During the American Revolution, war raged on Pennsylvania's borders as well as in its southeast. As Americans fought for independence, Pennsylvania underwent its own "internal revolution," ratifying a radical state constitution, abolishing slavery, and struggling with internal divisions among loyalists, pacificists, patriots, and its Scots-Irish and German residents.
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1763 |
Pontiac's Rebellion begins with attack on Fort Detroit |
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1763 |
Crown "Proclamation Line" prohibits settlement west of Alleghenies. |
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1763 |
Paxton Boys destroy the Indian village of Conestoga and murder its inhabitants, including those who sought refuge in Lancaster, then march on Philadelphia. |
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1763 |
Treaty of Paris formally ends the Seven Years' War; French cede Canada to British and Louisiana to Spanish |
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1765 |
Parliament passes Stamp Act to collect revenues on printed material on stamped paper. |
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1765 |
Stamp Act Congress meets in New York City. Emergence of Pennsylvania's John Dickinson as leading spokesman for colonial grievances. |
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1766 |
Stamp Act repealed. Declaratory Act asserts Parliament's right to regulate colonies in "all cases whatsoever." |
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1767 |
Townshend Acts impose duties on a variety of colonial consumer products. |
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1767 |
Farmer's Letters by John Dickinson plays an important role in mobilizing Americans against the Townsend Acts. |
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1768 |
Treaty of Fort Stanwix modifies the Proclamation Line of 1763 in western Pennsylvania. |
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1769 - 1771 |
Early clashes in Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley between New England and
Pennsylvania land claimants open era of "Yankee-Pennamite Wars."
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1773 |
Tea Act gives East India company monopoly on tea trade to Americas. |
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1774 |
Benjamin Franklin humiliated in hearing before Parliament over American crisis. |
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1774 - |
English Parliament passes the Intolerable Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party. |
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1774 |
(First) Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia to consider response to Intolerable Acts Passes "Continental Association" to enforce boycotts. |
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1775 |
Fighting breaks out between Redcoats and New England militia near Boston. |
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1775 |
Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia to address crisis. |
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1775 |
Congress forms Continental Army and "adopts" New England militias. Chooses George Washington commander-in-chief. |
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1775 |
Battle of Bunker Hill |
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1776 |
In Pennsylvania Assembly elections, opponents of Independence gain seats. |
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1776 |
Congress adopts John Adams resolution inviting colonies to overthrow colonial governments inadequate to "exigencies" of situation; i.e., Pennsylvania. |
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1776 - |
Orchestrated campaign intimidates Pennsylvania Assembly into adjournment. |
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1776 |
Provincial convention meets in Philadelphia to write new state constitution. |
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1776 |
American defeat in Battle of Long Island begins period of military reversals. |
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1776 - 1777 |
Trenton-Princeton offensive by rebels blocks British advance. |
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1777 |
Army invades Pennsylvania via Chesapeake Bay and captures Philadelphia. |
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1777 |
Philadelphia, Congress stops briefly in Lancaster before moving on to York. |
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1777 - 1778 |
Congress and the Pennsylvania Assembly reside in York. There Congress drafts the Articles of Confederation in November, 1777. |
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1777 - 1778 |
"Valley Forge Winter" |
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1778 |
Franklin and others negotiate "Treaties of Alliance" with French, who enter war on American side in March. French forces sail to America. |
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1778 |
Massacre of Connecticut soldiers at the Battle of Wyoming results in flight of settlers from the Wyoming Valley, and call for military campaign to drive the Iroquois out of northeastern Pennsylvania |
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1779 |
General John Sullivan's campaign breaks Iroquois Confederation control of northeastern Pennsylvania. |
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1779 |
A mob of militiamen and radical Constitutionalists marches on James Wilson's home at Third and Walnut Streets in protest of war profiteering. |
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1779 |
The Pennsylvania Assembly divests the Penn family of their unsold lands for a compensation of 130,000 pounds. |
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1780 |
Pennsylvania legislature passes "Act for Emancipation" to gradually end slavery in the state. Begins demise of slavery in northern states. |
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1780 |
Benedict Arnold treason conspiracy with Major John Andre revealed. |
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1781 |
During worst winter of the Revolutionary War, 2,400 Pennsylvania troops revolt in
Continental camp in Morristown New Jersey, and march toward Philadelphia.
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1781 |
Maryland ratifies Articles of Confederation, which take effect on March 1. |
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1781 |
General Cornwallis surrenders force at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending major fighting in North America. |
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1782 |
Parliament votes to discontinue offensive operations in America. Peace talks begin informally in April, formally on September 27. |
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1782 |
Death of Col. William Crawford escalates calls from removal of Native Americans from western Pennsylvania. |
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1783 |
Mutinous Pennsylvania troops surround Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) to press for back pay. Congress moves to Princeton and later Annapolis. |
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1783 |
Paris Peace Treaty formally ends war and confirms Independence. |
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1784 |
Six Nations cede land claims in Pennsylvania at second Treaty of Fort Stanwix. Ohio tribes reject the treaty |
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Historical Markers In the Story
Original Documents