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The French and Indian War
Description: The French and Indian War was a war between Britain and France that took place in what is now America.
Importance: Since this war took place on American Grounds and benefited the Colonists, King George thought it was only fair for the Colonists to have more taxes to help pay off the war debts. The Colonists were mad and thought it was unfair that they had to pay more taxes without their consent or representation in government. This was the foundation for the American Revolution. -
Boston Massacre
Description: The Boston Massacre started out as a physical altercation between some colonists and a British soldier but soon became a riot that ended with multiple British soldiers at the scene and five colonists dead.
Importance: Made a lot more people hate the British and see them as tyrannical monsters. -
Boston Tea Party
Description: Durning the Boston Tea Party, the Colonist threw 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor in protest of being taxed by Britain without representation in their government. All of the tea had been imported by the British East India Compony
Importance: This was the big first time the Colonist protested against the against British rule -
The Quartering Act
Description: The quartering act was one of the four intolerable acts passed after the Boston Tea Party. The point of these acts was to grab the reigns on the Colonists and show them that Britain was in charge. The quartering act made Colonists have to pay for the food and housing of British Soldiers in America. The Colonists were once again unhappy with the added costs.
Importance: The quartering act was just one more thing that helped push Colonists over the edge to revolution. -
The First Continental Congress
Description: The first Continental Congress was brought together due to the newfound Intolerable Acts from the British. The Colonists saw these acts as intolerable, and the delegates of the Congress decided to write a letter to the King and Parliament respectfully stating what they think is wrong with the acts and asking for them to be repealed.
Importance: This was the first time the Colonists banded together and started to act like a country. -
The Boston Port Act
Description: The Boston Port act was the first of the four intolerable acts. The Boston Port Act stated that the Boston Port would be closed until the Colonist paid back the million dollars that was lost during the Boston Tea Party. The port was sealed and Boston was left with no way to import goods.
Importance: This act brought the Colonies together to support Boston and fight British Rule. The intolerable acts were also what made the Continental Congress come together for the first time. -
Samuel Adams
Description: Samuel Adams lived from September 27, 1722 to October 2, 1803. While Sam Adams is most famous for being related to John Adams, the second president of the United States, Sam Adams also went to Harvard to Study law, was one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, and was very important to the American Revolution.
Importance: Was a delegate from Massachusetts for the Second Continental Congress -
The Second Continental Congress
Description: Delegates that represented the thirteen colonies assembled for a second time to hold another Continental Congress. Some of the important issues discussed were forming an army and who their leader was going to be.
Importance: This was another instance were the colonies worked together like an independent country. This meeting was a big step toward the Revolutionary war that would eventually grant the Colonists independence. -
Minutemen
Description: The minutemen were a paid, well trained branch of the Militia. They got their name because they were expected to be ready to fight at a minutes warning.
Importance: The minutemen fought countless battles in the American Revolution and were usually the first group at or waiting for a battle. -
"Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" Speech
Description: The "Give me liberty or give me death" speech was spoken by Patrick Henry at the Second Virginia Convention.
Importance: This speech helped rile everyone up and convince them that they need to go to war. -
Paul Revere
Description: Paul Revere lived from January 1, 1735 to May 10, 1818. He was a silversmith and used his skills to create propaganda during the Revolution.
Importance: After the colonists received word from their spies that the British were coming to seize their weapons, Paul Revere went on horseback to let everyone know what was going on. By midnight everyone knew that the British were coming. -
The Battle of Concord
Description: The battle of Concord happened when hundreds of British Troops went from Boston to Concord planning to take the Colonists firearms and other weapons. The Colonists started fighting the British to protect their weapons, beginning the war.
Importance: This was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Description: The Battle of Bunker Hill happened on Bunker and Breeds Hill in Boston after the Colonist learned that the British were planning on taking control of the hills surrounding Boston to give them an advantage.
Importance: Even though the Colonist lost the battle, it still holds great importance seeing as it was one of the first times the colonists took a stand against the British. It was the one of the first of many battles to come. -
Thomas Jefferson
Description: Thomas Jefferson lived from April 13, 1743 to July 4, 1826. He is most well know for being the third president of the United States and the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
Importance: Wrote the Declaration of Independence -
Declaration of Independence
Description: The Declaration of Independence was a document formally declaring Americas separation from Britain. This document was written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. The document was adopted by the delegate of the Continental Congress on July 4.
Importance: This was the document that formally started Americas Journey toward independence. It gave a clear goal and reason to everything the Colonists were doing. -
John Hancock
Description: John Hancock lived from January 12, 1737 to October 8, 1793. He went to Harvard University and was the husband of Dorothy Quincy. John Hancock was also the first governor of Massachusetts.
Importance: John Hancock was one of the delegates from Pensilvania at the Second Continental Congress. He was also the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. -
French Alliance
Description: The French offered aid to America, helped them fight against Britain, and recognized their independence from Britain.
Importance: Without aid from France the Americans would not have beat Britain and won the war. -
Benedict Arnold
Description: Benedict Arnold was a loyal soldier to the American Army until he felt under appreciated. He made a secret deal with the British army because of this and is now known as one of the biggest traitors in American History.
Importance: Before he switched sides, Benedict Arnold was incredibly helpful and valuable to the American Army and Revolution. His betrayal made the soldiers of the American Army very upset and the anger gave them ammunition to keep on fighting. -
The Battle of Yorktown
Description: The Battle of Yorktown took place in Yorktown Virginia after the American and the French Armies trapped the British and attacked them. The British were greatly outnumbered and got attacked for eleven days before they surrendered to America.
Importance: This was the battle where the British finally surrendered and granted America their independence. -
Treaty of Paris
Description: After the war ended in Yorktown British and America still needed to end it formally and write out the terms and conditions. To do this both countries sent a diplomat to Paris, France so they could agree on a treaty.
Importance: This was the formal statement stating that America had one the war and was now its own independent country, free from Britain.