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John Locke
John Locke 1632-1704 was an English philosopher who came up with the idea that a goverment rule by the consent of the people and that all people have the right to life, liberty, and property. These ideas became key themes in the USA's founding documents. Photo source:https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/john-locke -
Minute Men
As early as 1645 in Massachusetts men were selected to form militia that could mobilize anytime to protect the towns. During the Revolutionary War they were important because they formed a quarter of the colonies' militia and were involved in the first confrontations with the British soldiers at Lexington and Concord. They made their own weapons and uniforms and trained themselves. Source: https://www.ushistory.org/people/minutemen.htm -
Proclamation of 1763
King George III issued the Proclamation of 1763 banning colonies from expanding west of the Appalachian Divide. This was the first order to affect all the colonies in a negative way. The colonists were angry because they wanted more land and to profit from trade with Native American Indians and the British stood to make profits by keeping the trade for themselves. Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Proclamation_of_1763 -
Intoleable Act: Quartering Act
The British Parliament passed the Quartering Act, which made the colonists house British soldiers. The colonists wanted to be asked and to give there consent to house soldiers instead of being made to do so. This was another reason for the colonists to rebel. Photo source: https://thehistoryjunkie.com/quartering-act/ -
Boston Massacre
In the Boston Massacre British soldiers killed poeple after being harassed with snow balls and rocks. News of this event motivated colonists to join the movement for independence. Photo source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre -
Boston Tea Party
A shipment of tea was destroyed as a protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston against taxation without representation in British Parliament. After this the British Parliament retaliated with the Intolerable Acts taking away Colonists' rights. Source of photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party -
Intolerable Act: Boston Port Act
The British Parliament passed the Boston Port Act, which closed the Boston port and demanded payment for the dumped tea from the Boston Tea Party incident.This was hard on the colonists because it was a lot of money and they couldn't make money through the port. This was another reason for the colonists to rebel. Photo source:https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/bpb.html -
Intoleable Act: Massacchusetts Government Act
The British Parliament passed the Massacchusetts Government Act, which removed local Massacchusetts' governement and replaced it with a British Governor who had a lot of power. This was hard on the colonists because they lost their right to self govern. This was another reason for the colonists to rebel. Photo source: https://www.nist.gov/image/colonial-boston-harborjpg -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met for the first time in Philadelphia. It included 12 out of the 13 British colonies' representatives. They discussed taxation without representation and violation of rights by Britain. This was the first official gathering of the colonies against Britain and an important united act. For example, they united to boycott British goods to pressure Britian to drop the Intolerable Acts. Photo source: https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/continental-congress -
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Speech
Patrick Henry made this speech to the Second Virginia Convention and convinced them to provide Virginian troops for the revolutionary war which helped with the war effort. Photo source: By Popular Graphic Arts - Library of CongressCatalog: http://lccn.loc.gov/2001700209Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3a00000/3a04000/3a04000/3a04017r.jpgOriginal url: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pga.08961, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65583755 -
Paul Revere
Paul Revere rode his horse all night to warn the colonial militia that the British forces were coming in a surprise attack before the battles of Lexington and Concord. He helped change the out come of the first confrontation in the war in the US's favor. Photo source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/paul-revere -
Battle of Lexington
The battles of Lexington and Concord took place at Massachusetts and were the first battles in the Revolutionary War and were significant because it was the start of the conflict. The British soldiers were after militia military supplies. The militia were told about the secret attack and prepared. The soldiers won at Lexington and moved on to Concord to continue their search for supplies. Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Lexington_and_Concord -
Battle of Concord
The battles of Lexington and Concord took place at Massachusetts and were the first battles in the Revolutionary War and were significant because it was the start of the conflict. After the soldiers won at Lexington they moved on to Concord where they were outnumbered and defeated by militia. This was the first time the militia organized against the British. Photo source: https://www.landofthebrave.info/battle-of-concord.htm -
Second Continental Congress
This time all 13 colonies joined the congress of colonies in Philadelphia after the Revolutionary War for independence started. They created the continental army and appointed George Washington as the army commanding general. After this the war effort was more organized and effective. The Congress became the first government of America. Photo source: https://medium.com/@BonnieKGoodman/otd-in-history-july-2-1776-second-continental-congress-declares-american-independence-from-great-aa7341698ef0 -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought during the Siege of Boston early in the war. The militia occupied the hills surrounding occupied Boston but had to withdraw from the battle after they ran out of ammunition. Although the colonists lost, the British lost many officers and realized that the militia could hold their own against them. This was a shock to them. Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bunker_Hill -
Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independance as the goverment of the colonies. In the document they explained all the injustices of British rule and declared they had the right to rule themselves independent of Britain. It is important because it set the tone for the new country's ideals of all men being created equal and the right to life liberty and happiness. Photo source: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/2299573-our-view-declaration-independence-worth-study -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga happened in September and October of 1777 9 miles south of Saratoga New York and were a huge victory for the colonists who beat the British in two rounds of fighting 18 days apart. After this victory and show of strength, the Spanish, Dutch and French became allies helping the colonists ultimately win the war. Photo source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-saratoga -
French Alliance
The French King Louis XVI signed an alliance of support with the Second Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. They recognized the colonies as an independent nation. In response, Britain declared war on France. France then was helping the colonists in the war which helped the colonists win in the end. Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Alliance_(1778) -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty was signed in Paris by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay for the colonies and by represenatives for King George III of Britain, ending the war. Britain recognized the independence of the colonies and gave up all the land East of the Mississippi River to the colonies. Photo source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/treaty-of-paris -
US Constitution signed
The US Constitution set up a new form of government and the laws of the land. It is important because it set up the structure of democracy for the US and set up an example for other countries to follow. Source of Image: https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc_large_image.php?flash=false&doc=9
