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The Enlightenment, was a European intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries. The Enlightenment focused on authority, rights, and responsibility. The Enlightenment brought free thought to Europe and changed the ways people understood issues like liberty, equality, and individual rights. -
On March 5, 1770, some British soldiers shot into a crowd of Bostonians, which killed five, hurt another six, and made an entire colony MAD. That created the event, known as the Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre had a major impact on relations between Britain and the American colonists. -
The Boston tea party was a huge protest thing where American Colonist were like, we don't want to pay taxes on tea, and other thing, so they grew angry at the British. They snuck onto ships and threw all the tea into the Boston Harbor. The sea creatures most definitely had a tea party down in that water! -
The Continental Congress was basically just a group of leaders from the different American colonies who joined together to talk about their problems with the British government. They met up and decided to work together to fight for their rights and freedoms, and to finally have a voice in anything. That was a really big deal for them. -
The Olive Branch Petition was a final attempt by the American colonies to make peace with King George and avoid further problems. In the petition they acknowledged his authority and will while also listing their issues and hoping they’d get a peaceful solution. -
Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called "Common Sense" that explained the colonies should be free from Britain. It was published in 1776 and it convinced many people that independence was a good idea. It helped the colonists decision to break away from Britain. -
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, and it was said that the 13 colonies were becoming the United States of America. This document said the colonies were free from British rules and would be for themselves. It was a big step for American independence. -
The Battle of Trenton was a surprising fight led by George Washington on December 26, 1776. He and his “people’s” crossed the Delaware River.. and defeated the Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. This win gave the Americans a much-needed boosting. -
The Articles of Confederation were created in 1777 and acted as the first constitution of the United States. They set up a weak government, giving most of the power to states. However, they did not work well and were eventually replaced by the US Constitution. -
The Battle of Camden was fought on August 16, 1780, during the American Revolution. The British army won the whole battle, beating the American forces. It was a good loss for the Americans and it showed the challenges they faced in the South. -
The Battle of Yorktown was fought in 1781 and was a decisive victory for the Americans, etc. American forces led by George Washington trapped the British army, and forced them to surrender. This battle ended the American Revolution and led to American independence. -
The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 and officially ended the American Revolutionary War! AYEE. It recognized the United States as an independent country, free from British rules period. -
The Constitutional Convention was set up in in Philadelphia in 1787 to create a new plan for the US government. The people so called “The founding Fathers” wrote the US Constitution, made up the organization and powers of the government. The Constitution has been the foundation of the US government since.
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The Great Compromise was made at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It set up a two-part Congress with the House of Representatives based on the state population and something else giving each state two votes. This compromise helped balance power between big and small states. -
The Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791 and added 10 amendments to the US Constitution. These amendments protected individual freedoms like freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. They helped guarantee basic rights for American citizens.