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The Enlightenment was a period when people started thinking more for themselves and started rethinking their traditional ideas. It focused on fairness, science, and the belief that everyone should have freedom and equality. Voltaire and Locke challenged old beliefs about government, religion, and society. This movement helped change the modern ideas about democracy, human rights, and education
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The Boston Tea Party took place in 1773 when American colonists began to protesting the British Tea Act. 342 chests of tea dumped into Boston Harbor. This act was meant to stop the British monopoly on tea and unfair taxation. -
The French and Indian War was a problem between France and Britain fought primarily in North America. Both sides teamed with various Native American tribes. Each fighting for control over territory and resources. The war ended with Britain’s victory significantly impacting the balance of power in North America and basically setting up for the American Revolution.
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The Sons of Liberty was a group of American colonists formed in the 1760s to protest British policies. They were known for organizing to go against taxes, like in the Stamp Act. Their efforts played a key role leading up to the American Revolution.
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The Stamp Act of 1765 was a British law that required colonists to buy a government-issued stamps for materials like newspapers and legal documents. It was the first direct tax on the American colonies. The Act led to multiple protests everywhere and contributed to the grow unrest that eventually sparked the American Revolution.
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The Boston Massacre was a very violent event that happened on March 5, 1770, between British soldiers and American colonists. Tensions were high because colonists were angry about British taxes and the fact that British troops were in Boston. The conflict ended with soldiers firing into a crowd in result of killing five colonists and increasing anger toward British rule. -
The Second Continental Congress was about how the colonies should respond to the British rule. The delegates decided on creating the continental army led by George Washington. Eventually later it was agreed to declare independence by writing the Declaration of Independence.
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The Olive Branch Petition was sent to King George III in 1775 as a final attempt by the American colonies to avoid war with Britain. It showed the colonies desire for peace and asked the king to address their sorrows. Sadly, the petition was rejected leading to the escalation and the start of the American Revolutionary War.
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The Declaration of Independence was adopted to announce the colonies' separation from Britain. It explained the reasons why the colonies wanted to be free. It says all people have rights like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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The Battle of Yorktown fought in 1781. A decisive victory for the American and French forces during the Revolutionary War. It involved a investments that trapped the British army that was led by General Cornwallis on the Virginia peninsula. The British surrender at Yorktown and ended major combat and paved the way for American independence.
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The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 and officially ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States. It recognized American independence and established borders for the new nation. The treaty also addressed issues like fishing rights and the repayment of debts between the two countries.
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The 3/5 Compromise was an agreement made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It said how that each enslaved person would count as three-fifths of a person when deciding a state's population for representation and taxes. This compromise was made between Northern and Southern states to settle disagreements over political power.
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The Constitutional Convention in 1787 in Philadelphia, was about creating a new plan for the U.S. government. The delegates met to fix the problems with the Articles of Confederation but had decided to write a new Constitution instead. They went back and forth on important issues like representation, federal power, and the rights of states.
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The ratification of the Constitution was about approving the new plan for the U.S. government. It happened between 1787 and 1790, when nine out of thirteen states agreed to accept the Constitution. This had created a stronger federal government to replace the delicate Articles of Confederation.
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The Bill of Rights was adopted on as the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It was created to protect individual liberties and limit government power. These rights included things like freedoms of speech and religion.