Battle of Saratoga
This battle prevented the British from cutting off the northern colonies and gave the French proof that american militiamen can defeat British regulars -
Articles of Confederation created
Without this document, the Americas might have never made the jump from the 1774 Assembly to the Constitution -
France allies with the Americans
This alliance provided the colonial army with much needed naval power, manpower, and firepower to win the war against the British -
The Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis is surrounded in Yorktown, Va, and seeks terms of surrender. This sped up the peace talks in London and the British finally agreed to terms on November 30, 1782. -
The Treaty of Paris
This treaty formaly ended the war and double the size of the new nation. -
Constitution gains enough States to become law of the land
The Constitution gained it's 9th ratification from New Hampshire. This was the minimum requirement for ratification and thus put pressure on the 4 remaining states to ratify it.