Timeline of the American Revolution—
timeline of the political upheaval culminating in the 18th century in which
Thirteen Colonies in
North America joined together for independence from the
British Empire, and after victory in the
Revolutionary War combined to form the
United States of America. The
American Revolution includes political, social, and military aspects. The revolutionary era is generally considered to have begun with the passage of the
Stamp Act in 1765 and ended with the ratification of the
United States Bill of Rights in 1791. The military phase of the revolution, the American Revolutionary War, lasted from 1775 to 1783.
The
Lords of Trade issues
quo warranto writs for the charters of several North American colonies, including Massachusetts (June 3)
1684
Revocation of the Charter by
Charles II. For technical reasons the Massachusetts writ is never served, and the agreement is formally vacated when the chancery court issues a
scire facias writ formally annulling the charter. The proceedings are arranged so that the time for the colonial authorities to defend the charter expires before they even learn of the event (June 18)
1689 Boston revolt, Leaders of the former
Massachusetts Bay Colony reclaim control of the government. In other colonies, members of governments displaced return to power (April 18)
Albany Congress, the first time in the 18th century that American colonial representatives meet to discuss some manner of formal union (June 18–July 11)
King George's
Royal Proclamation of 1763 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 (October 7)
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 protest
1765
Parliament enacts (March 22) the
Stamp Act to impose control and help defray the cost of keeping troops in America to control the colonists, 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
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 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" (March 18)
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
Parliament aims to assert its right to tax the American colonies after the failure of the
Sugar Act and
Stamp Act. The
Townshend Acts, named for
Chancellor of the ExchequerCharles Townshend, are passed by Parliament, placing duties on many items imported into America (June 29). The American colonists, who were denied any representation in Parliament, strongly condemned the Acts as an egregious abuse of power.
A British warship,
HMS Romney, armed with 50 cannon sailed into Boston harbor after a call for help from custom commissioners who were constantly being harassed by Boston agitators (May). A customs official was later locked up in the cabin of Liberty, a
sloop owned by John Hancock (June). Imported wine was unloaded illegally into Boston without payment of duties. Following this incident, customs officials seized Hancock's sloop. After threats of violence from Bostonians, the customs officials escaped to an island off Boston, then requested the intervention of British troops
The governor of Massachusetts dissolves the general court (July) after the legislature defies his order to revoke Adams' circular letter. In August, in Boston and New York, merchants agree to boycott most British goods until the Townshend Acts are repealed. In September, at a town meeting in Boston, residents are urged to arm themselves. Later in September, British warships sail into Boston Harbor, then two regiments of British infantry land in Boston and set up permanent residence to keep order
1769
To the Betrayed Inhabitants of the City and Colony of New York broadside published anonymously by local
Son of LibertyAlexander McDougall (December 16)
1770s
1770
Golden Hill incident in which British troops wound civilians, including one death (January 19)
Lord North becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain (January 28)
Thomas Hickey hanged for role in plot to assassinate George Washington (June 28). British Colonial Loyalist
New York Mayor David Mathews previously arrested in
Flatbush, Brooklyn for his role in the plot (June 22)
Largest assembly of British naval fleet in history commences off the coasts of
Staten Island,
Brooklyn and New Jersey (July 3)
Second Continental Congress enacts (July 2) a
resolution declaring independence from the British Empire, and then approves (July 4) the written "United States Declaration of Independence"
Delegates in Vermont, which was not one of the
Thirteen Colonies, establish a
republic and adopt a
constitution, the first in what is now the territory of the United States to prohibit
slavery (July 8)
Battle of Fairfield destroys 54 barns, 47 storehouses, burned 83 homes, two churches, and municipal buildings including a schoolhouse, the courthouse and the local jail (July 7)
Battle of Norwalk weakly opposed by about 50 local militia, easily dispersed. The destruction of the village and its commercial infrastructure destroyed (July 11)
Continental Army in fifth winter quarters at
Morristown (December 1779 – May 1780)
1780s
1780
Congress establishes the
Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture to provide for final adjudication of appeals from state court
prize cases involving disposition of ships and cargo allegedly seized from the British (January 15)
Battle of Springfield; with the attempted British invasion of New Jersey stopped at Connecticut Farms and Springfield, major fighting in the North ends (June 23)
The
British evacuate New York, marking the end of British rule. British loyalist refugees retreat to
Quebec and Nova Scotia. General George Washington triumphantly returns with the Continental Army (November 25).
Cyrus Griffin resigns as "President of the United States in Congress Assembled" (November 2), and with the exceptions of
John Jay and John Knox remaining as Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and War respectively; and
Michael Hillegas remaining as Treasurer, the United States of America temporarily ceases to exist.[citation needed]
The first federal Elections for the House of Representatives begin
President Washington and Vice President Adams begin their second terms (March 4).
1795
Jay's Treaty ratified in June toward resolving post Revolution tensions between the United States and Great Britain. First use of arbitration in modern diplomatic history for
Canada–United States border disputes.
1796
Six Northwest Territory forts and two Upstate New York forts that remained under British control are ceded to the United States.
Cullen, Joseph P. The concise illustrated history of the American Revolution (1972) for secondary schools
online 136pp
Fremont-Barnes, Gregory, and Richard Alan Ryerson, eds. The Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War: A Political, Social, and Military History (5 vol. 2006)
George, Lynn. A Timeline of the American Revolution (2002) 24pp; for middle schools
online
Morris, Richard B. Encyclopedia of American History (7th ed. 1996)
online, detailed timeline