The historical timeline for these lessons ranges from the
1750s to the 1780s. The Pennsylvania colony was still part of
England’s empire at the beginning of this period. In the 1750s
and 1760s, the Pennsylvania wilderness and the entire Ohio
River Valley were being contested by the French. This resulted
in a long costly war between France and England.
More than 80 years after the founding of Pennsylvania,
political leaders in the separate colonies began to agitate for
independence fromEngland. It was a radical idea because no
colony had ever thought of rebelling against themost powerful
country in the world at that time.
This chapter will present the struggle that occurred between
France and England for control of the Ohio River Valley in
Pennsylvania. It will describe how the American colonies
became angry with England’s unfair taxation and became
united against those taxes. It also will describe our country’s
struggle to gain independence fromEngland and Pennsylvania’s
role in the American Revolution. In addition, this chapter will
explain how our present formof government was set upmore
than 220 years ago.
Many important events leading to our Declaration of
Independence, and throughout the American Revolution and the
formation of government that followed were centered in and
around Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Our state played an
extremely crucial role in the formation of a new nation.
1800
1785
1770
1755
1774
First Continental Congress
meets in Philadelphia
1775
Second Continental
Congressmeets in
Philadelphia and votes for
independence fromEngland
1776
Declaration of Independence
is written and approved in
Philadelphia. Pennsylvania
adopts state constitution
1778
Articles of Confederation
drafted in York
1780
Pennsylvania passes
first anti-slavery law.
1787
The United States Constitution
is approved at the
Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia
1790
The Bill of Rights is written
in Philadelphia and approved
by states in 1791
1751
The Liberty Bell is
cast in England
1754
The French & Indian
War begins. It will end
in 1761 in the colonies
and in 1763 in Europe.
41
