Major Events Leading to the Declaration of Independence

French and Indian War

Conflict (1754-1763) between Britain and France.

Treaty of Paris

1763 agreement ending the French and Indian War.

Proclamation of 1763

British decree preventing westward colonial settlement.

Sugar Act

1764 tax on sugar and imported goods.

Stamp Act

1765 tax on printed materials in colonies.

Stamp Act Congress

1765 meeting protesting the Stamp Act.

Townshend Acts

1767 laws imposing duties on imported goods.

Boston Massacre

1770 confrontation killing five colonists.

Tea Act

1773 law granting tea sales monopoly to British East India Company.

Boston Tea Party

1773 protest where colonists dumped tea into harbor.

Intolerable Acts

1774 punitive laws in response to Boston Tea Party.

Boston Port Act

Closed Boston port until tea damages were paid.

First Continental Congress

1774 meeting of twelve colonies in Philadelphia.

Battles of Lexington and Concord

First military engagements of the Revolutionary War.

Battle of Bunker Hill

Significant 1775 battle showing colonial resilience.

Second Continental Congress

1775 assembly managing colonial war efforts.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document declaring colonies' independence from Britain.

Colonial Resistance

Colonial actions against British policies and taxes.

Monopoly

Exclusive control over a commodity or service.

Military Engagements

Armed confrontations between opposing forces.

Colonial Unity

Collaboration among colonies in response to British actions.