A Timeline and Review of Important Events Sources: Harcourt Horizons: Virginia The World Turned Upside Down - William and Mary Unit

Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War. Parliament issues the Proclamation of This prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Parliament passes the Sugar Act.

1765 Parliament passes the Quartering Act and the Stamp Act for taxing the colonies (March). Patrick Henry introduces the Stamp Act Resolves in the Virginia House of Burgesses. These resolves challenge Great Britain's right to impose the tax. Governor Fauquier dissolves the General Assembly. The Stamp Act Congress writes the Stamp Act Resolutions (October). On the day before the stamp tax was to go into effect, George Mercer, the collector, arrives in Williamsburg, Virginia, with the stamps. Governor Fauquier has to intervene to protect Mercer from a mob of angry people.

1766 Parliament repeals the Stamp Act but passes the Declaratory Act. This gives Great Britain the power to pass any laws governing the American colonies.

1767 Parliament imposes the Townshend Duties taxing imports of tea, glass, paper, lead, and paint in the American colonies. The New York Assembly is suspended for failing to support the quartering of British troops.

1768 The Massachusetts Assembly is dissolved for refusing to assist with the collection of taxes. Boston citizens refuse to quarter British troops.

1769 The Virginia House of Burgesses is dissolved after protesting against England's plan to transport colonists accused of treason to England for trial and stating that only the House of Burgesses has the right to tax Virginians.

1770 Crispus Attucks (a free black man) is killed when British troops fire into a crowd of demonstrators in Boston in an event that becomes known as the "Boston Massacre”. The Boston Massacre became a rallying cry for the Patriot cause and was used as propaganda against the British soldiers. Parliament repeals the Townshend Duties, except for the tax on tea.

1772 The Boston Assembly demands the rights of the colonies and threatens secession from Great Britain. Samuel Adams forms the Committee of Correspondence in Massachusetts for action against Great Britain.

1773 Parliament passes the Tea Act. The Virginia House of Burgesses establishes a Committee of Correspondence to communicate with other colonial legislatures. The Boston Tea Party takes place in Boston, Massachusetts in December. A party of nearly 50 men disguised as Indians, led by Samuel Adams, boards ships, breaks open 343 chests of tea, and empties them into Boston Harbor.

1774 The Coercive Acts (widely known in America as the "Intolerable Acts") are enacted against Massachusetts. These acts increased British control and include closing the port of Boston. The Virginia legislature expresses sympathy for the citizens of Boston by calling for a day of "Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer." Virginia Governor Dunmore dissolves the House of Burgesses after hearing that Virginians are sending money and supplies to Boston. Some 89 former burgesses meet at the Raleigh Tavern to continue their discussions. They form an association to boycott tea and other British imports and issue a call for a Continental congress.

1774 cont. The first Virginia Convention meets in Williamsburg. The convention chooses their 7 delegates for the Continental Congress and adopts the Williamsburg Resolutions boycotting trade with Great Britain. The First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, attended by representatives of all of the colonies except Georgia. Peyton Randolph of Virginia is elected president of the congress. A nonimportation agreement is written to stop trade with Great Britain. Members of the Yorktown, Virginia, Committee of Safety board a ship owned by British merchant John Norton. They open two half chests of tea and dump the tea into the York River. The tea had been shipped by London merchants to John Prentis and Company of Williamsburg.

1775 Patrick Henry makes his "Give me liberty or give me death" speech at St. John’s Church (then known as Henrico Parish Church) in Richmond at the second Virginia Convention (March). Paul Revere's ride to Lexington, Massachusetts, takes place. The first battles of the American Revolution take place in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts (April). The Americans are defeated at Bunker Hill (June).

1775 cont. Virginia Governor Dunmore orders British marines to remove gunpowder from the Magazine in Williamsburg. The second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia in May. Peyton Randolph is reelected president of the congress. George Washington is named commander-in- chief of the American forces. King George III declares the American colonies in rebellion.

1775 cont. Governor Dunmore issues an emancipation proclamation that imposes martial law in Virginia and offers freedom to indentured servants and slaves willing to fight for the king. In May, Randolph returns to VA to lead the House of Burgesses. Thomas Jefferson takes his place as VA’s delegate, and John Hancock becomes the Congress’s new President. Great Britain hires 29,000 German (Hessian) soldiers for the war in North America. George Washington is named Commander in Chief of the Continental Army (June). Colonists send the Olive Branch Petition to the King.

1775 cont. The Battle of Great Bridge (December) –The road leading from North Carolina to Norfolk was known as the Great Road. A bridge crossing the marshlands to Norfolk was built. It’s purpose was to transport goods that were to be shipped to Great Britain. A village was started at this point known as Great Bridge. Although it was a brief battle (30 minutes), it was the first decisive battle fought in Virginia. It led to the destruction of Norfolk in January, The Virginian victory was a major step in eliminating British supply lines, which forced the British Governor to flee from Norfolk and made the British realize the colonists would be hard to beat.

1776 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense. Governor Dunmore sails for England, ending British authority in Virginia. At another Virginia Convention George Mason writes Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, declares independence from Britain, and instructs its delegates to Congress to propose a resolution declaring independence from Great Britain. Mason also writes Virginia’s first constitution which created a new plan for the government including a governor and the General Assembly made up of the House of Delegates and the Senate and forming the Commonwealth of Virginia. Patrick Henry is chosen as first governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

1776 The Second Continental Congress passes the Declaration of Independence as written by Thomas Jefferson. Battle of Trenton (December)

1777 Official flag of the American colonies passed. Battle of Saratoga - October Continental Army camps at Valley Forge for the winter.

1778 American colonies form alliance with France (February)

1781 Jack Jouett’s ride - rode from Louisa County to Monticello (near Charlottesville) to warn the General Assembly that the British were on their way to attack. Most members were able to escape before the British arrived. Battle of Yorktown: French Navy gains control of Chesapeake Bay, preventing British Navy from helping British General Cornwallis. American victory at Yorktown resulted in surrender of the British Army, which led to the end of the American Revolution.

1783 Treaty of Paris signed by United States, Great Britain, France, and Spain formally ending the war. It acknowledged the independence of the 13 colonies as the United States of America.