1776 in History

Meets the French Foreign Minister & begins a 2 1/2 yr campaign to win French support

Consigns military aid to the American revolutionaries

Leads a British force to join a loyalist army of 1,000 for a trip to Nova Scotia

Publication of "American Crisis", essay

Publication of "American Crisis", essay

The British occupy New York

Appointed Commissioner to France

Declaration of Independence, equality, right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

Congress appoints a committee headed by John Dickinson to prepare a confederation plan

Presents the plan for confederation of 13 Colonies to Congress

Declares Government by consent of the people

Declaration of Independence, equality, right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

Appointed Corporal

The Declaration is adopted by the Continental Congress & signed by John Hancock. Signs the Declaration of Independence in large letters so King George can read it. Hancock is best-remembered for his large, flamboyant signature on the Declaration of Independence, so much so that "John Hancock" has become, in the United States, an informal synonym for "signature"

Congress appoints Jefferson to a committee to draft the declaration of independence

The draft declaration of independence is presented to Congress

Declares equality, right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. Declaration of Independence, equality, right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

Appointed Diplomatic Commissioner to negotiate treaties with the European Nations

Appointed Diplomatic Commissioner to negotiate treaties with the European Nations

Appointed Diplomatic Commissioner to negotiate treaties with the European Nations

Appointed Diplomatic Commissioner to negotiate treaties with the European Nations

The passage of the 6 Edicts leads to Turgots downfall

The Declaration is adopted by the Continental Congress & signed by John Hancock

Congress appoints Jefferson to a committee to draft the declaration of independence

The draft declaration of independence is presented to Congress

Declares equality, right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

Appointed Diplomatic Commissioner to negotiate treaties with the European Nations

Meets the French Foreign Minister & begins a 2 1/2 year campaign to win French support

Meets John Adams & Benjamin Franklin at a peace conference at Staten Island. Demands revocation of the Declaration of Independence

Meets John Adams & Benjamin Franklin at a peace conference at Staten Island

Suggests "E Pluribus Unum" as a motto for the Seal of the US

Crosses the Delaware River to attack the British garrison at Trenton, New Jersey

Suppresses duties on grain, harbour dues, statutes of apprenticeship & the corvee

The 6 Edicts are registered by a "lit de justice" because of opposition to them

Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations, analysing markets, specialisation and economic growth.

Creates the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata which includes Paraguay.

Birth of James Abercromby

Returns to Hawaii from the North West Passage & killed in a scuffle with the Islanders

Inflicts a major defeat on the British. Crosses the Delaware & wins a victory which turns the tide of the war

The British forces inflict heavy casualties on Washingtons army