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The Second Treatise of Civil Government
Document written by Locke in 1689 defining what social contract is, and how people and the government work together. Declared that "all government" rested on the "natural rights of the governed. This event was significant because it began this awakening of rights of man, something which wasn't common in this time period. This document would be one of the foundations of the revolutionary movement a hundred years from now in North America. -
Period: to
1745-1790
An annotated timeline of events leading up to the Revolutionary War. -
The Spirit of Laws
A treatise written by Baron de Montesquieu in 1748 on political philosophy. He outlines separation of powers and the checks and balances system of government in his document. Montesquieu's writings influenced the United States Constitution, along with other philosophers like John Locke who would write his own Treatises on Government, which would then influence the founding fathers revolutionary moment and Locke's own writing (which would also make its way into the Constitution.) -
Treaty of Paris (French and Indian War)
Document that ended the French and Indian War (Seven Years War in Europe) between Great Britain, France, Spain and Portugal. Great Britain had a victory over France and Spain. The outcome of this war (massive debt, more land in the United States but delegated to Britain) would later go on to shape the acts that Britain is going to pass in order to accommodate for the war debt and bring back order to the colonies. -
The Proclamation Line of 1763
Royal proclamation declared in 1763 after Great Britain acquired French territory in North America (after the Seven Years War) forbidding all white colonists from settling beyond the peaks of the Appalachian mountains, -
Sugar Act
Passed in 1764, Britain introduced a tax on rum and molasses without the colonist’s permission to raise revenue, particularly affecting merchants and importers. This angered the colonists, who believed that Britain and the Parliament did not have the right to tax them without representation. It would later start a cause named "no taxation without representation", becoming one of the lead symbols of democracy for the American revolution. -
Stamp Act
Passed in 1765, Britain introduced a tax on newspapers, legal and commercial documents creating hardships for the colonists who owned businesses. This added on to the anger of the colonists and resentment of the British crown, who believed that this act was another injustice towards them. The colonists were slowly beginning to realize that Britain was going to assert power over them until they submitted, something to which they did not agree with and started the precursor to the revolution. -
Quartering Act
Act passed by Britain in 1765 forcing colonists to allow British soldiers room and board, and also food. The act heightened the growing tension towards the British, for they continued to impose upon the lives of the colonists without their permission. Another act in which added to the growing notion of revolutionary thoughts, overall contributing to the feels of starting a revolution. -
Declaratory Act
Act passed by Britain in 1766 repealing the stamp act, but allowed Parliament to legislate for the colonies no matter what. Laws in Britain also applied to the American colonies, and Parliament had the authority to pass more laws on the colonists. This angered the colonists, who felt that this enabled Parliament to continue to pass binding laws on the colonies. It was another act in which the colonists revolutionary thoughts grew stronger. -
Townshed Acts
Passed in 1767, Britain introduced a tax on imported paper, lead, paints, glass and tea to raise revenue. Bills that were passed in continuation to this act further angered the colonists, who felt that Britain was really out of line and taxation without representation was not politically correct. Tension in the colonies heightened towards the passing of this series of acts. -
Boston Massacre
Britain sent soldiers to Boston for the enforcement of the Townshend acts- upon meeting a crowd of angry colonists, they open fired on them killing five men. This event lead to outcries in all the colonies- among that, the Sons of Liberty considered the Boston Massacre as a notable fight towards American freedom and wanted the departure of British troops from the city of Boston. -
Committees of Correspondence
Groups that legislatures that were against Britain in each of the 13 colonies appointed in order to have political unity between the colonies on the eve of the American Revolution. The Committees of Correspondence was influential in starting the first Continental Congress, which would later go on to define the relationship between colonies to their governments. -
Tea Act
To save themselves from bankruptcy, Britain allowed the British East India Company to bypass regular payment duties on tea, thus making their tea cheaper than smuggled tea and obligating colonists to buy no tea except from that company. The colonists were so opposed to this act that they would begin to plan a rebellious movement against it, beginning the catalyst of what was going to become the American Revolutionary Movement. -
Boston Tea Party
Political protest carried out by the Sons of Liberty in 1773 due to anger and resentment of the tax on tea. They did this in order to show Britain that they did not want to pay their tea tax. The colonists act of rebellion was celebrated in many colonies, continuing the growing support for American liberation under British rule- yet Britain grows angrier. -
Intolerable Acts
Series of acts passed by Britain in response to the tea riots in 1774. Britain intended to punish the colonists for their rebellious actions. The passage of these acts resulted in the colonists decision to form the First Continental Congress and begin the fight towards revolution against oppressive British control. -
First Continental Congress
Meeting held by delegates of all 13 colonies in Philadelphia in 1774 to discuss Britain’s relentless taxation to the colonies, and form a resistance to such taxation and acts. This would act as a precursor to declaring independence and accelerating the revolutionary movement, as the colonists realized Britain would not recognize their own standpoints on government acts and policies. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
First battle between the colonists and the British soldiers in Massachusetts in 1775 that would start the engagements in the revolutionary war. The colonists began to see that they would indeed be fighting a war for their independence- if they won; the price was freedom. If they lost; they would continue to be under the control of the British crown. -
Second Continental Congress
Meeting of delegates from all the colonies who united together to discuss the warfare going on in the colonies, among that the first two battles fought (Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill). They formally declared the American Revolutionary war had begun. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Taking place in Massachusetts in 1775, the British fought against the American militia and suffered heavy losses- however, as a result, the militia learned how to be better organized and support for the revolutionary movement throughout the colonies grew. This caused the rest of the world to see that if a small power such as the United States can stand up to Britain, other colonies around the world can start revolutions and potentially even win their freedom also. -
Olive Branch Petition
Letter written to King George III in 1775 from the members of Second Continental Congress in one last futile attempt to avoid a war of independence with Britain. Suggestions in the letter included ways to correct the problems they were facing. The king neglected the letter, which pushed the colonists to take matters into their own hands and consider declaring independence for future meetings. -
Common Sense
Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 attacking British treatment over the colonies along with their monarchy. It helped to fan the flames of the independence movement of the Americans, giving them faith for what they believed in and uniting support. -
Declaration of Independence
Document signed unanimously by Congress in 1776 declaring the independence of American colonists from Britain. The colonists had grown tired of constant British oppression and finally took a step in declaring their right to govern themselves as a political body. -
Battle of Saratoga
Turning point of revolutionary war in 1777, Britain and Hessian troops surrendered to the colonists showing the world that Americans could stand up to Britain’s toughest army. This effect would be felt throughout the world, giving hope to other colonies under oppressive imperial power. -
Battle of Yorktown
In 1781 the British were decimated and finally surrendered to the American colonists, ending the American Revolutionary War and granting the colonists independence from Britain. This proved to the world and the Americans that revolution was indeed possible, and also independence from an imperial power. -
Treaty of Paris (Revolutionary War)
Document signed by the United States and Great Britain in 1783, ending the Revolutionary War and giving Americans their independence. This change in power was so significant because never in history (at the time) had a colony ever gained independence from its imperial country. The United States set a precedent for other countries to follow. -
Annapolis convention
Held in Maryland in 1786, a meeting of delegates from the 13 states discussed the problems the United States was facing under the Articles of Confederation. This was an important change in power because western styles of government were beginning to develop, along with the formation of the United States of America. A convention like this would be a precursor to another meeting in the formation of the new country. -
Constitutional Convention
Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 that drafted the Constitution for the United States of America. They met to address issues with Articles of Confederation and speak about the new document to govern the country. This change in power shows the new country asserting their right to independence and forming their own country.
