1. Important Events and Battles of the American Revolutionary War
A roadmap to the American Revolution

2. 1st event French & Indian War Great Britain and France both wanted to claim the Ohio River Valley. British wanted to move west into territory that France was claiming. France built Fort Duquesne, and refused to relinquish fort. Native Americans joined forces with France against British. The Treaty of Paris 1763 was signed. Great Britain got all land east of Mississippi and Florida.

3. 2nd event
THE STAMP ACT
British government had much debt to pay off from the French and Indian War
Tax imposed on colonist was called the STAMP ACT!
Tax on all paper goods! (legal documents, newspapers, pamphlets, playing cards.)
Colonists reacted negatively.
They had no say in parliament, they should not have to pay!
"No taxation without representation!"

4. 3rd event Boston Tea Party
East India Co. was in financial distress (money problems).
British government allowed East India Co. to ship in tea TAX FREE.
Colonial tea merchants were not able to compete with low prices,
so they were forced out of business.
The Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians.
They dumped about forty tons of tea into Boston Harbor.
British government grew angrier than ever before!

5. 4th Event The Intolerable Acts
King George III punished defiant colonists.
The Intolerable Acts were a result of The Stamp Act and
Boston Tea Party and were a punishment for the colonists!
The Intolerable Acts were a series of laws:
The Boston Port Act (closed the Boston Harbor) and
The Quartering Act (colonists had to let the British soldiers in their houses to eat and sleep).
Colonists viewed this as unconstitutional.

6. THE WAR HAD BEGUN! 1st Battle The Battle at Lexington and Concord
The battle that started it all!
British military tried to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington.
William Dawes and Paul Revere sent to warn Adams and Hancock.
The British arrived in Lexington to awaiting Minutemen.
No one knew which side fired first.
THE WAR HAD BEGUN!

7. 2nd Battle Battle of Saratoga
The British wanted to cut off the New England Colonies from the other colonies.
British planned to do this by taking over upstate New York and Hudson River.
General Burgoyne led British military, but the planned FAILED!
British surrounded by American forces in Saratoga, New York
forcing British to surrender.
Turning Point in War! It lifted spirits of the Continental Army!
France became an ally of Americans!

8. Last Battle of the American Revolution The Battle of Yorktown
American Revolution would come to an END at the Battle of Yorktown!
The Americans and French surrounded General Cornwallis who was waiting for supplies in Yorktown, Pennsylvania.
General Cornwallis could not escape and was forced to surrender.
He was overpowered and surrounded.
This was a joint victory for the Americans and French.

9. The Treaty of Parish 1783
The Treaty of Paris 1783 officially ended The American Revolution.
It stated that:
The American colonies were independent from Great Britain.
The new boundary for the United States of America was the Mississippi River.
Slavery would continue in the southern colonies.