1763

French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) ends

1764

Sugar Act

1765

Quartering Act; Stamp Act

1766

Declaratory Act

1767

Townsend Acts

1768

British Troops occupy Boston

1770

Boston Massacre; All Townsend Acts except tea tax repealed

1772

Committees of correspondence formed

1773

Boston Tea Party

1774

Intolerable Acts; First Continental Congress; boycott of British goods

1775

Battle of Lexington and Concord

1775

The Battle of Bunker Hill. The colonists proved to the English that they would fight to the end.

1776

The Declaration of Independence. The colonists officially declared their independence and war on Britain.

1777

Battle of Saratoga.

1777

Articles of Confederation are written - first American Constitution.

1778

Alliance with France. After the Battle of Saratoga, France was no longer hesitant about openly siding with the colonists, and did so.

1781

Articles of confederation adopted by Maryland

1782

Peace talks begin in Paris

1783

Treaty of Paris written and approved

1786

Shay's Rebellion Meeting forrevising the Articles of Confederation

1787

Northwest Ordinance Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia Constitution signed

1788

Constitution approved

1789

George Washington elected as first president of the U.S. Washington takes president's oath of office in New York City