June 19 - July 11, 1754: October 7, 1763:

The Albany Congress Meets:

- B. Franklin tries to convince Proclamation of 1763
colonists and Iroquois to unite - King George prevents
against British. ‘Join or Die ’ colonists from moving west
of App. Mts; cites reasons
February 10, 1763: of safety.
Treaty of Paris of 1763:
- Ends of French and Indian War
- France leaves North America

April 5, 1764:
The Sugar Act:
- Nothing new; renewal of Molasses
Act of 1733 that was to expire
March 22, 1765: August 14, 1765:
The Stamp Act: The Sons of Liberty create
- First serious attempt of Parliament to first act of open rebellion.
exert authority over colonies Burn effigy of tax collector,
- Taxes placed on printed “Caesar
documents
had his Brutus, Charles the First hisOliver.
Andrew
(newspapers, magazines,Cromwell and George
deeds, wills, etc) 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 29, 1765:

Henry: “If this be
treason, make the most October 7-25, 1765:
of it” Stamp Act Congress meets:
March 24, 1765: First meeting to organize protest
against crown
The Quartering Act: Taxes are illegal bc no
Colonists must feed, provide shelter
representation!
to British soldier when in need
March 18, 1766:
The Declaratory Act:
Declares Parliament has full authority
over the colonies

June 29, 1767:

Townshend Acts
- Taxed glass, paint, lead, paper, tea
- Took away trial by jury for those
arrested for “smuggling.”
 March 5, 1770:
August 1, 1768:
Boston Massacre:
Boston Non-Importation
Agreement: British soldiers kill five Bostonians
in “self-defense.”
Boston merchants agree to stop
importing goods from Britain John Adams represents British
soldiers in court.

June 9, 1772:
The Gaspee Affair:
Sons of Liberty members attacked,
boarded, looted, and torched a British
customs ship (Gaspee).
 May 10, 1773: Sept. 5 – October 26, 1774:
First Continental Congress:
Tea Act:
No new taxes! Actually, lowers tax on - Meeting as a result of Intolerable Acts
tea… - Send petition to King George;
The British East India Company had (many) Organize Boycotts
pounds of unsold tea...lowering tax lowers
price. October 24, 1774:
A plan to create colonial government to
Colonists see this as attack on local
work with parliament was rejected by
merchants. . .
FCC (Galloway’s Plan).

March 31, 1774:

December 16, 1773:
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.
April 18, 1775: April 19, 1775: June 15, 1775:
Paul Revere, William Minutemen and redcoats George Washington
Dawes, Samuel Prescott, clash at Lexington and appointed Commander
and over 40 other riders Concord when soldiers in Chief of Continental
warn countryside after attempt to seize colonial Army
local SoL group hears of armory; the
British invasion. shots heard ‘round the wor
ld
.

May 10, 1775: June 17, 1775:

March 23, 1775: The Second Continental Battle of Bunker Hill:

Congress meets in Colonists secure early
Patrick Henry delivers victory; King George
Philadelphia, PA.
famous “give me liberty or declares colonies in open
The Continental Army is
me death speech.” rebellion.
created…
 July 1, 1776: August 27, 1776:
January 15, 1776:
Thomas Paine
Colonists face attacks Battle of Long Island:
from Cherokee on
publishes “Common southern borders bc British win, but
Sense.” of alliances with Washington’s escape keeps
British war alive.

July 4, 1776: December 26, 1776:

The Declaration of
Feb 27, 1776: Independence (written by
Committee of Five) is
The patriots drive ratified
British from Moore's
Creek Bridge, North Complete and permanent
Carolina break with Great Britain is
made
Washington crosse
s the Delaware Riv
er to capture Trent
on from German H
essians (hired soldi
ers)
October 17, 1777:
Battle of Saratoga:
Turning point in war –
France decides to join
colonial effort!

Thomas Paine writes “The American Crisis.”

December 19, 1777:
The Winter at Valley
InForge:
the opening sentence, Paine writes . . .
- Starvation, disease, and frostbite kill 3,000 of
Washington’s army.
“These
- Morale is at an all-time low. are the times that try men’s souls.”
June 21, 1779: March 2, 1781:
Spain declares war on The Articles of Confederation is adopted
Great Britain. Now, by the Second Continental Congress.
France and Spain are on
the colonists side! This is the first plan of government for the
U.S.

October 19, 1781:

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