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French and Indian War
Final conflict in the ongoing struggle between the British and French for control of eastern North America. The British win a decisive victory over the French on the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec -
Stamp Act
This was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which imposed a direct tax on the British colonies in America and required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fire into a mob, killing 5 men and leading to intense public protest -
Boston Tea Party
English tea is thrown into the harbor to protest a tax on tea. This was a political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts. -
First Continental Congress Meets
The First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, with 56 delegates representing every colony except Georgia. Delegates include Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Samuel Adams. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
This was the first battle of the American Revolution. On this night hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to nearby Concord in order to seize an arms cache. -
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War. New England militiamen prevented the movement by land of the British Army, which was garrisoned in what was then the peninsular city of Boston, Massachusetts Bay. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. -
Congress Approves Declaration of Independence
After Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence and others made changes to it Congress Approved the final text. -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
56 members of the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. This officially gave freedom to the States from Great Britain -
Battle of Long Island
The British Army successfully moved against the American Continental Army led by George Washington. The battle was part of a British campaign to seize control of New York and thereby isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. -
Battle of Fort Washington
This was the final devastating chapter in General Washington's disastrous New York Campaign. After winning a major victory on Long Island in August, British General William Howe began to move against New York City in mid-September. -
Battle of Trenton
The significance of the conflict was that the Hessian army was crushed in Washington's raid across the Delaware River and the Americans were invigorated by the easy defeat of the British Hessian forces. -
Battle of Princeton
This was one of the most consequential of the American Revolution. George Washington and his soldiers marched north from Trenton and attacked a British force south of the town. -
Battle of Brandywine
This was fought between the American Continental Army of General George Washington and the British Army of General Sir William Howe. The significance of the conflict was that the British seized Philadelphia after their victory at Brandywine Creek which would be followed by another British victory at the Battle of Germantown. -
Battle of Saratoga
This was the climax of the American Revolution. Gate's American army was positioned between Burgoyne's army and Albany. Burgoyne took the offensive. The troops crashed together south of the town of Saratoga, and Burgoyne's army was broken. In mop-up operations 86 percent of Burgoyne's command was captured. -
Articles of Confederation is Written
After considerable debate and alteration, the Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress. This document served as the United States' first constitution, and was in force until 1789 when the present day Constitution went into effect. -
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was fought in Monmouth County, New Jersey and was part of the Philadelphia Campaign 1777-78. The Continental Army attacked the rear of the British Army column as they left Monmouth Court House (modern Freehold Borough). -
Siege of Charleston
The significance of the conflict was that the British gained control of South and the Americans lost many soldiers due to the surrender. The following picture represents some of the early designs of the American flag. -
Battle of the Chesapeake
French naval victory over a British fleet that took place outside Chesapeake Bay. The outcome of the battle was indispensable to the successful Franco-American Siege of Yorktown from August to October. -
Siege of Yorktown
General George Washington, commanding a force of 17,000 French and Continental troops, begins the siege known as the Battle of Yorktown against British General Lord Charles Cornwallis and a contingent of 9,000 British troops at Yorktown, Virginia, in the most important battle of the Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Paris is Signed
This was signed by the U.S and British Representatives which ended the War of the American Revolution -
Bi-Focal Glasses Invention
Benjamin Franklin invented the by-focal glasses for people with presbyopia which Franklin himself suffered from. -
Shay's Rebellion
This was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts and Worcester in response to a debt crisis among the citizenry and in opposition to the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes both on individuals and their trades; the fight took place mostly in and around Springfield -
The Constitution is signed
39 of the 55 delegates signed the new document, with many of those who refused to sign objecting to the lack of a bill of rights. At least one delegate refused to sign because the Constitution codified and protected slavery and the slave trade. -
George Washington Presidency
He was commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) and served two terms as the first U.S. president. -
French Revolution
The three main goals of the French Revolution were liberty, equality, and fraternity. Liberty meant that everyone had all of their natural rights and freedoms. Equality meant that everyone would be equal in the eyes of the government. -
Bill of Rights is Signed
James Madison wrote the amendments, which list specific prohibitions on governmental power, in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties. Anti-Federalists held that a bill of rights was necessary to safeguard individual liberty. -
French Revolutionary War
It was a series of sweeping military conflicts lasting from 1792 until 1802 and resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted France against Great Britain, the Holy Roman Empire, Prussia, Russia, and several other monarchies. -
Cotten Gin Invention
Eli Whitney invention of the cotton gin greatly increases the demand for slave labor. -
Small Pox Invention
Jenner took fluid from a cowpox blister and scratched it into the skin of James Phipps, an eight-year-old boy. A single blister rose up on the spot, but James soon recovered. On July 1, Jenner inoculated the boy again, this time with smallpox matter, and no disease developed. The vaccine was a success. -
John Adams Presidency
he served on the First Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. Adams became the first vice president of the United States and the second president. John Adams was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and a Founding Father.