Road to the Constitution

  • Proclamation of 1763

    Proclamation of 1763
    After the Seven Years' War, the colonists thought that it would be safe to expand their frontier. However, King George III and Parliament created the Proclamation of 1763, This proclamation closed off the frontier beyond the Appalachian Mountains. It also established govts in Grenada, Florida, and Quebec. This took away colonists natural right to property because they could not expand their frontier.
  • Quartering Act of 1765

    Quartering Act of 1765
    The Quartering Act was passed to the practical concerns of troop deployment. The Quartering Act enforced that each colonial assembly needs to supply basic needs for soldiers, such as cooking utensils, firewood, bedding, and candles. In 1766, the Quartering Act expanded so that soldiers needed to be housed in unoccupied houses and taverns. This violated colonists right of liberty because they were watched over like slaves by the soldiers.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    On March 5th, a British sentry was on watch outside of the state house. A wigmaker's assistant proceeded to tell him that he couldn't pay the bill. The colonist came back with companions, who proceeded to throw snowballs at him, as the wigmaker's assistant insulted him. The British sentry challenged him, and then hit the wigmaker on the side of the head with a musket. British soldiers and colonists appeared, and a riot ensued, killing 5 colonists. This violated the victim's right to life.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    After the passing of the Tea Act, colonists rebelled against the Tea Act by pouring 45 tons of tea into Boston Harbor, while they are dressed as Indians. This proved that the colonists will join together and rebel. This in turn caused Britain to pass the Intolerable Acts. This also proved that colonists will rebel if they felt mistreated.
  • Intolerable Acts

    Intolerable Acts
    After the Boston Tea Party, the British passed a series of laws relating to the colonies. These acts included the Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston until the tea had been repaid for, and until the king was satisfied that order was restored. The Quartering Act came back into play, only this time, they had to more effectively house British soldiers. These acts triggered outrage and resistance, which caused the Revolutionary War and the writing of the Declaration of Independence.