1540's
Mercantilism
England adopts the policy of Mercantilism. The mercantile system, was based on the benefits of profitable trading in which the flow of raw materials from the colonies profited England who turned them into finished goods
1640's
The Triangular Trade routes become established.
1640's
The Slave Plantations were established during this period
1651
1651,1660 & 1663 Navigation Acts were designed to regulate colonial trade
1661
The Tariff of 1661 imposed a series of duties on the importation of goods to Britain
1663
Navigation Act of 1663 (the Staple Act)
1673
The Navigation Act of 1673 (Plantation Duty Act). Plantations trade exclusively with England and to redirect revenue to England
1675 Lords of Trade.The Lords of Trade were appointed in England to enforce the new mercantile system and maximize potential profits for England
1675
Bacon's Rebellion. Nathaniel Bacon rebelled against a corrupt Governor, low prices for tobacco and high taxes that were believed to be unjust
1677
Culpeper’s Rebellion. Rebellion against the Colonial Government in Carolina and the Navigation Acts led by John Culpeper
1688
Sir Edmund Andros appointed Governor in Chief of New England. King James II appoints Sir Edmund Andros who causes dissension with the colonists as he did not have to answer to any elected assembly
1688
French and Indian Wars
1688 - 1763 The French and Indian Wars start between France and Great Britain for lands in North America
1689
Glorious Revolution. February 1689: The Protestant William III and Mary II officially replace the Catholic James II as monarchs of England
1689
Bill of Rights. The English Bill of Rights enables Parliament to control laws and taxes in the Colonies in America
1689
Leisler's Rebellion. Jacob Leisler (1640-1691) was a German immigrant who led the insurrection against local colonial officials from 1689 to 1691 in colonial New York
1696
Salutary neglect
English policy of Salutary Neglect adopted to avoid the strict enforcement of parliamentary laws in Colonial America giving the colonies considerable freedom in economic matters.
1696
Board of Trade. The English government established the Board of Trade to oversee colonial policies.
1699
Wool Act. Parliament passes the Wool Act, which prohibits the export of American made cloth from its colony of origin.
1707
United Kingdom of Great Britain is created. The Union between England and Scotland created the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain' and the term British, as opposed to English, is then used in reference to the colonists in North America.
1732
Hat Act. Parliament passes the preventing the trade of American-made hats - for additional facts and info see the Beaver Wars
1732
Debt Recovery Act. The Act declared land and slaves to be the equivalent of property for the purpose of satisfying debts owed by colonists.
1733
Navigation Act of 1733 (the Molasses Act). Navigation Act of 1733, also known as the Molasses Act levied heavy taxes on sugar
1750
Iron Act. The Act was designed to restrict the manufacturing activities in the colonies
1754
Albany Congress, 1754. June19 - July 11: Benjamin Franklin proposed a plan of union but it was rejected by both the British and Americans
1763
French and Indian War (Seven years War) ends. February 10, 1763: The Peace Treaty of Paris 1783 ends the French and Indian War in North America. The British left with a massive war debt. The British look for ways of imposing new taxes in the colonies.
1763
English Policy of Salutary Neglect ends. The British are left with a massive war debt and start to enforce the laws of the Navigations Acts and looked for ways of imposing new taxes in the colonies
1763
Proclamation of 1763. October 7, 1763: The introduction of a massive boundary to separate white settlements from Indian country
1764
Sugar Act. April 5: Law setting a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies impacting the manufacture of rum in New England.
