Milestones: 1776–1783 - Office of the Historian (2024)

NOTE TO READERS
“Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations” has been retired and is no longer maintained. For more information, please see the full notice.

By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. The Declaration summarized the colonists’ motivations for seeking independence. By declaring themselves an independent nation, the American colonists were able to confirm an official alliance with the Government of France and obtain French assistance in the war against Great Britain.

Throughout the 1760s and early 1770s, the North American colonists found themselves increasingly at odds with British imperial policies regarding taxation and frontier policy. When repeated protests failed to influence British policies, and instead resulted in the closing of the port of Boston and the declaration of martial law in Massachusetts, the colonial governments sent delegates to a Continental Congress to coordinate a colonial boycott of British goods. When fighting broke out between American colonists and British forces in Massachusetts, the Continental Congress worked with local groups, originally intended to enforce the boycott, to coordinate resistance against the British. British officials throughout the colonies increasingly found their authority challenged by informal local governments, although loyalist sentiment remained strong in some areas.

Despite these changes, colonial leaders hoped to reconcile with the British Government, and all but the most radical members of Congress were unwilling to declare independence. However, in late 1775, Benjamin Franklin, then a member of the Secret Committee of Correspondence, hinted to French agents and other European sympathizers that the colonies were increasingly leaning towards seeking independence. While perhaps true, Franklin also hoped to convince the French to supply the colonists with aid. Independence would be necessary, however, before French officials would consider the possibility of an alliance.

Throughout the winter of 1775–1776, the members of the Continental Congress came to view reconciliation with Britain as unlikely, and independence the only course of action available to them. When on December 22, 1775, the British Parliament prohibited trade with the colonies, Congress responded in April of 1776 by opening colonial ports—this was a major step towards severing ties with Britain. The colonists were aided by the January publication of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense, which advocated the colonies’ independence and was widely distributed throughout the colonies. By February of 1776, colonial leaders were discussing the possibility of forming foreign alliances and began to draft the Model Treaty that would serve as a basis for the 1778 alliance with France. Leaders for the cause of independence wanted to make certain that they had sufficient congressional support before they would bring the issue to the vote. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion in Congress to declare independence. Other members of Congress were amenable but thought some colonies not quite ready. However, Congress did form a committee to draft a declaration of independence and assigned this duty to Thomas Jefferson.

Milestones: 1776–1783 - Office of the Historian (2)

Thomas Paine

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams reviewed Jefferson’s draft. They preserved its original form, but struck passages likely to meet with controversy or skepticism, most notably passages blaming King George III for the transatlantic slave trade and those blaming the British people rather than their government. The committee presented the final draft before Congress on June 28, 1776, and Congress adopted the final text of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.

The British Government did its best to dismiss the Declaration as a trivial document issued by disgruntled colonists. British officials commissioned propagandists to highlight the declaration’s flaws and to rebut the colonists’ complaints. The Declaration divided British domestic opposition, as some American sympathizers thought the Declaration had gone too far, but in British-ruled Ireland it had many supporters.

The Declaration’s most important diplomatic effect was to allow for recognition of the United States by friendly foreign governments. The Sultan of Morocco mentioned American ships in a consular document in 1777, but Congress had to wait until the 1778 Treaty of Alliance with France for a formal recognition of U.S. independence. The Netherlands acknowledged U.S. independence in 1782. Although Spain joined the war against Great Britain in 1779, it did not recognize U.S. independence until the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Under the terms of the treaty, which ended the War of the American Revolution, Great Britain officially acknowledged the United States as a sovereign and independent nation.

Milestones: 1776–1783 - Office of the Historian (2024)

FAQs

Milestones: 1776–1783 - Office of the Historian? ›

Congress Declares Independence.

On July 2, Congress voted in favor of independence, and on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was approved. Copies were sent throughout the colonies to be read publicly.

What major historical events happened in 1776? ›

Congress Declares Independence.

On July 2, Congress voted in favor of independence, and on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was approved. Copies were sent throughout the colonies to be read publicly.

