A direct tax imposed by the British government without the approval of the colonial legislatures

Passed on March 22, 1765, by the British Parliament

Required the colonists to pay a tax on various forms of papers, documents, and playing cards

The British Parliament passed the Tea Act in May 1773

Encouraged colonists to buy tea from the East Indian Company, since it would now be cheaper than smuggling it in

Created sentiment against England which later caused them to throw tea on the harbor

On April 5, 1764, Parliament passed a modified version of the Sugar and Molasses Act

Served as a revenue raising act to tax sugar and other goods to pay for the Seven Years War

Act cut the duty on foreign molasses from 6 to 3 pence per gallon, retained a high duty on foreign refined sugar, and prohibited the importation of all foreign rum

King of England during the American Revolution

Had little direct role during the American Revolution but was always invested

Was in charge of making the rules and acts implemented in the colonies

First president of the United States

Was given command of the Continental Army

Helped create the U.S. Constitution

Served as a general during the American Revolution

Opposed the taxes enforced in the colonies and supported American independence

Was frequently George Washington’s battlefield counterpart

Served in New York and Canada during the Seven Years' War

Regularly relayed information between the Boston Committee of Correspondence and the Continental Congress in Philadelphia

Warned colonists that the British were planning an attack on Concord and Lexington

Delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses

Led in the movement for independence

Served in France and Holland in diplomatic roles and helped negotiate the treaty of peace.

The first signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence

Elected president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, and later chosen as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress

Used his wealth and influence to help fund the army and revolutionary cause

Born in April 1742 in Virginia

Convinced Geroge Mason to write the Virginia Declaration of Rights

Chosen to write the Declaration of Independence

Served as a delegate to the Continental Congress

He contributed to drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation to form a new union

Was chosen by the Continental Congress as one of its first ministers to France

Wrote a pamphlet known as Common Sense, this challenged the rule of the American colonies by the King of England

The first author to blame the king for recent arguments

The pamphlet "Common Sense" was read and acclaimed by many American colonists and contributed to a growing sentiment for independence

War lasted from 1756 to 1763

France had the support of many Native Americans

At the end of the war, England wanted to have a border between the colonists and the Indian nations in the west.

Took place on March 5, 1770

The British were being taunted, their commander was telling them not to fire but the tensions caused one to fire and the others followed.

Hardly a massacre (3 died, 8 wounded) but it was portrayed as one to fan anti-British flames.

Took place December 16, 1773

Colonist dressed as Mohawks, boarded East India Company ships and threw the tea into the Boston harbor

Colonist believed the tax was illegal, so they used this as a protest against it

April 19, 1775

The first armed conflict of the Revolutionary war

War officially begun!

September - October 1777

This was the first major American victory!

The victory convinces the French to become our allies.

Issued by the British crown at the end of the French and Indian War

Set territorial limits on where European colonists could settle in America

First document that affected all 13 colonies

Convened in Philadelphia from September to October of 1774

All except Georgia sent representatives to discuss the events, taxes, and independence

Not all colonies wanted war, New England wanted separation, Middle was mixed, and the South wanted to seek a resolution

September of 1775

The Continental Army was created

Genral Geroge Washington was given command and sent mercenaries to stop civil unrest

Signed July 4, 1776

Thomas Jefferson wrote it and 56 delegates from the 13 colonies signed it

Finally declared freedom and independence from England

Signed September 3, 1783

England sent two delegates to Paris to negotiate a peace treaty. Terms were reached and treaty was signed into effect

Treaty recognized America as a free and independent country

September - October 1781

Last battle of the Revolutionary War

Convinced the British Parliament to give up even though the King and British Army were prepared to keep fighting