Leading up to the American Revolution 

French and Indian War (1754-1763) 

War between great Britain and France/Indian Allies 

Britain goes into major debt, leads to salutary neglect 

Albany Plan of Union (1754) 

-No ideas of separation from Britain 

-proposed by Ben franklin who wanted a unified colonial government 

-regulate Indian trades 

End of 7 years' war (1763) 

Treaty of Paris (1763) 

Pontiac's Rebellion (1763) - North American native uprising against British control in Great Lakes 

-British gave blankets with smallpox to natives 

Proclamation of 1763 

The proclamation line was set at the Appalachian mountains. It intended to prevent conflict between natives and colonists. Colonists were very upset. 

Sugar Act of 1764 – direct tax on sugar 

Stamp Act of 1765 – levied taxes on stamps which taxed documents, contracts, newspapers, etc. 

Quartering Act of 1765 – colonists must provide shelter to British troops 

Lead to the first meeting, in which they argued that they were not equally represented. (Stamp Act Congress) 

Stamp Act repealed in 1766  

In response, parliament passes the Declaratory Act of 1766 - shows the American colonists that the British parliament had a right to tax them, and that they are stronger than them 

Townshend Acts of 1767 – tax on manufactured goods such as glass, lead, paint, and tea 

Boston Massacre of 1770 - nine British soldiers shot several of a crowd of three or four hundred who were harassing them verbally and throwing various projectiles 

Committees of Correspondence – advised to boycott and not purchase British goods. (a network of Patriot-led groups in the 13 American colonies that coordinated resistance to British rule before the Revolutionary War) 

Tea Act of 1773 – tax on tea 

Tea Act leads to the Boston Tea Party (1773) 

Boston Tea Party leads to the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) of 1774 

• Boston Port Act: Closed the port of Boston to trade (until the cost of Tea was paid back) 

• Administration of Justice Act: British officials accused of crimes would no longer be tried in Massachusetts 

• Massachusetts Government Act: Targeted Massachusetts, gave the royal governor more power since he was a loyalist 

• Quebec Act: Also known as the Canada Act, this act was not intended to punish the colonies, but it was passed at the same time as the other acts and enraged the colonists  

• Quartering Act: Gave royal officials the authority to quarter British troops in the colonies  

In 1775, the second Continental Congress meets 

Lexington and Concord battle - Massachusetts colonists defied British authority, outnumbered and outfought the Redcoats, and embarked on a lengthy war to earn their independence. 

Olive Branch petition - The petition was a last-ditch effort to avoid war between Great Britain and the American colonies. The colonists wanted to remain loyal to the British crown and sought fairer treatment from the British government. They wanted a final compromise. (it was rejected) 

Declaration of Independence (1776) - The Declaration of Independence announced the creation of a new country and severed the American colonies' political ties to Great Britain. Written by Thomas Jefferson. 

Thomas Paine's Common Sense (1776) - to sway public opinion towards the cause of American independence by presenting clear, accessible arguments to the common people 

Revolutionary War 

Begins in Lexington and Concord 1775 

Important Events: 

Battle of Saratoga in 1777 – American victory convinces the France to get more involved in the war. They donate resources, manpower, ships, and info and logistics. 

Battle of Yorktown in 1781 – Last major battle in the war in which a combination of American and French forces corner a large part of British North American army and force a surrender.  

Treaty of Paris in 1783 – officially ends the war with the British recognition of the U.S. as its own country.  

New Form of Government 

The Articles of confederation (1781-1789) 

Created in 1777 by continental congress committee 

Ratified in 1781 

• Weak Central Government: The national government had limited powers and could not enforce laws or collect taxes, leading to financial instability. 

• No Executive Branch: There was no national leader or president to enforce laws or oversee government operations. 

• No National Judiciary: Disputes between states could not be effectively resolved, as there was no national court system. 

• Unanimous Consent Required for Amendments: Any changes to the Articles required the agreement of all 13 states, making amendments nearly impossible. 

• Inability to Regulate Trade: The national government could not regulate interstate or foreign trade, causing economic competition and conflict among states. 

Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787) - uprising of farmers because of high taxes and debts. It showed the articles of confederation were weak because they couldn’t respond to economic crises not defend from the rebellion. 

One success is the Northwest Ordinances of 1787 which established a process to creating new states that all would be free from slavery and guarantee specific rights 

Constitution 

In 1787, state leaders come together for a constitutional convention in which they discuss problems of the Articles of Confederation and draft a new government (Constitution) 

1787-1789 – Constitution requires ratification from 9 out of 13 states 

Debates occur between Anti-federalists and the Federalists in newspapers 

1789 – Constitution is ratified and replaces the Articles of confederation 

Washington's Presidency (1789-1797) 

Judiciary Act of 1789 - Established the federal judiciary system, creating the Supreme Court, district courts, and circuit courts, which laid the foundation for the U.S. legal system. 

1790 – Hamilton public credit system approved. Federal government assumes all debt and creates a National Bank (1791).  

Bill of Rights (1791) - the first 10 amendments to the Constitution were ratified, ensuring protections for individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and due process. 

Whiskey Rebellion (1794) - A tax protest by farmers against a federal excise tax on whiskey. Successfully struck down by the new government showing its strength and ability to enforce laws. 

Jay's Treaty (1794) - A treaty with Britain that resolved lingering disputes from the Revolutionary War and helped prevent further conflict. While controversial, it maintained peace and strengthened trade relations with Britain. 

1795 – Washington's farewell address - he warned against political parties, foreign alliances, and sectional divisions. His address had a lasting influence on U.S. foreign policy and political thought. Also set a two term precedent for presidents. 

John Adam's Presidency (1791-1801) 

XYZ Affair (1797-1798): A diplomatic conflict between the U.S. and France, in which French officials demanded bribes from American diplomats. This led to public outrage in the U.S. and an undeclared naval conflict known as the Quasi-War with France. 

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798): Four controversial laws passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress that restricted immigration, made it harder for immigrants to become citizens, and criminalized criticism of the federal government. These acts were seen as an infringement on free speech and sparked significant opposition, particularly from Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans. 

Quasi-War with France (1798-1800): An undeclared naval war between the U.S. and France in response to the XYZ Affair. Adams resisted pressures to declare a full-scale war, ultimately resolving the conflict through diplomacy with the Convention of 1800, which restored peace. 

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798-1799): Written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, these resolutions argued that states could nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional, marking an early assertion of states' rights and setting the stage for future debates over federal power.