What historical events happened from 1776 to 1789? ›

History of the United States (1776–1789)
The United States of America
Key eventsAmerican Revolutionary War United States Declaration of Independence Treaty of Paris Drafting and implementation of the Articles of Confederation Philadelphia Mutiny Shays' Rebellion Northwest Ordinance Ratification of the Constitution
6 more rows

What happened in 1776 to 1783? ›

The American Revolution—also called the U.S. War of Independence—was the insurrection fought between 1775 and 1783 through which 13 of Great Britain's North American colonies threw off British rule to establish the sovereign United States of America, founded with the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

What are 3 things that happened in 1776? ›

In 1776, Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence while George Washington led his Continental Army to defend New York City from a British attack.
  • Siege of Boston. April 19, 1775 - March 17, 1776. ...
  • New York Campaign. August 1776 - November 1776. ...
  • Crossing the Delaware River. ...
  • The Trenton-Princeton Campaign.

What happened in 1783 in American History? ›

This treaty, signed on September 3, 1783, between the American colonies and Great Britain, ended the American Revolution and formally recognized the United States as an independent nation.

What major events happened in 1789? ›

The French Revolution (1789–1799) begins with the Storming of the Bastille: Citizens of Paris storm the fortress of the Bastille, and free the only seven prisoners held. In rural areas, peasants attack manors of the nobility.

What happened in America between 1783 and 1789? ›

The Confederation period was the era of United States history in the 1780s after the American Revolution and prior to the ratification of the United States Constitution.

What happened in 1790 in American History? ›

President George Washington delivers the first "State of the Union Address" on January 8, 1790. Benjamin Franklin dies on April 17, 1790 in Philadelphia, PA. Washington, DC, is established as the capital of the United States, in 1791. The U.S. Post Office Department is established on February 20, 1792.

What happened in 1796 in American History? ›

March 30 – John Sevier is inaugurated as first governor of Tennessee. June 1 – Tennessee is admitted as the 16th U.S. state (see History of Tennessee). July 11 – The United States takes possession of Detroit from Great Britain under the terms of the Jay Treaty.

What important event happened between 1775 and 1783? ›

The American Revolutionary War was fought from 1775 to 1783. It was also known as the American War of Independence. The Revolutionary War began with the confrontation between British troops and local militia at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, on 19 April 1775.

What major events happened from 1775 to 1783? ›

Timeline of the Revolution
  • Lead-in To War: 1763 to 1774. End of the Seven Years War. ...
  • Independence Declared: 1775 to 1777. War Breaks Out. ...
  • War in the North: 1777 to 1778. Campaign of 1777 & Battle of Saratoga: Britsh Setback. ...
  • Southern Campaigns: 1779 to 1781. Charleston Falls to the British. ...
  • Aftermath: 1782 to 1787.
Sep 5, 2022

What happened between 1765 and 1783? ›

The American Revolution was an epic political and military struggle waged between 1765 and 1783 when 13 of Britain's North American colonies rejected its imperial rule. The protest began in opposition to taxes levied without colonial representation by the British monarchy and Parliament.

What two key events happened in America in 1776? ›

In 1776, Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence while George Washington led his Continental Army to defend New York City from a British attack.
  • Siege of Boston. April 19, 1775 - March 17, 1776. ...
  • New York Campaign. August 1776 - November 1776. ...
  • Crossing the Delaware River. ...
  • The Trenton-Princeton Campaign.

What happened in 1789 in American history? ›

On September 24, 1789, during its first session, Congress formally established the federal judiciary, as called for in Article III of the U.S. Constitution. The Judiciary Act of 1789 created thirteen district courts, each with one judge, in major cities, and three regional circuit courts.

What happened in 1776 that changed U.S. history? ›

On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence. Two days later, it ratified the text of the Declaration.

What major thing happened in 1783? ›

The war was not officially concluded, however, until the agreement to the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which was signed in concert with treaties between Great Britain, France, and Spain. The final treaty granted full independence and recognized the borders of the new United States of America.

What war was 1776 to 1783? ›

The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the military conflict of the American Revolution in which American Patriot forces under George Washington's command defeated the British, establishing and securing the ...

What was discovered in 1783? ›

The first 'aerostatic' flight in history was an experiment carried out by the Montgolfier brothers at Versailles in 1783.

What happened in 1833 in American history? ›

In 1833, Henry Clay helped broker a compromise bill with Calhoun that slowly lowered tariffs over the next decade. The Compromise Tariff of 1833 was eventually accepted by South Carolina and ended the nullification crisis.

