CHRONOLOGY

1754

  • Seven Years’ War begins.

  • Albany Congress convenes.

    • 1755

  • Braddock defeated in western Pennsylvania.

    • 1757

  • William Pitt fully commits to war.

    • 1760

  • Montreal falls to British.

  • George III becomes British king.

    • 1763

  • Treaty of Paris ends Seven Years’ War.

  • Pontiac’s Rebellion begins.

  • Proclamation of 1763 forbids colonial settlers west of Appalachian Mountains.

  • Paxton Boys massacre friendly Indians.

    • 1764

  • Parliament enacts Sugar Act.

    • 1765

  • Parliament enacts Stamp Act.

  • Virginia Resolves challenge Stamp Act.

  • Sons of Liberty stage crowd actions.

  • Stamp Act Congress meets.

    • 1766

  • Parliament repeals Stamp Act, passes Declaratory Act.

    • 1767

  • Parliament enacts Townshend duties.

    • 1768

  • British station troops in Boston.

    • 1768–1769

  • Merchants sign nonimportation agreements.

    • 1770

  • Boston Massacre occurs.

  • Parliament repeals Townshend duties.

    • 1772

  • British navy ship Gaspée burned.

  • Committees of correspondence begin forming.

    • 1773

  • Parliament passes Tea Act.

  • Tea dumped in Boston harbor.

    • 1774

  • Parliament passes Coercive Acts.

  • Powder Alarm shows colonists’ readiness to fight.

  • First Continental Congress meets.

    • 1775

  • Battles of Lexington and Concord fought.

  • Lord Dunmore promises freedom to defecting slaves.