Delaney Mathes: Revolutionary War Timeline by Delaney Mathes

French & Indian War: 1754-1763

delaneym10 — 2024-02-21 16:56:54 UTC

Also known as the Seven Years War, this war was fought between the British and the French. Because of the friendly relations the French had with the Native Americans, they fought alongside each other against the British. The colonists fought under Britain because of the relationship they had with their mother country.

Boston Massacre: 1770

delaneym10 — 2024-02-21 17:03:27 UTC

The Boston Massacre took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in Boston. The fight was between a squad of British soldiers and a "patriot" mob. The street fight was started by the colonists who threw sticks, snowballs, and stones at the British. British sentries shot at the crowd of colonists. As a result, three colonists were killed, and eight injured, two of them mortally from their wounds. This was the start of the growing tensions between the Americans and the British.

Writs of Assistance: 1761

delaneym10 — 2024-02-21 17:07:21 UTC

The document was a search warrant that allowed officials to search anyone who was a suspect of smuggling, even without evidence. Trials for cases like these were often held in British Courts with a judge that has been appointed by the royal family. This act was problematic because it was unfair and the system was in favor of the British, making it hard for anyone to get out of the court with a just sentence or conclusion.

Proclamation of 1763: 1763-1776

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 00:15:57 UTC

A decree by the British to keep colonists from moving to the west, near the Eastern Continental Divide. This boundary was used to mark the Native American territory from the Anglo-American colonists' territory. This caused tensions between the British and the American colonists because they were no longer permitted to settle westward like they intended to do.

Tea Act: 1763

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 02:51:13 UTC

This was a tax the British enforced on the American colonies. This allowed the British East India Company to grow a monopoly in the tea industry. This also meant that colonists were not allowed to buy tea from other sources. This act lead to the Boston Tea Party.

Sugar Act: 1764

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 02:55:07 UTC

This act provided a strongly enforced tax on sugar and molasses. It prohibited American colonists from buying sugar, molasses, and other products from non-British Caribbean sources. This caused a huge disruption in Boston and New England's economy because they'd make rum out of sugar and molasses.

Quartering Act: 1765-1767

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:00:42 UTC

The Quartering Act was an enforced tax, in which their funds would be used for housing and supplying British troops. Often this enabled British troops to force their way into the colonists' homes and live there. Because of how many colonists disliked the act, and the fact that the government was having a hard time implementing these taxes, the act was repealed.

Revenue (Townshend Act): 1767

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:03:20 UTC

The Townshend Act implemented taxes on material goods. These items include glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea imports. Instead of paying the taxes, the colonists decided to disregard this act and distance themselves from buying these goods.

Boston Tea Party: 1774

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:10:36 UTC

This event took place in Boston, in the Boston Harbor, and was carried out by the Sons of Liberty. The Boston Tea Party was an act of protest by the American colonists that expressed the frustration they were having with the taxation of imports. Specifically, the colonists were angry about the taxation on tea. In this event they dumped 342 chests of tea into the ocean of the harbor.

Intolerable Acts: 1774

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:15:27 UTC

Was enacted following the destruction in the Boston Tea Party, in the Boston Harbor. This decree stated that King George III would be responsible for the punishment of those involved in the Boston Tea Party. The goal of punishing the colonists was to make them an example of the consequences of what happens when you disregard the King's orders.

First Continental Congress: 1774

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:19:37 UTC

In the year of 1774, the First Continental Congress was established. They convened in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The goal of this meeting was to address the American colonists' growing aggression towards the British and how they were going to move forward with everyone's distaste for their mother country. This meeting was important because it gave the representatives a chance to talk about things and decide if it was worth potentially going to war over.

Stamp Act: 1775

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:24:45 UTC

The Stamp Act taxed newspapers, books, pamphlets, legal documents, dice, and playing cards. Many boxes were stamped in order to show that the tax had been paid.

Lexington and Concord: 1775

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:42:07 UTC

This battle was the first major military campaign for the American Revolutionary War. The British troops were lead by generals: Colonel Smith, Major Pitcairn, and Lord Percy. The colonists were lead by generals: Barrett, Buttrick, Robinson, and many others. Out of all the people that were fighting only 95 Americans died, while 273 British troops died in comparison.

Second Congress: 1775

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:45:51 UTC

The second Congress served as the main government for the American colonists and helped organize the colonists during the Revolutionary War. They raised militias, directed strategies, appointed diplomats, and wrote petitions. It was established by the Continental Army and elected George Washington who was Commander-in-Chief.

Common Sense Publication: 1776

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:48:54 UTC

Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine in 1776. It is a 47-page pamphlet. It challenged the authority of the British and and the control that the royal monarchy had over the American colonists. It was the first work that openly asked for independence from Great Britain.

Declaration of Independence: 1776

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:51:58 UTC

A document of the United States that was written by Thomas Jefferson. It was given to the King of England, essentially asking that the American colonists be given their independence from Great Britain. This also explains the reasons for revolting and explain why they had a right to do so.

Battle of Saratoga: 1777

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:55:32 UTC

The Battle of Saratoga took place in Saratoga County, Stillwater. It marked the height of battle for the Saratoga campaign and gave the victory to the Americans over the British in the Revolutionary War. The victory boosted the morale of the American colonists and gave them newfound confidence in the prospects of independence.

Battle of Yorktown: 1781

delaneym10 — 2024-02-22 03:59:21 UTC

Washington's forces beat Lord Charles Cornwallis' veteran army dug in at Yorktown, Virginia. The victory at Yorktown led directly to the peace negotiations that ended the war in 1783, giving America its independence. The American colonists called their nation, "The United States of America."