Colonial Events from 1763 to 1774

Colonial Events

Period: 1763 to 1774

French & Indian Wars End

Feb 10, 1763

The Treaty of Paris is signed by France and England and the war is officially over. France gave up all of its North American territories and England got Canada east of the Mississippi River as a result.

Proclamation of 1763 Issued

Oct 7, 1763

King George III issues this proclamation forbidding western expansion past the Appalachian Mountains.

Sugar Act Passed

Apr 5, 1764

This act was passed by Parliament setting a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies since the molasses act of 1733 was expiring. However, it wasn't really effective since colonists just started smuggling.

Stamp Act Passed

Mar 22, 1765

The Stamp Act of 1765 placed a tax on legal papers, newspapers and pamphlets.

Stamp Act Congress

Oct 7, 1765

27 delegates from 9 colonies convened this congress. They decided that, even though Parliament had the right to tax, they had crossed the line by using these taxes to pay off the war. Boycotts began.

Stamp Act Repealed

Mar 18, 1766

Pitt's Compromise led to the Stamp Act being repealed and the Sugar Act being weakened.

Declaratory Act

Mar 18, 1766

This act stated that Parliament had full authority to make laws binding on the colonies. It undermined the goodwill Pitt established.

Townshend Duties

Jun 15, 1767

Series of Laws passed by the British Parliament placing duties (taxes) on items imported by the colonists including glass, lead, paints, paper and tea. It taxed colonial merchants specifically.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

British soldiers, who were quartered in the city, fired into a rioting mob killing five colonists.

Tea Act Passed

May 10, 1773

Allowing the British East India Company to sell its low-cost tea directly to the colonies, undermining colonial tea merchants

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Massachusetts Sons Of Liberty group dressed as Mohawk Indians protested against the British Tea Act

Intolerable Acts Passed As A Response by England

Mar 31, 1774

The Intolerable acts closed the port of Boston and revoked the Massachusetts charter. They placed restriction on the colonists and were made up of 4 laws.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

Twelve colonial legislatures voted to send representatives to Philadelphia to discuss the grievances passed by Britain. They met on September 5 of 1774.