LH 1754 – 1783 British Period – Yorktown/Mt. Pleasant Historical Alliance and Museum

February 7, 2021February 11, 2021

1783 Treaty Ending the Revolutionary War

The Treaty of Paris was signed with the British ending the Revolutionary War.

The Spanish, along with American citizens, marched into Western Quebec (what later became the Northwest Territory, which included Indiana), and expelled the British forces. Sir Henry Clinton lead forces that forced British General Cornwallis to retreat to Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis surrendered in October 1781.

On September 3, 1783, the treaty was signed between Great Britain and the United States which officially ended the war.

Below: In 1774, Indiana was part of the Province of Quebec. In 1883, present-day Indiana was ceded by the British to the United States.

February 7, 2021February 11, 2021

1778 The Northwest Territory is Won for the Patriots

George Rogers Clark marched a militia of mostly sympathetic Canadian volunteers through present day Ohio and Indiana to Illinois in 1778. Clark won what became the Northwest Territory for the patriots with the Siege of Fort Vincennes (also known as the Siege of Fort Sackville or the Battle of Vincennes) to help end the U.S. Revolutionary War.

February 7, 2021February 11, 2021

1776 July 4

Declaration of Independence

The British Colonies in North American (present-day United States) declared their freedom from British rule. The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain.

1763 Restriction on Westward Movement

The British took possession of the area that included what would become the Northwest Territory from the French. In the Royal Proclamation of 1763, Britain forbid American colonists from settling in the “New West”, which included present-day Indiana. The British allowed a few hundred Frenchmen who were already settled in the area to remain but the colonists were restricted from crossing the Appalachian Mountains to settle. The British had set aside this land in treaties with Native Americans.

As crowding and competition increased, the prohibition put stress on the European settlers and contributed to the American rebellion and revolution. The line was just west of Appalachia and is referred to as the Proclamation Line.

1763 France Ceded Land to Great Britain. Proclamation line west of Appalachian Mountains.

February 7, 2021February 11, 2021

1754-1763 French and Indian War

The French and Indian War (7-Years-War) was part of the larger struggle between the French and the English. At the end of the war, French forts were occupied by the British. The land that was Indiana was among the lands ceded to Britain by France.

Category: LH 1754 – 1783 British Period

1783 Treaty Ending the Revolutionary War

1778 The Northwest Territory is Won for the Patriots

1776 July 4

1763 Restriction on Westward Movement

1754-1763 French and Indian War

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