Economic & Political events leading to the Declaration of Independence

   1754-1763 –  The French and Indian War ends ( The Seven Years War)

   1754 –  The Albany Congress

   1763 –  Proclamation of 1763

   1764 – The sugar Act & The Currency Act

   1765 – The Stamp Act, The Quartering Act, the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions, The         Stamp Act Congress and, Patrick Henry’s speech; “If this be treason, make the most of it!”

  1766 –  The Declaratory Act

  1767 –  The Townsend Revenue Act

 1768 –  The Boston Non-Importation Agreement

 1770 –  Parliament repeals all duties under the Townshend Act except the tax on tea, Boston Massacre occurs.

  1773 –  The Tea Act, The Boston Tea Party

  1774 –  The “Intolerable Acts”:

– Boston Port Act,

– Administration of Justice Act

– Massachusetts Government Act

The First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia and issues‘Declarations and Resolves’

The Association, and Galloway’s Plan

  1775 –  The second Continental congress meets in Philadelphia, George Washington is named Commander in Chief

  1776 –  Thomas Paine’s ‘Common Sense’ is published, The Virginia Declaration of Rights, the first Virginia Constitution

  July 1-4 Congress debates, revises and adopts The Declaration of Independence; it is sent to the printer

  July 8   The Declaration of Independence is read publicly

  Aug. 2   Delegates begin signing the Declaration

( For more in-depth information, visit US History.org )