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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a conflict in North America that was part of a worldwide struggle between France and Britain. The French built Fort Duquesne in the Ohio River valley, where the Virginia government had already granted land. This began the fourth war between Great Britain and France for control of North America. It ended with the defeat of France and the transfer of French Canada to Britain. -
Stamp Act
The British imposed a tax on documents and other printed items such as wills, newspapers, and playing cards in order to repay the debts they owed after the French and Indian War. Colonists rebeled by forming a group called the Sons of Liberty and boycotted British goods. -
Townshend Act
Britain taxed certain colonial imports and stationed troops at major colonial ports to protect customs officers. The colonists then protested "taxation without representation" and organized another boycott of imported goods. -
Boston Massacre
A mob of colonists gathered in front of the Boston Customs House and taunted the British guards. Five colonists were killed as shots were fired. -
Tea Act
Britain gave the East India Company special concessions in the colonial tea business and shuts out colonial tea merchants. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of Boston rebels disguised themselves as Native Americans and dumped 18,000 pounds of East India Company's tea from the three British tea ships into the Boston harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
King George lll tightens control over Massachusetts by closing the Boston Harbor and quartering troops, also called the Quartering Act. Also, General Gage was appointed new governor of Massachusetts, and he placed Boston under martial law. -
1st and 2nd Continental Congress
In the First Continental Congress seventy-six delegates met in Philedelphia and created a declaration of colonial rights, which stated that the colonies could fight back if the British used force against the colonies. At the Second Continental Congress the delegates agreed to recognize the colonial miltia as the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as the commander. -
Lexington and Concord
General gage orders troops to march to Concord, Massachusetts, and to seize colonial weapons. Seventy minutemen intercepted the British and engage in battle. The first battle took place in Lexington, and the next in Concord. -
Publishing of Common Sense
Common Sense was a fifty page pamphlet by Thomas Paine. He called for the seperation of the colonies from Britain. In the pamphlet he also complained about King George and the monarchy, as well as explained that his own revolt against the king had begun with the battles at Lexington and Concord.
