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French and Indian War
The war was fought between the British and Colonists with some Native groups and the French and other Native groups. The British colonists want to push for land west of the Appalachian Mountains, while the French and Natives want to stop them from expansion. -
The Albany Plan
Benjamin Franklin's plan for the colonies to join together in order to defend themselves independently of Great Britain. It is not enacted. -
The Currency Act
Law enacted by Parliament, which prohibited the colonies from printing their own money, only allowing British currency to be used. -
Stamp Act
Tax that required a stamp on all paper goods. -
The Quartering Act
The British required colonists to provide for British soldiers, including housing them if necessary. -
Repeal of Stamp Act
British Parliament repeals Stamp Act after American boycotts of British goods cut into the profits of important British businesses who did not like taking a financial hit. Their complaints were the impetus for repeal. The colonists view the repeal as a justification for their actions, which empower them for future acts of rebellion. -
The Townshend Revenue Act
A tax of glass, paint, oil, lead, and tea. The act was created to raise money for the administration of the colonies. It provoked debate and hostility toward the British. The protests were so bad in Boston that soldiers were brought in to occupy the city. Boston colonists did not fight back with weapons, instead they boycotted buying British goods and got other colonies to do the sam. Eventually British merchants intervened to get the act repealed. -
The Boston Massacre
A conflict in Boston that leads to the death of five colonists at the bullets of British soldiers, who are later acquitted of wrongdoing when it is realized that the "massacre" had been sparked by aggressive colonists provoking the British soldiers. -
The Tea Act
Parliament's measure to sell the inventory of tea by the East India Tea Company. The act did not raise taxes on tea in the colonies and in fact lowered the overall price of tea, but the colonists were angered by perceived British attempts to control them. Parliament and King George III decided to impose this tax to let the colonies know that it was within their power to do so. -
The Boston Tea Party
This event was in protest to the Tea Act. A group of colonists, many dressed as Native Americans, board ships in Boston harbor to throw tea off the ships and into the water. No one was hurt, it was a very peaceful rebellious demonstration. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of laws passed by Parliament in response to the Tea Party, including a closing of the port of Boston until the cost of the tea lost was paid, a restructuring of the government. One half of the Massachusetts Assembly would no longer be elected, but chosen by the king. A new Quartering Act where troops were to be housed in private residences. -
First Continental Congress
Colonists from all the colonies except Georgia (who was for the meeting, just not able to send delegates) met in Philadelphia to discuss a course of action in dealing with the British. The positions of the delegates was a mixed bag, from those who wanted to gain independence from Britain (i.e. Sam Adams), to those who wanted to compromise with the British, to those who were completely loyal to Britain and wanted no more protesting of British law. -
Patrick Henry: "Give me Liberty or Give me Death!"
During a meeting in Richmond to choose delegation for the Second Continental Congress, Patrick Henry gives this rousing speech. http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson, it is the document that declares the colonies independent from Britain.