Events leading to the Revolutionary War

  • Albany Congress

    Who: The British government, Colonial leaders, and the Iroquois tribes What: A meeting between colonial leaders and the British government. The British wanted the colonies to agree to cooperate in defending them selves against the French. The colonists and the British were unable to work together. When: June 11 1754 Where: Albany NY Why: The British government expected war to break out soon and wanted to meet to try to reason with colonial leaders.
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    French and Indian War

    Who: French and Indians vs British and colonists and Iroquois. When: May 1756- February 1763 Where: North America Why: Fighting over the Ohio River Valley What: The British won the French and Indian War. The Native Americans could not stop British settlers from moving on their lands.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Who: Britain and France What: In this treaty, France lost all of its North American lands to the British. Britain received all land east of the Mississippi and Spanish Florida. When: February 1763 Where: Paris,France Why: This was the treaty that ended the French and Indian War.
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    Pontiac's War

    Who: Pontiac ( leader of Ottawa nation), western Native Americans and backcountry settlers. What: Pontiac and his allies attacked British forts's and settlements. half a dozen British fort's were destroyed and 2000 backcountry settlers were killed. When: May 1763- September 1764 Where: Areas east of the Mississippi river, Back country Why: Native Americans were desperately trying to keep their land.
  • Proclamation of 1763

    Who: British government What: It banned Colonial settlement west of the line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains. When: October 7, 1763 Where: All land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Why: Britain wanted to avoid further Wars with Native Americans on the frontier.
  • The Quartering Act

    Who: Parliament What: The act required colonists to house British troops and to provide them with food and other supplies. When: March 24, 1764 Where: in the colonies Why: Britain had soldiers in the colonies to enforce the Proclamation of 1763. If the colonists housed the soldiers this would save money.
  • Sugar Act

    Who: British government (Parliament) What: This put a tax on several products including molasses. It also called for harsh punishments for smugglers. When: April 5, 1764 Where: In the colonies Why: The French and Indian War had resulted in a huge debt for the British. They thought the colonists should pay for some of this debt so Parliament taxed the colonists.
  • Stamp act

    Who: Parliament What: The act required all colonists to buy special tax stamps to place on newspapers,wills,contracts, and other documents. When: March 22 1765 Where: In the colonies Why: The French and Indian War had resulted in a huge debt for the British. They thought the colonists should pay for some of this debt so Parliament taxed the colonists.
  • Boston Massacre

    Who: British soldiers and colonists What: An Angry crowd gathered around British soldiers. The colonists were yelling and throwing rocks and snowballs at the soldiers. The soldiers fired into the crowd killing 5 colonists. When: March 5, 1770 Where: Boston, Massachusetts Why: The colonists were angry about all the taxes and the Quartering act. They did not want the British soldiers there.
  • Tea Act

    Who: British Parliament and colonists What: Act tried to help the British East India company by giving it a monopoly on selling tea in the colonies. The act hurt colonial merchants who sold Dutch tea smuggled into the colonies. When: May 10 1773 Where: In the colonies Why: The British Parliament passed the Tea Act to save the east India company from bankruptcy. By severely lowering the tax on tea the legislation allowed the east India company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Who: colonists in Massachusetts What: The contents of three shiploads of tea were dumped in Boston harbor. When: December 16 1773 Where: Boston harbor at Griffins wharf near pearl street in Boston. Why: To protest at the Tea Act passed by the British Parliament both because it imposed a tax on Massachusetts and other colonies without representation and it gave a monopoly to the east India company putting other merchants business's risk.
  • Intolerable Acts

    Who: King George III British colonists What: four laws passed by Parliament 1 Port of Boston was closed. 2 increased the powers of the royal governer. 3 abolished the upper house of the Massachusetts legislature. 4 cut the powers of town meetings. When: March 24 1774 Where: Massachusetts Why: These acts were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party.
  • 1st Continental Congress

    Who: Delgates from 12 out of the 13 colonies What: The congress demanded the end of the Intolerable acts and declared that the colonies had a right to tax and govern themselves. It also called for training of milltias. When:September and October 1774 Where: Philiadelphia, Pennsylvania Why: The committees of correspondence organized this meeting to discuss what to do next about the British.
  • Battles of Lexington and Concord

    Who: Minutemen and British troops What: It was the first battle of the American Revolution British troops were sent to seize colonial weapons.They are faced with untrained and angry millitia. This army defeats 700 British troops and the surprise victory bolsters their confidence for the war. When: April 18 1775 Where: Lexington and Concord Why: The British government did not plan to meet the demands of the Continetal congress The colonists began to form a militia to fight for what they want.
  • Battle at Fort Ticonderoga

    Who: Green mountain boys and British soldiers What: The green mountain boys led by Ethan Allen made a surprise attack on British soldiers. When: May 10 1775 Where: Ticonderoga NY Why: This was important because the fort controlled the main route between Canada and the Hudson river valley and the fort held valuable weapons.
  • 2nd Continental Congress

    Who: Delegates from the 13 colonies What: The group was divided some wanted to fight for independence. Others wanted to wait. Nearly all agreed they should form an army and prepare for War. When: May 1775 Where: Philadelphia Pennsylvania Why: They chose George Washington to lead the army because he had experience. They began to coin their own money.
  • Battle of Bunker Hill/ Breeds Hill

    Who: American and Britain troops What: British attack on American troops. The British won but suffered huge losses. When: June 17 1775 Where: Breeds hill, Boston, Massachusetts Why: British knew that Americans were not well trained and thought they could easily be beaten.
  • Olive Branch Petition

    Who: Second Continental Congress to the king What: This was a petition that stated that the colonists were loyal to the king. It asked for a peaceful solution to the fighting between Britain and the colonists. When: July 8 1775 Where: Written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Why: The colonists were trying to peacefully solve their confict with Britain.
  • Invasion of Quebec

    Who: Patriot forces under the leadership of Benedict Arnold What: The Patriots attempted to capture the British - occupied city of Quebec. weakened by hunger and disease the Americans eventually withdrew, leaving Canada to the British. When: December 31 1775 - May 1776 Where: Quebec Why: The Patriots attempted to capture the British - occupied city of Quebec to get support for the American cause in Canada.
  • British Withdrawal from Boston

    Who: British soldiers What: The British could no longer defend the city of Boston. The British troops permanently withdrew from Boston. When: March 4 1776 Where: Boston Massachusetts Why: George Washington placed the cannons on high ground over looking Boston.