June 19 - July 11, 1754:

February 10, 1763:

October 7, 1763:

April 5, 1764:

The Albany Congress Meets:

- B. Franklin tries to convince colonists and

Iroquois to unite against British. ‘Join or Die ’

Treaty of Paris of 1763:- Ends of French and Indian

War- France leaves North

America

Proclamation of 1763

- King George prevents colonists

from moving west of App. Mts; cites

reasons of safety.

The Sugar Act:- Nothing new; renewal of

Molasses Act of 1733 that was to expire

March 22, 1765:

March 24, 1765:

March 29, 1765:

August 14, 1765:

October 7-25, 1765:

The Stamp Act:- First serious attempt of Parliament

to exert authority over colonies

- Taxes placed on printed documents (newspapers, magazines, deeds,

wills, etc)

The Quartering Act:Colonists must feed, provide

shelter to British soldier when in need

Henry: “If this be treason, make the

most of it”

The Sons of Liberty create first act of open

rebellion. Burn effigy of tax collector, Andrew

Oliver.

Stamp Act Congress meets:

First meeting to organize protest against crownTaxes are illegal bc no

representation!

“Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell and George the Third — .” At that point

he was interrupted by cries of “Treason!” from delegates who easily recognized the reference to assassinated leaders. Henry paused briefly, then

calmly finished his sentence: “...may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.”

March 18, 1766:

June 29, 1767:

The Declaratory Act:Declares Parliament has full authority over the colonies

Townshend Acts- Taxed glass, paint, lead,

paper, tea- Took away trial by jury for

those arrested for “smuggling.”

August 1, 1768:March 5, 1770:

June 9, 1772:

Boston Non-Importation Agreement:

Boston merchants agree to stop importing goods from

Britain

Boston Massacre:

British soldiers kill five Bostonians in “self-defense.”

John Adams represents British soldiers in court.

The Gaspee Affair:

Sons of Liberty members attacked, boarded, looted, and torched a British customs ship (Gaspee).

May 10, 1773:

December 16, 1773:

March 31, 1774:

Sept. 5 – October 26, 1774:

October 24, 1774:

Tea Act:No new taxes! Actually, lowers

tax on tea…The British East India Company had

(many) pounds of unsold tea...lowering tax lowers price.

Colonists see this as attack on local merchants. . .

Boston Tea Party:

Members of Sons of Liberty raid British tea ship in protest of Tea Act and B.E.I.C. monopoly on tea

sales

The Intolerable Acts:

- Direct result of Boston Tea Party- Closed Boston Harbor until tea was

paid for- MA gov’t and town meetings

were forbidden- More British troops sent to

Boston to enforce laws.

First Continental Congress:

- Meeting as a result of Intolerable Acts

- Send petition to King George; Organize Boycotts

A plan to create colonial government to work with

parliament was rejected by FCC (Galloway’s Plan).

March 23, 1775:

April 18, 1775: April 19, 1775:

May 10, 1775:

June 15, 1775:

June 17, 1775:

Paul Revere, William Dawes, Samuel

Prescott, and over 40 other riders warn countryside after

local SoL group hears of British invasion.

Patrick Henry delivers famous “give

me liberty or me death speech.”

Minutemen and redcoats clash at

Lexington and Concord when soldiers attempt

to seize colonial armory; the shots heard ‘round the

world.

The Second Continental Congress

meets in Philadelphia, PA.The Continental

Army is created…

George Washington appointed

Commander in Chief of Continental

Army

Battle of Bunker Hill:

Colonists secure early victory; King George declares colonies in

open rebellion.

January 15, 1776:

Feb 27, 1776:

July 1, 1776:

July 4, 1776:

August 27, 1776:

December 26, 1776:

Thomas Paine publishes “Common Sense.”

The patriots drive British from

Moore's Creek Bridge, North

Carolina

Colonists face attacks from Cherokee on

southern borders bc of alliances with

British

The Declaration of Independence

(written by Committee of Five) is

ratified

Complete and permanent break

with Great Britain is made

Battle of Long Island:

British win, but Washington’s escape

keeps war alive.

Washington crosses the Delaware River to capture

Trenton from German Hessians

(hired soldiers)

October 17, 1777:

December 19, 1777:

Battle of Saratoga:

Turning point in war – France

decides to join colonial effort!

The Winter at Valley Forge:- Starvation, disease, and frostbite kill 3,000 of Washington’s army.

- Morale is at an all-time low.

Thomas Paine writes “The American Crisis.”

In the opening sentence, Paine writes . . .

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”

June 21, 1779: March 2, 1781:

October 19, 1781:

Spain declares war on Great Britain. Now, France and Spain are on the colonists side!

The Articles of Confederation is adopted by the Second Continental

Congress.

This is the first plan of government for the U.S.

The Battle of Yorktown:British general Charles Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown, VA. He is

trapped by French Navy and Continental Army.

September 3, 1783:

Treaty of Paris, 1783:- Ends the Revolutionary War- Britain recognizes American Independence; removes troops

- Northern border set along Great Lakes