Famous Figures
This man came up with many ideas for the Revolution and for how American democracy should be set up, but he never served as president. He also came up with several inventions, including bifocals (a type of glasses), the first Fire Department, and serving as head of the first Post Office.
Benjamin Franklin
These 1775 battles, featured in movies like April Morning, were fought nearby Boston and are often credited as starting the American Revolution.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
This type of government is designed to give people a voice and some control over the country's decisions. They choose people to represent them to make decisions for the whole group.
Representative Democracy
This 1770 moment left five people dead and led to growing anger at the British.
The Boston Massacre
This 1765 law raised the price of any paper with a small item in the corner.
The Stamp Act
This guy wrote a 47-page pamphlet that advocated for American independence from Great Britain.
Thomas Paine
The Revolution officially ended in 1783 after the Treaty of Paris was ratified, but this final battle was fought in 1781 in Virginia.
The Battle of Yorktown
This type of government was proposed on the Mayflower, which stated that the people should be the ones to decide the rules for themselves, and not a king.
Self Government
The year is 1781. The United States just passed its first constitution, but things don't go so well after states fight each other for land, Congress can't collect taxes, and Shays' Rebellion breaks out because this document is too weak.
The Articles of Confederation
This law targeted a main ingredient to molasses, which hurt the economies of places like Boston.
The Sugar Act
This man wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the famous phrase, "All Men are Created Equal," despite owning many slaves. Later, he became the 3rd President of the United States.
Thomas Jefferson
This battle, fought in 1778 after several American defeats in the Revolution, was a big American victory that convinced France to help the colonists fight the war.
The Battle of Saratoga, N.Y.
Colonists complained that having to pay Parliament without a vote was this catchy rhyme.
Taxation without Representation
Following the Seven Years War, King George III made a decision that angered colonists because they could not move west of the Appalachian Mountains anymore.
The Proclamation of 1763
This 1773 law usually gets called a tax, but it actually removed a tax to make the British East India Company's most valuable product cheaper to buy in the colonies.
The Tea Act
This group helped lead many boycotts of British goods, including tea and stamps, and helped start the Revolution.
The Sons of Liberty
This wasn't a battle, but the Continental Army took the time to train at this location to become a quality fighting force. It was rough for them because they were cold and hungry.
Valley Forge
This is considered the first written Constitution in the colonies. It created the structure of government, listed who had power and what power they had, and what the laws of the colony were.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could not force states to pay their taxes. Instead, Congress sold off land in this new section of the United States.
The Northwest Territory
This French general and Aristocrat joined the Revolution when he was young and lead troops to victory at the battle of Yorktown with the help of information from James Armisted.
Marquis De Lafayette
This battle was the first MAJOR battle that was fought after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 32,000 British troops and Hessian mercenaries fought against only 10,000 American troops.
The Battle of Long Island
The period of time in the early colonies when people were turning to religion and began questioning the authority of kings and the church itself. People would gather in "revivals" and focused on a strong personal relationship with "God" and not strict rules of the church.
The First Great Awakening
This Treaty officially ended the Revolutionary War. It was signed by Americans such as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. The British also signed, but left before they could finish the painting...
The Treaty of Paris 1783
These 1767 laws caused huge backlash among the colonists for raising the prices on paper, lead, tea, and other goods. It caused a huge boycott led by the Sons and Daughters of Liberty.
The Townshend Acts/Duties