1700s

• 1720-1740s


  -The Great Awakening occurred, a religious revival amongst the colonies

  -Johnathan Edwards was a leading figure in the Great Awakening

  -The Enlightenment also occurred, an idea that rationalism and science are a better belief than religion

  -Benjamin Franklin was a famous figure of the Enlightenment
• 1754


  -The Albany Plan, a plan thought up by Benjamin Franklin, was a rejected plan in hopes of creating a centralized government in the colonies
• 1754-1763


  -The French and Indian War occurred, a conflict between the Natives, French, and the British

  -The British won the war, and the Treaty of Paris was signed between the French and British
• 1763


  -The Royal Proclamation was created to prevent the colonies from settling past the Appalachian Mountains, which angered colonists

  -Became a negative turning point for the British and Colonial relationships
• 1764


  -The Sugar Act was created to tax sugar and prevent smuggling

  -The Currency Act was created to stop colonists from printing paper money
• 1765


  -The Stamp Act required colonists to pay a tax on forms and goods to help pay for the British troops during the French/Indian War

  -The phrase "No taxation without representation" was coined
• 1766


  -Boycotts were held against the Stamp Act and the act was repealed

  -Declaratory Act was passed and it allowed Parliament to tax in the colonies
• 1767


  -The Townshend Act was passed, taxed goods Imported to the colonies, led to colonists protesting and the act was repealed in 1769
• March 5, 1770


  -Boston Massacre, in which British soldiers killed many Bostonians and angered many colonists
• December 16, 1773


  -Boston Tea Party occurs, in which Bostonians dump many pounds of tea into the Boston River
• 1774


  -Coercieve Acts, a series of laws that Parliament passed to punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party

  -The First Continental Congress occurs, in which all colonies(except Georgia) meet to discuss growing tensions with Britain
• April 1775


  -Battle of Lexington and Concord, a major battle to start the American Revolution, resulted in a win for the colonists

  -Second Continental Congress meets up, a continental army and government policies were established

  -George Washington becomes leader of the continental army
• July 5, 1775


  -The Olive Branch Petition is sent to the king as a last chance to prevent war but it is rejected
• 1776


  -Common Sense is written and published by Thomas Paine

  -Used to advocate freedom from Britain

  -Thomas Jefferson is commissioned to draft the Declaration of Independence
• July 4, 1776


  -The Declaration of Independence is signed, an important document for the government and American indentity
• 1778


  -Franco-American Alliance is created, colonists and French agree to fight together against Great Britain

  -Alliance was negotiated by Benjamin Franklin to secure a relationship with the french
• 1777


  -Articles of Confederation was created as the first central government for the colonies

  -lacked taxation, declaration of war, and couldn't form an army
• 1783


  -The Treaty of Paris was signed to end the American Revolution, and gave the U.S. land and freedom from Britain
• 1787


  -Constitutional Convention met up to create the New Jersy plan for equal representation of small states

  -The Virginia Plan was created also to support large states with representation based on population

  -The 3/5 Compromise is created, one slave counts as 3/5 of a person, as slaves made up most of the population
• 1787


  -The Great Compromise is created to allow equal and fair representation

  -A new government is created, the House of Representatives, meaning that representation is based on the population of each state

  -Senate is also created, every state has 2 sentates
• 1791


  -The Bill of Rights was added to the Consitution, with ten amendments to guarantee the rights of every citizen
• Bill of Rights (Last 5)

  Amendment 6- Right to a fair trial

  Amendment 7- Allows lawsuits to be held if the claim exceeds a certain amount of money

  Amendment 8- Cannot impose unfair bail, fines, or punishments

  Amendment 9- The rights of citizens will be protected

  Amendment 10- The government only has the powers listed in the constitution, prevents unfairness
• Bill of Rights (First 5)

  Amendment 1- Freedom to assembly and petition

  Amendment 2- Right to bear arms

  Amendment 3-Open homes to soldiers in need

  Amendment 4- Search and arrest (warrants)

  Amendment 5- Rights in criminal law, prevent self-incrimination
• 1789


  -George Washington, First President of America

  -Thomas Jefferson became his secretary of state and Alexander Hamilton became his treasury

  -The national bank is created

  -Neutrality Proclamation, Washington declared neutrality in the war between France and Britain
• 1797


  -John Adams becomes the 2nd President of the U.S

  -XYZ affair, in which a conflict between the u.s and France occurred

  -Alien and sedition Acts, restricted foreign-born Americans' speech

  -Washington's Farewell Address, favored neutrality with nations and preferred no interaction with other countries
• 1775-1783


  -The American revolution, a fight for freedom between the colonies and Britain