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Zenger Trial
http://www.gailjarrow.com/zenger.html John Peter Zenger was brought to trial fo publishing "“false, malicious, seditious, and scandalous" statements against the crown. He criticized British governor William Cosby in his newspaper "The New-York Weekly Journal." He was in jail for nine months beofre his trial where the talented lawyer, Andrew Hamilton aruguyed that he could not be tried for libel because the accusations against Cosby were true. -
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Seven Years War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_and_Indian_War Also know as the French and Indain War, there were colonial struggles between Great Britain and France over control of North America. In 1756 it became a world wide conflict between several countries. A lot of Native Americans allied with the french against the British. Most of the battles were fought along the borders of disputed land between the French and the British colonies. It was ended by the Treaty of Paris on February 10, 1763. -
Treaty of Paris
Also known as the Peace of Paris, this treaty was signed between Great Britain, France, Spain and with Portugal in agreement to end the Seven Years War. It was made possible by the British vistory over both France and Spain and marked the start of a period of British hedgemony outside of Europe. -
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Pontiac's Rebellion
Natives were dissatisfied with British postwar policies in the Great Lakes region. They were offended by British General Jeffrey Amhurst and attacked several British Forts and settlements. It was ended by British army expeditions in 1764 that led to peace negotiations. -
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Sugar Act
It was a revenue raising act passed by British parliament. It was a form of indirect tax in the colonies that's goal was to raise revenue for Britain. This act raised the issue of taxation without representation in the colonies. -
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Albany Congress
Also known as the Albany Conference was a meeting of representatives of each of the thirteen British colonies. They discussed how to attain better relations with the natives and how to create common measures of defense from the French. -
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Stamp Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_Act_1765This was a British direct tax in the American colonies. Almost all printed materials were required to have a stamp with the colonists had to pay for. The Sons Of Liberty were a group of protesters who opposed the Stamp acts and taxation without representation. -
Declaratory Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaratory_Act In this act British parliament stated that their authority in the colonies was the same as their authority in Britain. It stated that Britain had the right to pass laws in American colonies. -
Repeal of The Stamp Act
http://www.manhattanrarebooks-history.com/repeal_of_stamp_act.htm After boycotting the importation of British goods, the American colonies won their victory over Britain by getting them to repeal the Stamp Act. Nonimportation in the colonies was hurting British manufacturers and therefore the act as repealed. -
Boston Massacre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Massacre British Army soliders killed five civillian men and injured six others.British soldiers were stationed in Boston in order to protect several crown appointed officials. A mob of civillians were verbally abusing the officials when the soldiers open fired on the mob. Revolutionists used this event as propaganda for a revolution. -
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Tea Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Act The British East India Trade Company had a very large surplus of tea. The tea act created a monopoly for tea by the East India Trade Company. The goal of the Tea Act was to elimininate the smuggling of illegally purchased tea into america. This act lowered tea prices but the colonists resented the increase of british influence in the colonies -
Boston Tea Party
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party This was a political protest of the Tea Act by the Sons of Liberty. A group of colonists sunck onto a ship and dumped all the tea on the ship into the Boston Harbour. Parliament then responded with the Intolerable Acts. -
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Intolerable Acts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intolerable_Acts After the Boston tea party Parliament passed the intolerable acts to exercise power over the colonies. These acts included The Boston Port Act, The Massachussetts Government Act, The Administration of Justice Act, The Quartering Act, and The Quebec Act. Many colonists saw this as a violation of their liberties and called for revolution. -
First Continental Congress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Continental_Congress Delegates from 12 british colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss the colonial response to the Intolerable Acts.They decided to all boycott British goods and they planned for the Second Continental Congress. -
Lexington and Concord
These were the first battles of the American Rvolutionary War. British were given orders to destroy Concord. The soldiers were intercepted at Lexington where the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The battle then continued into Concord. Many colonists were shocked by the start of this battle. -
Second Continental Congress
