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The Proclamation Line of 1763
This was a line drawn by the British. It states that the colonists couldn't go past the Appalachian Mountains onto the Indians' land because the British knew that the colonists would be attacked by the Indians. So, instead of letting the colonists go to the land, they made this proclamation due to England being sparse in men and money. They just didn't have the resources to spare unto the colonies after the French and Indian war and could not aid them if they got attacked. -
The Sugar Act
This was an act imposed on the colonies by the British that raised tax rates on imports of raw sugar and molasses (Grenvile's idea). British legislation aimed at ending the smuggling trade in sugar and molasses from the French and Dutch West Indies. They also placed a new tax on silk, wine, and coffee. This was the first tax by Parliament to raise revenue in the colonies for the crown and to fund enlarged British Empire responsibilities following the French and Indian War. -
The Boston Massacre
British soldiers, sent to Boston to enforce taxation were guarding a customs house when they fired on Boston citizens who had been taunting, jeering, and throwing snowballs at them. Five were killed, including Crispus Attucks, and six were wounded. And in an attempt to lower tensions the British began the removal of troops from Boston and the repeal of all but one, Tea tax, of the Townshend taxes, this resulted in the lowering of tension in the years following the incident. -
The Boston Tea Party
On this night 150 angry colonists disguised themselves as Native Americans to avoid being identified and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor in protest over the Tea Act passed by Parliament. This event was the first major act of defiance to British rule over the colonists and it rallied American patriots to fight for their independence. It showed Great Britain that Americans would not take taxation without representation. -
The Intolerable/Coercive Act
These laws were passed by the British Parliament and directed towards Boston, Massachusetts in order to punish the colonists for their defiance and end colonial challenges to British authority. These acts included: The Boston Port Act, The Mass. Government Act, The Administrations of Justice Act, and The Quartering Act: -
Battles Lexington and Concord
British troops were sent to seize arms at a militia depot at Concord, Mass. and to capture Patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Paul Revere, Dr. Samuel Prescott, and William Dawes were sent to spread the alarm that "the Red Coats are coming!" While the Colonists lost many minutemen, the Battles of Lexington and Concord were considered military victories and displayed to the British and the King that the Americans were not just unorganized rebels, but an army that deserved respect. -
The Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill
Early in the Revolutionary War, the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Mass., but only because the Americans ran out of ammunition. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted significant casualties and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Thomas Paine's pamphlet sets forth his arguments advocating in favor of American independence from Great Britain. Paine encouraged common people in the colonies to fight for their own self-governing America. Thomas Paine also argued with many examples of why the government of the colonies should be placed in the hands of the colonies and he united average citizens and political leaders by rallying them behind the idea of independence. -
The Declaration of Independence
This document, mostly written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress severed the 13 colonies' political connections to Great Britain. The Declaration was like a breakup letter, it explains why the colonies should break away from Britain and lists the colonists' rights and at the bottom, the delegates signed their names, John Hancock being the first and most famous of them all. -
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The Battle of Saratoga
This battle took place only two years into the American Revolutionary War and it included two battles, fought only eighteen days apart. It is said to be the turning point for the Americans in the Revolutionary War. The Americans won this battle because British General John Burgoyne surrendered to the American General Horatio Gates and that ultimately convinced the French, the Dutch, and the Spanish to ally themselves with us, the Americans. -
The Treaty of Alliance-The Franco-American Alliance
France signed this treaty, creating a military alliance between the United States and France against the armies of Great Britain. The Americans were unlikely to win the war without the aid of the French. They supplied the Americans with gunpowder, cannons, clothing, shoes, troops, money, military leadership, and naval support. Allying with the French tipped the balance of the military power in favor of the United States and ultimately made it possible for the Continental Army to win in YorkTown. -
Benedict Arnold Turns Traitor
American General Benedict Arnold conspired with the British to surrender the fort held at West Point, New York. The plot was soon discovered and to avoid confrontation with the Americans, he fled to the British lines. Arnold quickly became known in the United States as the symbol for treason and betrayal because he led the British army in battle against the very men whom he had once commanded. -
Articles of Confederation are Ratified
The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777. However, not all thirteen states signed the Articles of Confederation until March 1, 1781. It took almost four years for this document to be ratified because the thirteen colonies were at a dispute for sixteen months over the acceptance and they continued to bicker over land claims between the two colonies, Virginia and Maryland. But after all that delay, it was finally ratified in 1781. -
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The Siege of Yorktown
General George Washington, commanding a force of 17,000 French and Continental troops, begins a siege against the British General Lord Charles Cornwallis. Cornwallis ended up surrendering to Washington as the French and American forces trapped the British at Yorktown. The British surrender ended the American Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty formally ended the American Revolutionary War. In the Treaty of Paris, the British Crown formally recognizes America to be independent and to have ceded most of its territory east of the Mississippi River to the United States, which doubled the size of the new and improved nation, paving the way for westward expansion. -
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The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia of 55 delegates met to address the problems of a weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. -
Washington's Election
In April, George Washinton, the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by all 69 presidential electors whose votes were cast, and John Adams, who received 34 votes was elected the Vice President. -
The First State of the Union Address
The State of the Union Address is a yearly address delivered to Congress, usually in January or February. In the message, the President talks about important issues that Americans face and he offers his ideas on solving the nation's problems, this includes suggestions for new policies and laws. Our first State of the Union Address was given by George Washington in New York City where the Senate Chamber of Federal Hall was located. -
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The XYZ Affair
The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic happening between French and the United States diplomats that eventually led to an undeclared war, also known as Quasi-War. This incident in which the French attempted to bribe U.S. diplomats in exchange for an agreement that American ships would no longer be attacked. The name comes from the substitution of the letters, X, Y, and Z for the names of French diplomats. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
This was a series of four acts passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Adams. These acts restricted the activities of foreign residents in the country and limited freedom of speech and press among the people.