What happened in 1792 American history? ›

In 1792, the second presidential election, George Washington was unanimously re-elected president of the United States. Carrying large and small states, northern and southern states, Washington received 132 electoral votes, one vote from each participant in the Electoral College.

What happened in 1793 in American history? ›

The death toll from a yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia hits 100 on October 11, 1793. By the time it ended, 5,000 people were dead. Yellow fever, or American plague as it was known at the time, is a viral disease that begins with fever and muscle pain.

What happened in 1785 in American history? ›

1785 – The Northwest Indian War began between the United States and a confederation of numerous Native American tribes, with British support for control of the Northwest Territory. It lasts until 1795. 1787 – The Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia to draft the Constitution.

What happened in 1784 in American history? ›

The Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris on January 14, 1784, officially establishing the United States as an independent and sovereign nation.

What happened in America from 1763 to 1783? ›

Overview Until the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763, few colonists in British North America objected to their place in the British Empire.

What happened today in History 1776? ›

Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies' separation from Great Britain.

Why is the year 1776 important? ›

Declaring Independence

On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence. Two days later, it ratified the text of the Declaration. John Dunlap, official printer to Congress, worked through the night to set the Declaration in type and print approximately 200 copies.

What is a historical event that happened in 1776 1800? ›

The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and established independence from England. The U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787. In 1777, Vermont became the first colony to abolish slavery.

What are the three most important events in U.S. History from 1776 1876? ›

  • Jan 10, 1776. Common Sense. ...
  • May 14, 1776. First American Flag Created. ...
  • Jul 4, 1776. Signing of Declaration of Independence. ...
  • Aug 7, 1776. Weath of Nations by Adam Smith Published. ...
  • Sep 21, 1776. New York Fires. ...
  • Sep 3, 1783. End of the American Revolution. ...
  • Sep 7, 1787. Signing of the US Constitution. ...
  • Apr 30, 1789.

What happened in 1781 in American history? ›

Virginia | Sep 28 - Oct 19, 1781. The Battle of Yorktown proved to be the decisive engagement of the American Revolution. The British surrender forecast the end of British rule in the colonies and the birth of a new nation—the United States of America.

What happened in 1796 in American history? ›

March 30 – John Sevier is inaugurated as first governor of Tennessee. June 1 – Tennessee is admitted as the 16th U.S. state (see History of Tennessee). July 11 – The United States takes possession of Detroit from Great Britain under the terms of the Jay Treaty.

Why was 1776 was so special and why such celebrations? ›

On the 4th of July in 1776, the United States gained independence from Great Britain by the Continental Congress. In an almost unanimous decision, 12 of the 13 North American colonies voted for the separation from Great Britain.

What happened in 1790 in American history? ›

President George Washington delivers the first "State of the Union Address" on January 8, 1790. Benjamin Franklin dies on April 17, 1790 in Philadelphia, PA. Washington, DC, is established as the capital of the United States, in 1791. The U.S. Post Office Department is established on February 20, 1792.

What major event happened in 1780? ›

1780. The British Take Charleston, South Carolina. After a brief fight, the British took Charleston, capturing 5,400 men and four American ships in the harbor.

What happened in 1792 American History? ›

In 1792, the second presidential election, George Washington was unanimously re-elected president of the United States. Carrying large and small states, northern and southern states, Washington received 132 electoral votes, one vote from each participant in the Electoral College.

What happened in 1833 in American History? ›

In 1833, Henry Clay helped broker a compromise bill with Calhoun that slowly lowered tariffs over the next decade. The Compromise Tariff of 1833 was eventually accepted by South Carolina and ended the nullification crisis.

What happened in 1793 in American History? ›

The death toll from a yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia hits 100 on October 11, 1793. By the time it ended, 5,000 people were dead. Yellow fever, or American plague as it was known at the time, is a viral disease that begins with fever and muscle pain.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aron Pacocha

Last Updated:

Views: 6765

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aron Pacocha

Birthday: 1999-08-12

Address: 3808 Moen Corner, Gorczanyport, FL 67364-2074

Phone: +393457723392

Job: Retail Consultant

Hobby: Jewelry making, Cooking, Gaming, Reading, Juggling, Cabaret, Origami

Introduction: My name is Aron Pacocha, I am a happy, tasty, innocent, proud, talented, courageous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.