1764
Boston Boycotts
August 1764, Merchants, and the women of Boston, begin a boycott of British goods especially clothing such as satins, lace and ruffles
1764
Currency Act. September 1 1764: Series of Laws that regulated paper money issued by the colonies - also refer to Colonial, Continental and Revolutionary Currency
1765
Stamp Act of 1765. March 22, 1765: Taxes imposed on legal papers, newspapers and pamphlets. Vehement opposition by the Colonies resulted in the repeal of the act in 1766 - also refer to the Sugar Act and Stamp Act
1765
Quartering Act of 1765. March 24, 1765: The first of a series of Laws requiring the provision of housing, food and drink to British troops in the American colonies
1765
Patrick Henry
May 29: "If this be treason, make the most of it!" speech
1765
Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions. May 30: Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions
1765
Reaction to the Stamp Act
Summer of 1765: Violent reactions leading to the Stamp Act Riots
1765
Stamp Act Congress
October 7-25: Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonists
1766
Declaratory Act
March 18: Declaratory Act passed asserting the British right to make laws binding on the colonies
1766
Repeal of the Stamp Act
Repeal of the Stamp Act is approved by the House of Commons in February 1766
1766
Revenue Act
The Sugar Act was repealed and replaced with the Revenue Act of 1766, which reduced the tax on molasses imports.
Townshend Acts
June 29: Series of Laws placing duties on items imported by the colonists including glass, lead, paints, paper and tea
1768
Boston Nonimportation Agreement
(Boycott of British goods)
August 1: Merchants in Boston and New York boycott British goods until the Townshend Acts are repealed
1768
English warships
October 1: English warships sail into Boston Harbor leaving two regiments of English troops to keep order
1769
George Washington
May: George Mason writes resolutions presented by George Washington to the Virginia House of Burgesses opposing taxation without representation
1770
Boston Massacre March 5: 5 civilians killed by British soldiers
1770
Repeal of the Townshend Acts. April: Repeal of the Townshend Acts and the Quartering Act
1771
Battle of Alamance
May 16, 1771: Battle of Alamance in protest against taxation and corrupt local government
1772
The Gaspee Affair
June 9: The HMS Gaspee runs aground and is looted by colonists
1772
Committee of Correspondence
November 1772: Samuel Adams organized the first Committee of Correspondence at Boston, Massachusetts
1773
Tea Act
May 10: Law allowing the British East India Company to sell its low-cost tea directly to the colonies, undermining colonial tea merchants
1773
The Boston Tea Party
December 16: Massachusetts patriots dressed as Mohawk Indians protested against the British Tea Act
1774
Intolerable Acts
(Coercive Acts)
The Intolerable Acts were a reprisal to the Boston Tea party rebellion. A package of five laws aimed at restoring British authority in its colonies
1774
Boston Port Act
March 31, 1774 - The Boston Port Act
1774
Massachusetts
Government Act
May 20, 1774 The Massachusetts Government Act
1774
Administration of Justice Act
May 20, 1774 The Administration of Justice Act
1774
Quartering Act
June 2, 1774 - The Quartering Act
1774
Quebec Act
June 22, 1774 - The Quebec Act
1774
First Continental Congress
September 5 - October 26: First Continental Congress
1774
Continental Association
The Continental Association was created by the Continental Congress in 1774 in response to the Coercive Acts, or 'Intolerable Acts'. The Articles of Association were were adopted on October 20, 1774.
1775
Patrick Henry
Give me Liberty Speech
March 23, 1775 - Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech "Give me liberty or give me death!"
1775
Paul Revere
April 18: General Gage orders British soldiers to destroy the colonists weapons depot in Concord. Paul Revere leaves Boston to warn colonists
1775
George Washington
Continental Army
June 15: George Washington appointed general and commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army
1775
Battle of Bunker Hill
June 17: Battle of Bunker Hill
1775
Taking Up Arms
July 6 1775: Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms stating that Americans are "resolved to die free men rather than live as slaves."
1776
Declaration of Independence
1776 July 4. Thomas Jefferson presents the United States Declaration of Independence
1781
Terms British Surrender
October 17: American victory at Yorktown terms discussed for the British surrender.
1782
Parliament votes against war
February 27: English Parliament votes against further war in America
1782
Peace talks
April 12: Paris Peace talks begin
1782
Final Battle
November 10: The final battle of the Revolutionary War
1783
End to Hostilities
February 4: England officially declares an end to hostilities in America
1783
Treaty of Paris (1783)
September 3: The Treaty of Paris is signed by the United States and Great Britain
1784
American Revolutionary
War ends
January 14: The Treaty of Paris is ratified by Congress and the American Revolutionary War officially ends.
