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Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts, passed in the 17th and 18th centuries, aimed to control colonial trade and economic dependence, leading to dissatisfaction in American colonies and the American Revolution. -
French-Indian War
The French and Indian War involved Britain, France, and Native American tribes in North America. It was driven by territorial disputes, imperial rivalry, and Native American alliances and contributed to the American Revolution. -
Quaterting Act
The Quartering Act passed in 1765, required American colonists to house and provide for British soldiers in the colonies. This law, along with the Intolerable Acts, fueled colonial anger and contributed to the American Revolution. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act, passed in 1765, required American colonists to pay a tax on printed materials, aimed at raising revenue for Britain. However, colonists opposed the tax, leading to the Stamp Act Congress and repeal in 1766. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts passed in 1767, imposed taxes on imported goods in American colonies, reducing colonial governments' power and causing protests, ultimately leading to the American Revolution. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, a 1770 event involving British soldiers killing five colonists, was widely publicized and used as propaganda by colonial leaders to unite the colonies against British rule, contributing to the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party, held on December 16, 1773, protested the British Tea Act, causing colonists to disguise themselves as Native Americans and destroy tea chests, a significant event leading to the American Revolution. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts (1774) were Britain's punitive measures against the Boston Tea Party, leading to increased colonial unity and the formation of the First Continental Congress. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress, led by George Washington, formed the Continental Army, sought peace, and declared independence in 1776. It managed war, finances, and foreign relations until 1781. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord, on April 19, 1775, marked the start of the American Revolutionary War, as British soldiers planned to seize colonial militias' weapons and ammunition in Concord. The conflict galvanized colonial resistance and led to the American Revolution. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition, adopted by the American colonies in 1775, sought peace and reconciliation with Britain. Despite being rejected by King George III, it fueled colonists' independence. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine's 1776 pamphlet Common Sense, published in 1776, strongly argued for American independence from Britain, promoting republicanism, self-government, and economic advantages over British rule. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776, declared the American colonies' independence from Britain, arguing for natural rights and democratic principles, and addressing grievances against King George III. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1781, established a weak central government with limited powers, leading to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the establishment of a stronger federal government. -
Daniel Shays’ Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion, led by former American Revolution soldier Daniel Shays, was an armed uprising in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, fueled by economic hardships for farmers and the failure of the Articles of Confederation. -
Constitutional Convention (aka Philadelphia Convention)
The Constitutional Convention (1787) in Philadelphia drafted a new U.S. Constitution, addressing weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and resulting in a stronger federal government.