Proclamation of 1763 - October 7, 1763

  The Proclamation of 1763 was an issued order that was made by King George III on October 7, 1763 right after the French and Indian War ended.  This prevented the colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, so they were limited to the land that they already had.  The British did this because they owed a large debt and having the colonists stay east of the Appalachians would make it easier for the tax collectors to collect the taxes.  The colonist were outraged by this because the King claimed that this would protect them from hostile Indians on the other side of the Appalachians.  Think about it, you have been at war for 7 years and you can't use the land that you rightfully own because of your stupid King.

The orange is that land that the Proclamation of 1763 prevented settlers from settling in.

York Town - October 19, 1781

   The battle of York Town is the final battle of the American Revolution.  This battle ended a three week siege the Americans and French had placed on British forces.  The French fleet prevented the British from receiving supplies by sea, and the shelling on the Patriots and French inland made life miserable for the British.  When a British official finally appeared with a white flag, all shelling stopped and a cheer rose from the Americans and French.  General Washington ordered silence and the British officer surrendered, ending the war.

Surrender on the British officer

Saratoga - October 17, 1777

  Saratoga was the turning point of the war.  This is when the French finally agree to help us.  The British want to crush the rebellion before any foreign forces intervene.  The plan is two British armies would follow rivers into the Patriot/rebel territory, then they would unite and capture Albany, New York.  They believed that controlling the Hudson River would sever the Patriot's rebellion from the rest of the colonies.  With a new commander, General Horatio Gates, the american army took up a defensive position along the Hudson River called Bennis Heights.  They fortified the flood plain and cannon on heights.  This was the perfect spot because the Americans could see and fire at anything in the river valley.  When British General Burgoyne learned the Americans had done this, he moved his army inland to avoid the Americans.  His columns met Gates' army and the British troops suffered many casualties.  General Burgoyne is forced to retreat to a small hamlet called Saratoga.  Gates' army surrounds the British and the British, low on supplies, is forced to surrender.  This victory is what convinced the French to enter the war as allies to the Americans.

This is how the battle of Saratoga played out

Valley Forge - December 19, 1777-June 18,1778

  Valley Forge was a military camp in southeast Pennsylvania.  This is where the colonial army spent the winter.  Starvation, disease, and the cold killed over 2,500 american soldiers in Valley Forge.  About 1 in 3 soldiers had shoes, blankets were scarce, and soldiers were poorly clothed.  General Washington repeatedly asked for help from the Continental Congress but it was unable to provide it.  Finally, 5 congressmen come and inspect the conditions of the camp.  Then they provide supplies and provisions needed for the army.  On February 23, Baron von Steuben, a former Prussian officer, arrives at Valley Forge to begin a training program for the soldiers.  He greatly improves the skill and technique of the army.  On May 6, the continental army celebrates French Alliance at Valley Forge.

This is a picture of Baron von Steuben Drilling troops

Lexington and Concord - April 19, 1775

  Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the american revolution.  It began with a secret plan that British General Gage had.  He would send out regiments of troops to Lexington to capture colonial leaders like Sam Adams and John Hancock, then the troops would go to Concord to seize the gunpowder and ammunition there.  Luckily, there were Patriot spies and friends warned the Patriots about Gage's plan.  As word spread through the towns, minutemen prepared to confront the British.  When 240 British soldiers arrived, they were met by about 70 minutemen.  The British outnumbering the Patriots, killed 7 then moved on.  However when British troops got to Concord, waves of colonial militia stopped them.  When the British were retreating, militia behind the started shooting at the British troops.  This resulted in the death of 73 British soldiers, 174 wounded, and 26 missing.

This is how Lexington and Concord played out

Bunker Hill - June 17, 1775

  The battle of Bunker Hill is a little confusing.  That is because the British won the field, but the Patriots actually won.  This is what happened. Colonel William Prescott takes 1,000 colonial troops to fortify Bunker Hill.  Prescott and other officers decide to pass Bunker Hill and continued to Breed's Hill which is within cannon range of British ships.  The colonists work through the night and make a earthen fort that is 160 feet long and 30 feet high on the hill.  The British generals wake up to the nasty surprise of a fort and 1,000 colonial troops.  At around three o'clock, 2,000 British march up the hill.  The colonial troops hold fire until the British are 150 feet away from them.  The Patriots hold off two charges from the British.  On the third charge, the British troops break through the Patriot lines because of low ammunition. (For each Patriot was given about three bullets, plus the British reload twice as fast as them).  The British won the field because the Patriots retreated, but the Patriots had only 340 men dead compared to the 1,000 British troops that died, therefore, the Patriots won the battle.

This is an example of how the battle played out

Intolerable Acts - March 31 - June 22, 1774

The Intolerable Acts also called the Coercive Acts included four acts, the Boston Port Bill, Massachusetts Government Act, Quartering Act of 1774, and the Quebec Act.  These acts fell mainly upon Boston, angered by the Boston Tea Party.  The Boston Port Bill closed Boston Harbor until the money that the Boston Tea Party was returned.  The Massachusetts Government Act forbade town meetings without approval.the Administration of Justice Act protected British officials charged with capital offenses to go to England for trial.  The Quartering Act gave colonial governors the right to request unoccupied buildings to house British troops.  The Quebec Act removed all the territory and fur trade between Ohio and the Mississippi River.

These are the Acts