US Citizenship - Free online Course on US Citizenship
Chronology of the American Revolution
Boston Massacre, 1770
1763
King George III signs the
Proclamation of 1763, prohibiting English settlement west of the
Appalachians.
1763
The Sugar
Act is passed, increasing duties on imported sugar, textiles, coffee,
wines, and indigo dye.
1764
The Currency
Act is passed, prohibiting the colonists from issuing paper money.
1765
The Stamp
Act imposes the first direct tax on the American colonies to be paid
directly to the British Crown. The Stamp Act Congress convenes in New
York City and passes a resolution calling on King George III
to repeal the Act and the Acts of 1764. Violence ensues as colonists refuse
to pay the tax.
1766
The Stamp
Act is repealed, but the English Parliament passes the Declaratory
Act, asserting the British government's absolute authority over the
American colonies.
1767
Townshend
Revenue Acts are passed, taxing imported paper, tea, glass, lead, and
paints.
1769
Royal Governor
of Virginia dissolves the Virginia House of Burgesses in response to its
official condemnation of "taxation without representation."
1770
The Boston Massacre occurs; British soldiers open fire
on a crowd of colonists who had been harassing them. Five are killed and six are
wounded. That same year, the Townshend Acts are repealed and import
duties are removed from all items but tea.
Boston Tea Party, 1773
1773
The Tea Act
is passed, maintaining the longstanding tax on imported tea. Also gives the
British East India Company a virtual monopoly on tea by allowing it to
bypass the tax.
1773
The Boston Tea Party occurs; Disputes over the Tea Act
come to a boil as colonists, disguised as Mohawk Indians, board British ships
and dump 342 containers of tea into the harbor.
1774
Coercive
Acts are passed, effectively ending selfrule in Massachusetts.
1774
The First
Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia with every colony represented
but Georgia. In attendance are George Washington, Patrick Henry, and John
Hancock. Declaration of Resolves is passed, asserting rights of
colonists and rejecting absolute British authority over colonies.
1775
Tensions are
heightened as England Declares Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion.
The New England Restraining Act is also passed, requiring the
Colonies to trade only with Britain. Patrick Henry gives a speech in
which he declares "give me liberty or give me death." Later that same year,
British troops headed to destroy a weapons depot at Concord are confronted
by Massachusetts militiamen, and the "shot heard round the world" begins the
American Revolution. The Second Continental Congress convenes and
unanimously appoints George Washington as General of the Continental Army.
Declaration of Independence, 1776
1776
As fighting
continues, Thomas Paine writes "Common Sense." The Colonists secure
financial backing for the Revolution from France. The thirteen colonies form
their own governments under the authority of the Continental Congress. The
Declaration of Independence is drafted and signed. After a series of
defeats, General Washington scores a stunning victory at the Battle of
Trenton.
1777
First American
flag commissioned by Congress. Marquis de Lafayette, a 19 year-old French
aristocrat, volunteers without pay and becomes a major general and one of
Washington's closest advisors. Congress adopts the
Articles of Confederation, establishing the first real government for the
new nation.
1778
Americans sign
treaties with France, formally allying themselves together against Britain.
The fight for independence takes first steps toward becoming a world war.
Cornwallis Surrenders to Washington
1781
1781After a
prolonged and costly war, the British General Cornwallis surrenders
to Washington's troops after the siege of Yorktown. The British Parliament
votes to end the war and authorizes the King to negotiate the peace with the
Americans.
1782
An initial
peace treaty is signed in Paris, recognizing American independence and
agreeing to the British withdrawal from American soil.
1783
Washington
convinces Revolutionary War officers not to rebel against the new American
government because of its failures to keep promises to the Continental Army.
The Treaty of Paris is signed.
1784
The Treaty of
Paris is ratified by the Congress. The war is officially over.
