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Mercantilism Theory
The colonies could only succeed if they exported more than they imported. -
Salutary Neglect
The British decided they were no longer going to govern the colonies. The colonies at that point had determined that they would self- govern themselves. -
The French and Indian War
England and France have been warring on and off for over one hundred years. This time around, the American colonist want to expand the Ohio Valley and Canada. The skirmish gets its name because England and her colonies were fighting against the combined forces of France and her Native American Allies. The NAtives like the French a lot more than the english because the French are not heavily settled in the area and tended to be trading partners. -
Proclomation of 1763
In an attempt to settle the Natice along the frontier, England banned all colonial settlement past the Appalachian Mountains. This policy enraged the colonist who only fought the French and Indain War for more land. -
Stamp Act
England's latest attempt to get money from the colonies comes in the form of a direct tax on a variety of goods. Things randing from legal documents to decks of cards. The colonies protest by going after custom agents and later organize a more effective boycott of English goods. -
Townshed Acts
Series of acts passed, beginning in 1767, by the Parliament of Great Britain relating to the British colonies in North America. The acts are named after Charles Townshend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who proposed the programme. -
The Boston Massacre
Tension between colonist and the stnding army left over from the French and Indian war has been high. Many citizens feel that the soldiers were spying on them, others resent the competition they present for local jobs. When soldiers begin fighting colonist for jobs, someone shoots into the crowd. When the violence ends, five colonist are dead. To drum up support, Samuel Adams and other patriots dub the skirmish a "massacre". -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a way that the colonist showed England they were not going to put up with their tea being taxed. The colonist went to the Boston Harbor and threw all the tea into the waters. -
Tea Act of 1773
In an effort to ease tensions with their American colonist and save their lagging East India Company, the British government passes this act which gives all colonial tea buisness to the India company but at a much lower price to the consumer. Rather than be greatful, being cut out of their own buisness outrages the colonist. This is what led Samuel Adams and many others to dress up as Natives and act out the Boston Tea Party. -
First Contenta Congress
The first concerted effort of American colonies to unite under a common cause towards secession from the British Crown -
Quartering Act
This part of the Intolerable Acts was especially infuriating to the colonist who felt that they should not have to shoulder the responsibility of housing the British Army when they don't want them around in the first place. Few colonist actually had to save their privacy compromised but the idea of possible doing so outraged many. -
Intolerable Acts
In an effort to punish the members of the Boston community for the Boston Tea Party, the British government vows revenge until the damaged tea is completley paid for. Boston is hurt the worst by the closing of the local harbor, but other punishments such as a curfew and Marshall law are put into place which outrage the citzens. Colonist from other areas are incensed by the behavior and these actions serve to distance more than just New Englanders from the crown. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Fighting between colonial militias and British soldiers occur when Gen. Gage finds out that colonist are stockpiling weapons. When he tries to confiscate the arms he is met with armed resistance. The first shot between the two sides was fired in a crowd and no one is sure who shot first. Colonist offically became the enemy of the British and Boston was now held captive by the Britsih army. -
Second Continental Congress
A convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting in the summer of 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. -
Declatory Act of 1776
It was a tax that touched virtually every colonist. If you were married, bought land, sent mail, purchased goods, sold goods, wrote a will, etc. it required a stamp that was to be purchased from a royal appointee in cash. -
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson drafts a document that is a list of complaints against the British. This list was designed to serve two purposes: one, to notify England and the rest of the world of America's intent nad reasons for it, and secondly, it was to rally the colonist behind a reat cause by inspiring them to throw off the shackles of oppression. -
Common Sense
A popular pamphlet written by Thomas Paine states that it is obvioius that England and her American Colonies should not remain united. The two are so vastly different that they can't have common goals and the rule of monarchy is so oppressice that the colonies will never prosper under British rule. The only "common snese" is to declare Independence. This helps to persuade some colonist who ad been against such actions. -
The American Revolution Ends
The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris, this ended the American Revolutionary War, and gave the colonies their independence from Great Britain. The 13 states were now free to join together and become the United States of America. -
Treaty of Paris
The United States of America. France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of these, and the negotiations which produced all four treaties, see Peace of Paris