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Continental_Congress After the Revolutionary War had begun delegates from all 13 colonies met in Philadelphia. The planned colonial war efforts and they planned the movement toward independance for America. -
Fort Ticonderoga
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Fort_Ticonderoga American colonists Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen fought a British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga. They took the fort and stole weapons and transported them to Boston. This event ultimately blocked communication betrween the British in the north and south. -
Battle Of Bunker Hill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bunker_HillColonial forces under William Prescott were occupying Bunker Hill. The british heard of this and decided to attack bunker hill. Even though the british won this battle, they also suffered severe losses such as a 800 wounded and 226 killed. On the other hand the colonists lost only a few lives. -
Olive Branch Petition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Branch_Petition This petition stated that the American colonies were still loyal to Britain. Many representatives at the Second Continental Congress wanted to maintain the relationship with their mother country, Britain. Therefore this peteion was meant to help keep this relation. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Sense_(pamphlet)This was a political pamphlet that questioned British authority in the colonies. It has the largest sale and circulation of any book in American history. It presented the idea of independence in common language that most people could understand. -
Virginia Declaration of Rights
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/mason.html This declaration stated all the rights that should be inherent to the US citizens.It was written by George Mason and later amended by the Virginia Convention. Later on it heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson in writing the Declaration Of independance. -
Declaration of Independence
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence
Adopted by the Continental Congress July 4, 1776 the Americna colonies no longer viewed themselves as part of the British empire. Instead they were now considered independant states. -
Battle Of Long Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_IslandAlso known as the Battle of Brooklyn, this was one of the first major battles of the American Revolution after the Declaration of Independance was signed. George Washington was defending New York City.The British forced Washington and all his men out of New York and eventually were forced into New Jersey and Pennsylvania. -
Battle Of Saratoga
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_SaratogaThe Battle of Saratoga was fought on September 19 and October 7, 1777. Many people regard this battle as a major turning point in the American Revolutionary war. Though British general John Burgoyne won the first of these battles he suffered significant losses. Then in the second of these battles the Americans captures some of the British defenses and forced the British to retreat. -
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Valley Forge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_ForgeGeorge Washingtion led his men of the American Continental Army into Valley Forge to find a more secure place for the soldiers to stay for the winter. They created a military fort there in order to have shelter during the harsh winter of Pennsylvania. -
Ratification of Articles of Confederation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articles_of_ConfederationThis document established The United States as a joined confereration of the thirteen colonies. It acted as the first constitution of the United States. Though the government was weak, it allowed for Continental Congress to direct the Revolutionary War legitimately and for them to conduct diplomacy with Europe. -
Battle of Yorktown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_YorktownThis battle was a victory over the British by the combined forces of the Americans led by George Washington and the French Army. It was the last battle of the American Revolutionary War, and prompted the British to negotiate settlements in order to end the war. -
Treaty of Paris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_(1783)This treaty officially ended the revolutionary war between The United States Of America and Great Britain. The agreement was signed by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and John Adams to represent the United States and David Hartley to represent Great Britain. -
Land Ordinance Of 1785
http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/america/unitedstates/1783/1783/1785.htmThis was a law passed by the Congress of Confederation that dictated how the land would be divided, surveyed, and sold by the federal government. This law was passed to establish one constant method for people to gain western land. -
Bill For Establishing Religious Freedom
http://www.virginiamemory.com/online_classroom/shaping_the_constitution/doc/religious_freedom This bill disestablished the Church of England in Virginia. It pushed for the full religious freedom in America. It completely detatched the church from the state of Virginia. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Ordinance This ordinance created the Northwest territory. This was the first organised territory of the united states. On August 7 1789 George Washington signed this ordinance into law. -
George Washington Inauguration
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_George_WashingtonThis ceremony was the start of the four year term that George Washington would serve as president. He was elected unanimously and John Adams had already been sworn in as the vice president.