A chronological history of the Revolutionary War era. We begin our journey with an overview of the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War in Europe. Episodes continue with coverage of the tax protests. Shortly after King George III takes the throne, Parliament begins imposing taxes on the colonies, including the stamp tax, the Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act of 1774. Under call of ”taxation without representation, the colonists fight back. Various pre-war conflicts include the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea party, led by men such as John Hancock and Samuel Adams. They also submit numerous petitions to London. The British government responds with increasingly militant efforts to suppress the protests, eventually leading the imposition of the Coercive Acts or Intolerable Acts, which attempt to remove many of the colonies’ traditional powers of self-government. The Americans respond by establishing the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774. This is a meeting of colonial delegates to discuss responses to Parliament’s actions. The Congress submits a petition to the King with an agreement to meet the following spring to discuss trade boycotts if a compromise is not reached. Before the Second Continental Congress can meet, British General Thomas Gage, who is also Governor of Massachusetts, send British Regulars to capture militia cannons suspected to be in Concord. Along the way, British soldiers fire on Minutemen and other militia at Lexington Greene. Having been warned by Paul Revere, the minutemen had turned out with their muskets. The British continue to Concord, but find little. Colonists fire on soldiers at the old North Bridge, resulting a running battle all the way back to Boston. The Siege of Boston begins as colonists surround the city. The British capture Bunker Hill, but can do little else. American patriots across the country begin to act against British officials. Americans take casualties, including General Joseph Warren, but the British take far more. A group of Green Mountain Boys under Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold capture Fort Ticonderoga in New York. By the time the Second Continental Congress meets in May 1775, a full on rebellion has begun. The Continental Congress forms the Continental Army and places George Washington in command. Washington is able to break the siege in 1776 by having Henry Knox bring a train of cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to place on Dorchester Heights. The new British commander, General William Howe, is forced to evacuate Boston and retreat to Halifax in Nova Scotia. The Americans, having expelled British forces from most of their territory draft and sign the Declaration of Independence, making July 4 the date of American independence. Months later, General Howe and his brother Admiral Richard Howe, invade New York, capturing Long Island and Manhattan. The Continental army retreats and almost collapses. By late December 1776, the British have captured most of New Jersey. In desperation, on Christmas night 1776 Washington crosses the Delaware River with his army to attack an outpost of Hessians at Trenton. The victory forces the British to send a larger army to attack, but Washington eludes them and attacks Princeton. Over ten crucial days, the Americans recapture New Jersey and give hope to the patriots. The following year, 1777, known as the year of the hangman, the British launch an attack from Quebec into New York, taking Ticonderoga. General John Burgoyne hopes to link up with the British in New York City.