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Virginia House of Burgesses
The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first elected assembly of the colonies. The assembly had the power to approve new taxing and spending. It was the first form of democrcy formed in the colonies. Although, women and slaves could not vote. This is an account or transcript of the Virginia House of Burgesses from Thomas Jefferson's papers. They kept very tedious records of all the proceding of the house. -
The Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was a document that was signed by the settlers on the ship before they landed. It was the first written framework for self-government in the Americas. "And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws..." -
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French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was between France and Britain's Indian allies on North American soil. The British won in 1763 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. This war led to more taxing on the colonies because the British governement needed more troops stationed in the colonies to "...to inspire them with the inclination to cause the comforts of peace to succeed to the misfortunes of a long and bloody war, which having arisen between England and France..."
Excerpt from the Treaty of Paris. -
The Stamp Act
A law passed that said Americans had to pay taxes on deeds, playing cards, mortages, newspapers, almanacs, etc. This led to rebellion because colonists had no representation in Parliment. This made the colonists angry because it was a form of taxtation and they had no representation. This led to the Boston Tea Party. "The times are getting worse, each day brings fresh disasters; And yesterday to crown the rest these horrid sticking plasters." -
The Boston Massacre
A heavy British military presence in Boston led to a tense situation that boiled over into brawls between soldiers and civilians and eventually led to troops opening fire. Three civilians were killed, eleven were injured, and two died after the incident.This was one of the final straws for the colonists before the war. This is an engraving of the massacre done by Paul Revere. It was greatly exaggerated to show how horrible the event was. It sparked a lot of fury in the colonists. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston against the British government. Groups of colonists boarded the ships, took the tea, and dumped it into the Boston Harbor. This made the British government very angry at the colonists.
"An act to allow a drawback of the duties of customs on the exportation of tea to any of his Majesty's colonies or plantations in America"
Excerpt from the Tea Act. -
Battles at Lexington and Concord
Militia troops from Massachusetts clashed with British soldiers and was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. This was the beginning of the war that led to democracy. "...1200 of the regular troops, have proceeded from Boston toward Concord; and having fired on the inhabitants, and killed a number of them, at Lexington..." -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document declaring the colonies independence from Britain. It led to a new government and freedom from Britain. It was the first presidential democracy in the United States and is the foundation for what America is today. This is a picture of the original Declaration of Independence displayed in the Library of Congress.
