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Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed by the leaders of Great Britain, France, and Spain. This treaty signaled the end of The Seven Years' War also know as The French and Indian War. The French were required by the treaty to give back all their claims to Canada, Lousiana, and Florida. -
Proclamation of 1763
After the French and Indian war Parliment passed the Proclamation of 1763 to calm the Native American's fears of having their land taken away by the colonists. The Proclamation stated that the colonists were forbidden to expand westward past the backcountry. All the "Indian territory" that had already been settled by the colonists was also to be abandoned.The colonists were not happy with this because they felt they had one that land and deserved to settle th west. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act stated that there was to be a tax on sugar, molasses, other products that were shipped to the colonies. It also stated that the enforcement of this Act was to be strict, and the punishment for smugglers would be harsh. This angered the colonists, especially the merchants who relied on smuggled goods. Colonial leaders didn't think that Britain had a right to tax them because the colonists weren't represetned in Parliaiment. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act stated that all documents must have an official stamp that showed a tax had been paid. Diplomas, contracts, and wills all were required to have a stamp. Newspapers even had to be written on stamped paper. This Act affected the colonists more directly than the Sugar Act. The colonists were greatly angered and colonial leaders protested endlessly to have the Stamp Act repealed. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act stated that the colonists were required to house the british soldiers and provied supplies for them. Most of the troops were located in New York. Britain had a large debt from the French and Indian war. By making a law that the colonists had to house the troops, Britain avoided raising that debt. -
Boston Massacre
While British soldiers were stationed in Boston, tensions between them and the colonists were rising. On the night of March 5, an angry mob of colonists gathered in town and verbally abused some of the soldiers on guard. This quickly escalated to the colonists throwing snow, ice, and other objects at the sodiers. The British then started firing into the crowd without orders, killing 5 men and injuring 6 others. This event lead to great outrage in the colonies. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was made to help the struggling East India Company. It forced the colonists to by tea only from Britain. The colonists opposed the Tea Act just as much as all the previous Acts Britain had passed before. This Act lead up to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest of the Tea Act lead by the Sons of Liberty. Late in the night the men disguised themselves as Native Americans and boarded a ship carrying a supply of tea. Then they threw the chests of tea into the Boston Harbor, therefore ruining the tea. This resistance lead to many more and was a key part in leading up to the American Revolution. -
Intolerable (Coersive) Acts
These acts were passed in direct response to the Boston Tea Party. Parliament called them the Coersive Acts, but the colonists hated them so they called them the Intolerable Acts. The Acts stated that the Boston Harbor was closed until the colonists repaid Britain for the destroyed tea. Town meetings were banned by the Acts and the authority of the governor was taken. -
1st Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress was a meeting between delagates from the colonies. It was arranged because of the Intolerale Acts. They discused what they were to do about these Acts that they despised. They also disscused a boycott of British goods. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the Revolutionary War between the colonists and the British. The British were given orders to go take and destroy the milita's weapons and supplies. The colonists heard of this and moved most of their things. In the first part of the battle the militiamen were forced to move back, but later they defieted the British soldiers who then retreated. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress took place in Philadelphia with delagates from all 13 colonies. They met soon after the Revolutionary War began. They managed the war effort, but more importantly they gravitated to the idea of freedom and independence from Britain. On July 2nd they voted for independece and on July 4th the Declaration of Idependence was approved signaling that the colonies were no longer a part of Britain. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle took place mostly on Breed's hill early in the American Revolution. The colonists had learned of the British's plan to take over the hill and staked out there. When the British arrived the two armies fought in combat. While the British won and took over the hill, the colonists had a moral victory. Many of the British soldiers had been killed or wounded, but the colonists were able to retreat safely with little casualities. -
Common Sense By Thomas Paine
In 1776 the majority of Americans still wanted to stay with Britain. But when Thomas Paine published the pamphlet called Common Sense it helped to convince a lot of the other Americans that is was a good idea to leave the monarchy. Thomas said that all kindoms and monarchies were corrupt and should be taken away. -
Declaration of Independence
The Fourth of July (Independence Day) celebrates the day the Declartation of Independence was adopted. This document told the king, colonists, and the world that the 13 colonies were officially independent from Britian. Even though Independence Day is the 4th the actual idea of Independence was voted for on the 2nd. -
Battle of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn)
This battle was a major succes for the British, but a horrible defeat for the Americans. The British won the state of New York because of this. George Washington was forced to have his army retreat. The colonials lost 1,000 men, while the British only lost 400. -
American Crisis by Thomas Paine
When Thomas Paine wrote American Crisis George Washington and his army were in New Jersey . They were on a losing streak with battles and the men's spirits were getting low. Washington required that the American Crisis be read to all the troops. This greatly improved the army's will to fight and soon after the troops crossed the Delaware and defeted the German Hessians. -
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton was fought the day after Christmas which was very unfortunate for the opposing Hessian soldiers, who were celebrating very late that night. They never imagined that Washington and his army would attack them on a holiday. The Americans easily won the battle and captured many of the German Hessians. -
Battles of Saratoga
Because General Howe, and Barry St. Leger strayed from the British's original plan to surrond the continental army, John Burgoyne and his men were left to fight the Americans alone. With the unexpected loss of man power the Americans defeted the British. This convinces European nations that the Americans might win the war. Benedict Arnold is angry about the lack of recognition he recieves and betrays the Continental Army. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania was where the Continental Army spent the winter of 1777-1778. That winter was very harsh for the men. The soldiers were short on food, clothing, and supplies. About a quarter of the men die that winter. Some of the soldiers desert the army, but most stay out of love for the country and fpr Washington. -
Battle of Yorktown
the Battle of Yorktown is concidered the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. British general Cornwallis decided to set up his base in Yorktown, on a peninsula in Chesapeake Bay so he could recive supplies from New York. Washington took advantage of this. A French fleet of ships came in and blocked Chesapeake Bay so that the British couldn't get any of their supplies. Then Washington came from the North and trapped Cornwallis on the peninsula who surrendered his force of about 8,000. -
Treaty of Paris (Revolutionary War)
This Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War between The United States and Great Britain. Brtiain also signed with agreements with other countries involved in the war. The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris, France by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay from the U.S., and David Hartley, and Richard Oswald From Britain.
