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French and Indian War
This war began in 1754 and ended in 1763. It was a fight over territory in America between the British and the French. The British claimed the Ohio River Valley was theirs, resulting in this war. It ended when the Treaty of Paris was issued. -
Treaty of Paris
Both France and Britain signed this treaty, France agreeing to give up all of their land in North America. Britain returned to them the West Indian Islands that they had taken. -
Proclamation of 1763
This was issued shortly after the Treaty of Paris. It took away the land the French owned in America and in turn gave them the same amount of land in Great Britain. -
Sugar Act
Also known as the Plantation Act or Revenue Act, this was passed by the British Parliament in 1764 to enforce the taxation on sugar and molasses. Though it was actually less of a tax than before, colonists were angry that it was being enforced and that they didn't have a say in it. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a fight that broke out on King Street between colonists and British soldiers. The fight then escalated and the British soldiers began firing. This fight resulted in 5 colonists dyeing. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act stated that all tea shipped to the colonies must be shipped from the British East India Company. This caused problems for merchants who sold tea and angered colonists into boycotting. -
Boston Tea Party
In an attempt to get rid of the tea act, colonists disguised themselves as Native Americans and dumped tea off of a ship carrying tea from the British East India Company off board into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts were laws that were passed in order to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. There were five: The Boston Port Act, Administration of Justice Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Quartering Act, and the Quebec Act. -
First Continental Congress
Every one of the 13 colonies, excluding Georgia, met in Philadelphia to sign the first continental congress. This was meant to help the colonists resist against Parliament. -
Lexington and Concord
These were the first battles fought in the American Revolutionary War. The British army were attempting to capture rebels and destroy the colonists weapons. This naturally sparked up a fight. -
Second Continental Congress
During the second continental congress, all 13 colonists attended. Less than a year after the previous continental congress and only a month after the start of the Revolutionary War, this was meant to increase resistance and unity between the colonies. -
Olive Branch Petition
The colonists wanted to avoid going to war. To do this, they wrote the Olive Branch Petition. This document stated their rights as British citizens and pledged their loyalty. -
Common Sense
Common sense was a book written by Thomas Paine that encouraged rebellion from the colonists against the British. It was written in 1775 and 1776. -
Declaration of Independence
Officially accepted during the Second Continental Congress, this assured the colonists freedom. When this was signed, the British could not tax or control them any longer. -
Washington Crosses the Delaware
Washington crossed the Delaware with 5,400 troops on Christmas. They intended to ambush an unexpecting Hessian force. They reached them the next day and were successful in surrounding the town. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was essentially the first constitution of the US. It was agreed on by the 13 colonies during the Second Continental Congress helped govern the new country. -
Valley Forge
The army of George Washington camped here during the winter. Oftentimes, it is called the birthplace of the American army. During their stay, there was fighting and they were short on supplies. -
France Provides Aid to the Colonists
In 1778, when the war was in the British's favor, France provided aid to the colonies. They provided them with money, troops, support, and leaders to direct the military. -
Benedict Arnold Turns Traitor
An infamous hero of the Revolutionary War, he betrayed the US and fought for the British. When he still fought for the US, he was key in winning many battles. However, he started fighting for the British, making him an infamous traitor. -
Siege of Yorktown
During this battle, the British were cornered on a peninsula. They had no chance of winning in the situation they were in, so they had no choice but to surrender.
