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Date |
Event(s) |
| 1 | 1754 | - 28 May 1754—10 Feb 1763: Fourth French and Indian War
The fourth and most important French and Indian War (1754-1763) begins when British and French and Indian forces clash near Fort Duquesne (the site of present-day Pittsburgh) for control of the Ohio River Valley.
France cedes Canada to Britain under the Treaty of Paris ending the Seven Years' War.
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| 2 | 1765 | - 22 Mar 1765: Parliament passes the Stamp Act
Imposes a tax on all newspapers, legal documents, playing cards, dice, almanacs, and pamphlets, raising the issue of taxation without representation.
- 24 Mar 1765: The Quartering Act
Which requires the colonies to provide housing and food for British troops stationed in the colonies, goes into effect.
- 7 Oct 1765—25 Oct 1765: The Stamp Act Congress
Consisting of delegates from nine colonies, meets in New York to organize united resistance to the Stamp Act. It calls on the colonies to protest the act by refusing to import goods that require purchase of a stamp.
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| 3 | 1766 | - 17 Mar 1766: Stamp Act Repealed
Under pressure from London merchants, Parliament repeals the Stamp Act.
- 18 Mar 1766: Declaratory Act Passed
Parliament asserts its power to pass laws affecting the colonies.
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| 4 | 1767 | - 29 Jun 1767: The Townsend Acts
England requires the colonists to pay an import duty on tea, glass, oil, lead, paper, and paint.
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| 5 | 1768 | - 1 Oct 1768: British Troop Build Up
Two regiments of British troops land in Boston.
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| 6 | 1770 | - 5 Mar 1770: Boston Massacre
Around 9 p.m., British troops fire on a crowd of men and boys who are throwing snowballs and chunks of ice at them. Three members of the crowd--Crispus Attucks, James Caldwell, and Samuel Gray--are killed and two others--Patrick Carr and Samuel Maverick--died later of their wounds.
John Adams, assisted by Josiah Quincy, defended the soldiers, arguing that the crowd had rushed the soldiers, taunting them and striking at their muskets with sticks and clubs. Preston and six other defendants were acquitted. Two soldiers, found guilty of manslaughter, were branded on the thumb and dismissed from the army.
- 12 Apr 1770: Part of Townsend Act Repealed
Parliament repeals the all the Townsend duties except the one on tea.
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| 7 | 1772 | - 10 Jun 1772: Gaspee Burned
Colonists near Providence, R.I., burn the British customs schooner Gaspee after it runs aground.
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| 8 | 1773 | - 16 Dec 1773: Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party - approximately 150 Massachusetts patriots dressed as Mohawk Indians protest against the British Tea Act by boarding three tea ships in Boston harbor and emptied 342 chests of tea worth 18,000 pounds sterling into the water.
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| 9 | 1774 | - 31 Mar 1774: Intolerable Acts
In reprisal for the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament enacts the first of the "Intolerable Acts," closing Boston harbor to all shipping until payment for the destroyed tea was made.
- 20 May 1774: Additional Intolerable Acts
Two additional "Intolerable Acts" forbid public meetings in Massachusetts unless sanctioned by the royal governor and transfer any trial of a British official accused of a capital offense to England or another colony.
- 2 Jun 1774: Quartering Act
Another of the "Intolerable Acts," requires Massachusetts residents to house and feed British troops in private homes.
- 17 Sep 1774: Suffolk Reserves
The First Continental Congress approves the Suffolk Resolves, calling for organized opposition to the Intolerable Acts.
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| 10 | 1775 | - 3 Mar 1775: Give me Liberty or Give Me Death
At a convention held in Richmond, Va.'s St. Johns Episcopal Church, Patrick Henry reportedly denounced arbitrary British rule with the stirring words: "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."
- 14 Apr 1775: Anti Slavery Society Formed
The first antislavery society in the colonies is organized in Philadelphia.
- 19 Apr 1775: Shots heard around the world
Shots fired at Lexington and Concord where weapons depot destroyed. "Minute Men" force British troops back to Boston. George Washington takes command of the Continental Army.
- 19 Apr 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord
At the battles of Lexington and Concord, 73 British troops are killed and 200 are wounded or missing in action. The patriot losses were 49 dead and 46 wounded or missing.
- 15 Jun 1775: Washington become Commander in Chief of Army
Congress selects George Washington to be commander in chief of the Continental Army.
- 17 Jun 1775: Battle of Bunker Hill
British forces attacked Patriots on Breed's Hill, which overlooks the sea approach to Boston Harbor. Almost half of the British troops--1,054 out of 2,400--are killed or wounded. American colonel William Prescott is credited with telling his troops: "Don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes!"
