The march to independence.This time line highlights some of the key events that made the American Colonies "free and independent" of Great Britain Great Britain, officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, constitutional monarchy (2005 est. pop. 60,441,000), 94,226 sq mi (244,044 sq km), on the British Isles, off W Europe. The country is often referred to simply as Britain. , Study the time line, and then answer the questions below on a separate sheet of paper. TIME LINE March 5,1770 A crowd of resentful re·sent·ful adj. Full of, characterized by, or inclined to feel indignant ill will. re·sent  ful·ly adv. colonists clashes with British soldiers in Boston. When the troops open fire, five American colonists are killed. This incident, known as the Boston Massacre Boston Massacre, 1770, pre-Revolutionary incident growing out of the resentment against the British troops sent to Boston to maintain order and to enforce the Townshend Acts. The troops, constantly tormented by irresponsible gangs, finally (Mar. , is the first widely known act of violence in the struggle between rebellious colonists and Britain's army. September-October 1774 On September 5, delegates from 12 of the 13 Colonies meet in Philadelphia to discuss the British Parliament's passage of "the Intolerable Acts Intolerable Acts, name given by American patriots to five laws (including the Quebec Act) adopted by Parliament in 1774, which limited the political and geographical freedom of the colonists. ." As the First Continental Congress, the delegates call for protection of personal liberties and object to British "taxation without representation." April 19, 1775 The first shots of the American Revolution American Revolution, 1775–83, struggle by which the Thirteen Colonies on the Atlantic seaboard of North America won independence from Great Britain and became the United States. It is also called the American War of Independence. are fired in the Battles of Lexington and Concord  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. , in Massachusetts. Small groups of colonial "minutemen minutemen, in the American Revolution, colonial militiamen or armed citizens who agreed to turn out for service at a minute's notice. The term minutemen "--ready to fight on a minute's notice--force a large group of British soldiers to retreat to their base in Boston. May-June 1775 On May 10, the Second Continental Congress begins work in Philadelphia. It serves as a government for the 13 Colonies, and oversees the war effort. In June, it appoints George Washington Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. May 1776 The Continental Congress has begun referring to the 13 American Colonies as "states." Individual states begin to draft resolutions favoring independence. June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Richard Henry is a name that may refer to several people:
June 11-July 2, 1776 A five-member committee plans an outline for a declaration of independence; Thomas Jefferson writes it. Congress debates and edits Jefferson's draft until it has a version that all 56 delegates can accept. July 4, 1776 The Continental Congress officially adopts the Declaration of Independence. (Only John Hancock, President of the Congress, and Charles Thomson For other persons named Charles Thomson, see Charles Thomson (disambiguation). Charles Thomson (November 29, 1729 - August 16, 1824) born in Tobermore, a village just outside Maghera, County Londonderry, Ireland to Scots Irish parents. , Secretary, sign it that day. The others sign it later, after a formal copy has been prepared.) July 8, 1776 Colonel John Nixon John Nixon may refer to:
QUESTIONS 1. Which conflict marked the beginning of the American Revolution? 2. What action by Britain led rebellious colonists to form a Continental Congress? 3. Which side won the first two battles of the American Revolution? 4. What action did the First Continental Congress take? 5. Who signed the Declaration of Independence on the day it was adopted? 6. How long had the 13 Colonies been at war before officially declaring their independence? 7. What does "taxation without representation" mean? 8. What significant change occurred in May 1776 that led to the Declaration of Independence? 9. The public did not know about the Declaration until after it was issued. Can you think of some reasons in favor of the secrecy? some against? 10. Each state, regardless of its size or number of delegates, had just one vote in the Continental Congress. How does that differ from today's Congress? Name some advantages and disadvantages of each. 1. the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775) 2. the British Parliament Noun 1. British Parliament - the British legislative body British House of Commons, House of Commons - the lower house of the British parliament British House of Lords, House of Lords - the upper house of the British parliament passed "the Intolerable Acts" (1774) 3. the American side (colonial minutemen at Lexington and Concord Noun 1. Lexington and Concord - the first battle of the American Revolution (April 19, 1775) Lexington, Concord American Revolution, American Revolutionary War, American War of Independence, War of American Independence - the revolution of the American ) 4. called for protection of personal liberties and opposed taxation without representation 5. John Hancock, President of the Congress, and Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Congress 6. 15 months 7. paying taxes to a government in which one has no political power, and has no say in how the money is used 8. The Colonies were being referred to as states, and the states drafted resolutions in favor of independence. 9. Answers will vary. 10. In today's Congress, each state has two members in the Senate; the number of representatives a state has in the House depends on that state's population. Answers will vary as to advantages/disadvantages. |
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