Timeline of the American Revolution
1763:
Treaty of Paris (1763) ends the French and Indian War (Seven Years War).
Proclamation of 1763 prohibits settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
1764:
Sugar Act taxes sugar and molasses imported into the Colonies.
1765:
Stamp Act places a tax on all printed material in the Colonies.
Colonists protest against the Stamp Act, some violently.
Stamp Act Congress meets to organize a response to the Stamp Act.
Sons of Liberty are formed.
Boycotts of British imports begin.
Quartering Act passed, requiring Colonists provide lodging and food for British soldiers.
1766:
Stamp Act is repealed.
Declaratory Act is passed. It declares the Parliament has the right to pass laws for and tax the
Colonies.
1767:
Townshend Acts passed. Taxes on lead, paint, paper, glass, and tea.
Writs of Assistance: Customs officers given the right to search buildings without a warrant.
Smuggling continues.
Boycotts continue. (Also called “Nonimportation Agreements.”)
1770:
March 5 – Boston Massacre. Five colonists killed in a fight with British soldiers.
Committees of Correspondence formed to communicate news between Colonies.
John Adams defends the British soldiers at trial for the Boston Massacre.
1773:
Tea Act passed. This act actually lowered the tax on tea, but restricted Colonist’s choice.
December – Boston Tea Party. Sons of Liberty dump crates of tea into Boston Harbor.
1774:
Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) passed. These acts aimed to punish Colonists for the Boston
Tea Party.
Quebec Act passed. This granted rights and western lands to French Catholics in Quebec.
September – First Continental Congress meets. They issued a Declaration of Rights and
formed a force of Minutemen. They also agreed to meet again the following May.
1775:
March 23rd – Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention.”
April 18-19 – Battle of Lexington and Concord. The first battle of the Revolutionary War.
Siege of Boston begins.
May – Second Continental Congress begins.
Fort Ticonderoga captured by Patriots.
June - Continental Army created, George Washington appointed General.
June 17th - Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill).
1776:
January – “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine.
March – Siege of Boston ends. British evacuate the city.
May – Virginia Declaration of Rights.
June – Continental Congress officially begins to consider independence.
July 4 – Declaration of Independence approved.
August – British forces land in New York, defeat Americans and capture the city.
December – “The Crisis” by Thomas Paine.
December 25 – Battle of Trenton.
1777:
January – Battle of Princeton.
September – Battle of Brandywine Creek.
Philadelphia captured by the British.
October – Battle of Saratoga (Turning point of the war!)
Winter – Washington’s army at Valley Forge.
Help begins to arrive from Europe: Lafayette, VonSteuben, Pulaski.
1778:
British “Southern Strategy” to capture the Southern Colonies.
France recognizes the independence of the United States.
France signs a treaty of alliance with the United States.
1779:
Spain joins the war as an ally of France.
American George Rogers Clark wins battles at Cahokia and Vincennes on the frontier.
Capt. John Paul Jones Bonhomme Richard defeats the British ship Serapis.
1780:
French army of 6,000 troops arrives in the US.
1781:
March – Battle of Guildford Courthouse.
July - British General Lord Cornwallis moves his army north to Virginia.
October – Battle of Yorktown. Cornwallis’ army is surrounded by Washington’s army and the
French army. French navy defeats the British navy, preventing Cornwallis’ escape. Cornwallis
surrenders. This is the last major battle of the Revolution.
1783:
Treaty of Paris (1783) officially ends the American Revolutionary War.
Britain recognizes the independence of the United States.
US gains all land east of the Mississippi River and south of the Great Lakes (except Florida,
which goes to Spain.)
British agree to evacuate their forts in American territory. (They don’t do it.)
Americans agree to respect property Loyalists left behind. (They don’t do it.)
Americans agree to pay outstanding debts to British merchants. (They don’t do it.)