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French and Indian War/ Seven Years War
This war spanned five continents, involved every European great power of the time and affected Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the Philippines. The two main struggles were colonial conflict between Britain and France, and Fredrick II of Prussia vs. Austria, France, Russia, and Sweden. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris. -
The Proclamation Line
After the French and Indian or Seven Years War, Britain now had the French territory in North America. King George made it forbidden for colonists to settle on the west side of the Appalachian Mountains so it could be an Indian Reserve and to gain control over the colonies. However, this only angered the colonists and there was no way this could be enforced. -
The Sugar Act
The British Parliament passed this act because they needed some kind of tax/money to come from the colonies and the earlier molasses tax was higher but not enforced. The sugar act was half the tax of the molasses act but with much more enforcement. -
The Stamp Act
This tax required all colonists to pay extra for every piece of printed paper. The tax was to go towards the colonists' protection and defense. -
The Quartering Act
This act forced colonists to provide housing for all British soldiers. Colonists did not like being forced to do this. They wanted to be asked and give consent. Therefore, many disobeyed this act which lead to The Restraining Act. -
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The Stamp Act Congress
Also known as the First Congress of the American Colonies, this congress consisted of representatives from some of the British colonies in North America. At this place, elected representatives gathered to plan a unified protest or boycott against the British, specifically against the Stamp Act. -
The Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act stated that the British Parliament had power to pass laws in the English colonies. The stamp and sugar act were causing boycotts that hurt British trade so they took away the stamp act and lessened the sugar act. At this point, the colonists did not want to obey their rules. -
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The Townshend Acts
These were a "series of measures", passed by the British Parliament that taxed goods imported to the American colonies. These included the stamp, sugar, molasses, and tea. These acts were only met with widespread protests in America. -
The Boston Massacre
This deadly riot on King Street stared with a fight between British Soldiers and a small group of colonists. However, it escalated into a deadly shoot out. Though it may have been exaggerated, it gave colonists a reason to fight back. -
The Gaspee Incident
The Sons of Liberty were very active in the colonies. The captain of the Gaspees Ship, Dunnington, was known to have threatened the Sons of Liberty. This ship was charged with patrolling the waters of Narragansett Bay and a local vessel baited him into the shallow waters and attack the ship. The locals captured the whole crew and made them watch as the ship was burned. -
The Tea Act
Known as the "Catalyst of the Boston Tea Party", the tea act sent colonists over the edge. This act gave the British East India Company a monopoly over the tea trade. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Tea Party was a political protest against the British Control over the Colonies. It consisted of throwing 342 boxes of tea into the Boston Harbor. It was the first major deference of the British and stared the fight towards independence. -
The Intolerable Acts
After the Tea Party, the British Parliament passed laws to punish the colonists for their actions. However, the Patriots only took these as a violation of their rights. -
The First Continental Congress
Delegates from the 13 colonies met to discuss economic boycott rights and grievances. These were sent to Britain to King George III. When this did nothing, they met again to plan colonial defense and militia. -
Patrick Henry's Speech
At the second Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry, a well respected lawyer with a great speaking voice, wanted to get the delegates ready to fight back. Britain was only going to try and control them more, so the only thing he thought was fit was to secede. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
These battles were the first of the Revolutionary war. John Hancock and Samuel Adams were being hunted down by the British army who also looked to destroy the Americans store of weapons in Concord. However, the Colonists new of the British plans so they moved most of their weapons and worked to spread the word to many militias -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Lead by Major General William Howe, 2,200 British forces landed on the Charlestown Peninsula and marched to Breed's Hill. They wanted control over Boston Harbor and the peninsula, so they tried to take control of the surrounding hills first. However, Colonist heard word of this and set up forts on both hills, but were defeated, leaving the British in control of Boston. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
This pamphlet challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy by moral and political arguments. It advocated independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies and encouraged common people to fight for a fair government. -
The Declaration of Independence
This was a statement to not only Great Britain, but the colonies and rest of the world about the unfair treatment of the Colonies. They place their complaints, grievances, and most importantly, their reasons for wanting Independence on this paper.