- 22 Jun 1775: Paper Money Produced
The Second Continental Congress issues its first paper money.
- 6 Jul 1775: Declarations of Cause and Necessity
Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms stating that Americans are "resolved to die free men rather than live as slaves."
The American Revolution, the American War of Independence, led by George Washington was fought between Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.
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| 11 | 1776 | - 10 Jan 1776: Common Sense Published
Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet
- 6 Jun 1776: At the Second Continental Congress, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduces a resolution that "these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and indpendent states."
- 11 Jun 1776: Declaration Draft begins
Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence. Virginia Richard Henry Lee formally moved for independence on June 6. On June 11, a five-member committee--consisting of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman--was named to produce a draft of a declaration.
- 2 Jul 1776: New Jersey pays for votes
New Jersey gives "all inhabitants" of adult age with a net worth of 50 pounds the right to vote. Women property holders have the vote until 1807, when the state limited the vote to "free, white males."
- 4 Jul 1776—14 Jan 1784: American Revolution
The Declaration of Independence is signed July 4, 1776.
Treaty of Paris is ratified by Congress and the American Revolutionary War officially ends January 14, 1784.
- 22 Sep 1776: Cpt Nathan Hale Executed
Before being executed by the British for spying, Capt. Nathan Hale says, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
- 19 Dec 1776: The Crisis is published
To bolster the patriots' morale, Thomas Paine publishes The Crisis, which begins: "These are the times that try men's souls."
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| 12 | 1777 | - 14 Jun 1777: Flag Day is Official
The Continental Congress authorizes a flag with 13 red and white stripes and 13 white stars on a field of blue.
- 2 Jul 1777: Vermont Abolishes Slavery
Vermont becomes the first political unit in the world to abolish slavery.
- 15 Nov 1777: Articles of Confederation
- Congress is made sole authority of the new national government.
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| 13 | 1778 | - 6 Feb 1778: France Alliance
France signs a treaty of alliance with the United States and the American Revolution soon becomes a world war.
- 29 Dec 1778: Savannah Captured
The British invade the deep South, capturing Savannah, Ga
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| 14 | 1779 | - 23 Sep 1779: Bon Homme Richard Ship
When British forces on the Serapis demand that John Paul Jones surrender the sinking Bon Homme Richard, Jones replies: "Sir, I have not yet begun to fight."
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| 15 | 1780 | - 21 Sep 1780: Benedict Arnold Betrayal
Benedict Arnold offers to exchange West Point for 20,000 pounds and a commission as major general in the British army.
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| 16 | 1781 | - 30 Jan 1781: Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation are adopted.
- Jun 1781—Sep 1781: Slave wins his Freedom
Quork Walker, a slave, successfully petitions for his freedom, basing his plea on the State constitution's declaration that "All men are born free and equal."
- 19 Oct 1781: Cornwallis Surrenders
General Cornwallis's encircled 8000-man army surrenders at Yorktown, Va.
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| 17 | 1783 | - 12 Mar 1783—15 Mar 1783: The Newburgh Conspiracy.
Continental officers threaten to revolt against a "country that tramples on your rights." Washington convinces military leaders to resist sedition.
- 13 May 1783: Society of Cincinnati
Revolutionary Army officers form the Society of Cincinnati.
- 3 Sep 1783: The Paris Peace Treaty
The Paris Peace Treaty gives the United States all land east of the Mississippi River, south of Canada, and north of the Floridas.
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| 18 | 1787 | - 25 Jan 1787: Shays Rebellion.
Massachusetts farmers, faced with high taxes, eviction, and imprisonment for debt, attack the Springfield arsenal. George Washington writes to James Madison: "If there exists not a power to check them, what security has a man for life, liberty or property?" THomas Jefferson, in Paris, responded differently: "A little revolution now and then is a good thing; the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
- 14 May 1787: The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention, with George Washington presiding, convenes in Philadelphia.
- 21 Jun 1787: Ratification of Constitution
By a vote of 57 to 47, New Hampshire becomes the 9th state to ratify the Constitution. North Carolina and Rhode Island rejected the document. In Virginia the vote was 89-79 for approval; in New York, 30-27; and in Massachusetts, 187-168.
- 23 Jul 1787: The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance establishes a system of government for the region and prohibits slavery from the territory.
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| 19 | 1789 | - 4 Feb 1789: Washington selected as President
The Electoral College selects George Washington as president. Washington wrote: "My movement to the chair of Government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution."
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| 20 | 1790 | - 14 Jan 1790: US Capitol Location Determined
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton recommends that the Federal Government assume the national debt and state debts incurred during the Revolution. In exchange for Southern support, northern members of Congress agree to move the U.S. capital to a site located between Maryland and Virginia.
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1942 - 2015 (73 years)