Purpose
Construct a timeline of the major event leading to the American Revolution
Time
Approximately 1 hour
Assignment Prompt
In this assignment, you will conduct research and then use what you have learned to create a timeline.
Assignment Instruction
Step 1: Gather materials and necessary information.
a) Review your suggested research sites:
The Boston tea party, 1773
The tea act
Continental Congress
Digital History: The American Revolution
b) Take good notes of important major events leading to the American Revolution and the dates they occured:
French and Indian war
Proclamation of 1763
Sugar Act
Quartering Act
Stamp Act
Townshend Acts
Boston Massacre
Tea Act
Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts
First continental congress
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Step 2: Create your timeline.
1. French and Indian War (1754-1763) - This conflict between Great Britain and France over control of North America significantly increased the debt of the British government, leading to the imposition of new taxes on the American colonies.
2. Proclamation of 1763 - Issued by King George III, this proclamation prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, angering many colonists who desired access to new lands.
3. Sugar Act (1764) - This act increased the tax on sugar and other imports, which angered many colonists who felt their economic freedom was being restricted.
4. Quartering Act (1765) - This act required colonists to house and feed British soldiers, further infringing upon their rights and increasing tensions between the colonies and Britain.
5. Stamp Act (1765) - This act imposed a tax on all printed materials, leading to widespread protests and boycotts by the colonists.
6. Townshend Acts (1767) - These acts imposed new taxes on goods imported into the colonies, such as glass, tea, and paper, and also allowed for the search and seizure of goods without proper warrants.
7. Boston Massacre (1770) - A clash between British soldiers and colonists, resulting in the death of five colonists, further fueling anti-British sentiment.
8. Tea Act (1773) - This act granted a monopoly on tea sales to the British East India Company, leading to the famous Boston Tea Party.
9. Boston Tea Party (1773) - Colonists disguised as Native Americans dumped tea from British ships into the Boston Harbor as a protest against the Tea Act and British taxation.
10. Intolerable Acts (1774) - These acts were passed by the British Parliament to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party, and included the closure of the Boston Harbor and the strengthening of British control over Massachusetts.
11. First Continental Congress (1774) - Representatives from twelve of the thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia to discuss grievances with the British government and to coordinate resistance.
12. Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775) - These were the first military engagements of the American Revolution, with colonial militias successfully defending against British forces in Massachusetts.
Step 3: Reflect upon the timeline and the events leading to the American Revolution.
It's interesting to see how a series of taxes and acts imposed by the British government gradually escalated tensions between the American colonies and Britain. The French and Indian War, though not directly related to the revolution, played a significant role in straining Britain's finances, which ultimately led to new taxes being imposed on the colonies. Each subsequent act, from the Sugar Act to the Tea Act, sparked resistance and protests from the colonists, culminating in the Boston Tea Party and the Intolerable Acts. The convening of the First Continental Congress and the battles of Lexington and Concord marked a turning point, where armed conflict became inevitable. It's fascinating to study how these events unfolded and how they ultimately shaped the American Revolution.
Step 1: Gather materials and necessary information.
a) Review your suggested research sites:
- The Boston Tea Party, 1773
- The Tea Act
- Continental Congress
- Digital History: The American Revolution
b) Take good notes of important major events leading to the American Revolution and the dates they occurred:
1. French and Indian War - 1754-1763: Also known as the Seven Years' War, it was a conflict between the British and French over territorial control in North America. The British victory led to increased tensions between the colonies and Britain due to the financial burden imposed on the colonies.
2. Proclamation of 1763 - October 7, 1763: Issued by King George III, this proclamation prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, angering many colonists who had hoped to expand their territories.
3. Sugar Act - April 5, 1764: This act was passed by the British Parliament to increase revenue by taxing sugar and molasses imported into the colonies. It was met with resistance from the colonists who felt that it violated their rights.
4. Quartering Act - March 24, 1765: This act required colonists to provide housing and supplies to British soldiers stationed in the colonies, further straining relations between the colonies and Britain.
5. Stamp Act - March 22, 1765: This act imposed a tax on printed materials in the colonies, including newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards. The colonists protested against it, leading to the formation of the Sons of Liberty and widespread boycotts.
6. Townshend Acts - 1767-1770: These series of acts imposed taxes on imported goods such as glass, paper, paint, and tea. The colonists saw them as further attempts to weaken their economic independence and responded with more boycotts.
7. Boston Massacre - March 5, 1770: A confrontation between British soldiers and a mob of colonists in Boston resulted in five colonists being killed. This event fueled anti-British sentiment and increased tensions between the colonies and Britain.
8. Tea Act - May 10, 1773: This act granted the British East India Company a monopoly on the sale of tea in the colonies. It allowed them to bypass American merchants and sell tea directly to the colonists, leading to resentment among colonial tea merchants.
9. Boston Tea Party - December 16, 1773: In defiance of the Tea Act, a group of colonists, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British tea ships and dumped chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.
10. Intolerable Acts - 1774: In response to the Boston Tea Party, these acts were passed to punish Massachusetts by closing the port of Boston and strengthening British control over the colonies. They further united the colonies against Britain.
11. First Continental Congress - September 5, 1774: Delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia to discuss their grievances against Britain and to coordinate a united response. This marked a significant step towards colonial unity.
12. Battles of Lexington and Concord - April 19, 1775: These battles marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War. British troops attempted to seize colonial weapons and arrest Patriot leaders, leading to armed conflict between the colonial militia and British soldiers.
Step 2: Organize the events in chronological order.
- French and Indian War - 1754-1763
- Proclamation of 1763 - October 7, 1763
- Sugar Act - April 5, 1764
- Quartering Act - March 24, 1765
- Stamp Act - March 22, 1765
- Townshend Acts - 1767-1770
- Boston Massacre - March 5, 1770
- Tea Act - May 10, 1773
- Boston Tea Party - December 16, 1773
- Intolerable Acts - 1774
- First Continental Congress - September 5, 1774
- Battles of Lexington and Concord - April 19, 1775
Step 3: Create a timeline using the organized events and their dates.
1754-1763: French and Indian War
October 7, 1763: Proclamation of 1763
April 5, 1764: Sugar Act
March 24, 1765: Quartering Act
March 22, 1765: Stamp Act
1767-1770: Townshend Acts
March 5, 1770: Boston Massacre
May 10, 1773: Tea Act
December 16, 1773: Boston Tea Party
1774: Intolerable Acts
September 5, 1774: First Continental Congress
April 19, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord
Congratulations! You have successfully constructed a timeline of the major events leading to the American Revolution.