Timeline of the American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free of the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America.
The Revolution includes political, social, and military aspects. The Revolutionary era is generally considered to have begun with the Battles of Concord and Lexington (1775) and ended with the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1789. The military phase of the Revolution, the American Revolutionary War, lasted from 1775 to 1783.
1760s
- 1763 – King George's Royal Proclamation of 1763 (October 7) establishes administration in territories newly ceded by France. To prevent further violence between settlers and Native Americans, the Proclamation sets a western boundary on the American colonies.
- 1764 – The Sugar Act (April 5), intended to raise revenues, and the Currency Act (September 1), prohibiting the colonies from issuing paper money, are passed by Parliament. These Acts, coming during the economic slump that followed the French and Indian War, are resented by the colonists and lead to protests.
- 1765 – To help defray the cost of keeping troops in America, Parliament enacts (March 22) the Stamp Act, imposing a tax on many types of printed materials used in the colonies. Seen as a violation of rights, the Act sparks violent demonstrations in several Colonies. Virginia's House of Burgesses adopts (May 29) the Virginia Resolves claiming that, under British law, Virginians could be taxed only by an assembly to which they had elected representatives. Delegates from nine colonies attend the Stamp Act Congress which adopts (October 19) a Declaration of Rights and Grievances and petitions Parliament and the king to repeal the Act.
- 1765 – Parliament enacts (March 24) the Quartering Act, requiring the Colonies to provide housing, food, and other provisions to British troops. The act is resisted or circumvented in most of the colonies. In 1767 and again in 1769, Parliament suspended the governor and legislature of New York for failure to comply.
- 1766 – The British Parliament repeals (March 18) the unpopular Stamp Act of the previous year, but, in the simultaneous Declaratory Act, asserts its "full power and authority to make laws and statutes ... to bind the colonies and people of America ... in all cases whatsoever".
- 1766 – Liberty Pole erected in New York City commons in celebration of the Stamp Act repeal (May 21). An intermittent skirmish with the British garrison over the removal of this and other poles, and their replacement by the Sons of Liberty, rages until the Province of New York is under the control of the revolutionary New York Provincial Congress in 1775
- 1767 – The Townshend Acts, named for Chancellor of the Exchequer Charles Townshend, are passed by Parliament (June 29), placing duties on many items imported into America.
- 1769 – To the Betrayed Inhabitants of the City and Colony of New York broadside published by the local Sons of Liberty (c. December)
1770s
1770s in the United States: 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1775,
1776,
1777,
1778,
1779.
- 1770 – Golden Hill incident in which British troops wound civilians, including one death (January 19)
- 1770 – Lord North becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain (January 28)
1780s
1780
- January 28 – A stockade known as Fort Nashborough is founded on the banks of the Cumberland River.Two years later the site is renamed Nashville.
- February 1 – Some 8,000 British forces under General Henry Clinton arrive in Charleston, South Carolina, from New York.
- February 1 – New York cedes to Congress its western claims, including territory west of Lake Ontario. In 1792 New York will sell the Erie Triangle to Pennsylvania
- March 14 – Bombardment of Fort Charlotte: After a two-week siege, Spanish general, colonial governor of Louisiana, and Viceroy of New Spain Bernardo de Gálvez captures Fort Charlotte, taking the port of Mobile (in present-day Alabama) from the British. Fort Charlotte was the last remaining British frontier post capable of threatening New Orleans in Spanish Louisiana. Its fall drove the British from the western reaches of West Florida and reduced the British military presence in West Florida to its capital, Pensacola.
- April 8 – Siege of Charleston: British Army troops under General Henry Clinton and naval forces under Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot besiege Charleston, South Carolina. British ships sail past Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island to occupy Charleston Harbor. Washington will order reinforcements to Charleston, but the city falls on May 12 in what is arguably the worst American defeat of the war.
- May 6 – Siege of Charleston: Fort Moultrie falls to the British.
- May 12 – Siege of Charleston: American General Benjamin Lincoln surrenders Charleston to the British. The British lose 255 men while capturing a large American garrison.
- May 29 – Battle of Waxhaws: A clash between Continental Army forces under Abraham Buford and a mainly Loyalist force led by Banastre Tarleton occurs near Lancaster, South Carolina in the Waxhaws area (close to present-day Buford). The British destroyed the American forces.
- June 6 – Battle of Connecticut Farms
- June 23 -Battle of Springfield (June 23). With the attempted British invasion of New Jersey was stopped at Connecticut Farms and Springfield, major fighting in the North ends.
- September 23 – John André captured and the treason of Benedict Arnold is exposed
- October 7 – Battle of Kings Mountain
1781
1782
- 1782 – The British government officially, yet informally, recognizes American independence.
1783
1784
- "The state of Frankland," later known as Franklin, secedes from North Carolina
1785
1786
1787
1788
- North Carolina reconquers Franklin, which ceases to exist.
- [[Georgia (U.S. state)|
1789
1790s
See also
External links
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