-
French and Indian War
After 6 peacefull year this conflish between the French and British conflict reignited. Conflict in North America lasting from 1754-1763. Ended with a defeat of the French and the transer of French Canada to Britain. The war officially ended in 1763 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. -
Stamp Act
This act imposed taxes on documents and all printed items, such as wills, newspapers, and playing cards. A stamp would be placed on the item to prove that the tax had been payed. The colonists organized a secret resistance called the Sons of Liberty to protest the law. -
Townshend Act
Parliament passed the Townshend acts, named after Charles Townshend. This act taxed good that were imported into the colony from Britain, such as lead, glass, paint, playing cards, and paper; this act also imposed a tax on tea. -
Boston Massacre
Clash Between British soldiers and British colonists, in which 5 colonists were killed. The colonists taunted the british soldiers standing guard at the Boston Customs House. -
Tea Act
This act gradted the company the right to sell tea to the colonies free of taxes, they thought they would just simply buy the cheaper tea, but instead they protested dramatically. This act led to the Boston Tea Party later in 1773. -
Boston Tea Party
A large group of Boston rebels dressed up as "indians" and dumped 18,000 pounds of the East India Company's tea into the Boston harbor, this was in response to the tea act. -
Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts were a series of measures passed by the Parliament. One law shut down the Boston harbor. Another, The quatering act, made british people house the british soldiers and gave the soldiers the right to go through anything they thought suspicius and confiscate any illegal goods. -
1st Continental Congress
The first continental congress was formed in reaction to the intolerable acts, in 1774 56 delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up a declaration of colonial rights. They defended the colonies right to run their own affairs, and stated that if they British use force against the colonies, the colonies will fight back. -
Lexington and Concord
When the British minutemen started sock piling firearms and gunpowder, General Thomas Gage learned of these activities and he ordered troops to march from Boston to Concord and seize illegal weapons. Kings army was known as the red coats because of their unifroms. Colonists then became Britains enemies when they defeated them in battle, and they now held Boston and its encampmeant of british troops under seige. -
2nd Continental Congress
Colonial leaders called the 2nd continental congress in philidelphia to discuss their next move. Some delegates called for independance, while others wanted reconciliation with Britain. Despite such differences the congress agreed to recognize the colonial militia as the continental army, and appointed George Washington as their commander. Finally decided to urge each of the colinies to form their own government. -
Publishing of "Common Sense"
Written by Thomas Paine, "Common Sense" was a 50 page pamphlet in which Paine attacked King George and the Monarchy. Sold nearly 500,000 copies in 1776, and was widely applauded.
