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The Enlightment
Benjamin Franklin was a famous Enlightment figure. This movement was followed by educated men. John Locke argued that people should have natural rights which are the rights to life, liberty and property. Governments are created by the people to protect their rights. People have a right to change it if a government fails to protect their rights. People across Europe and the colonies were influenced by these ideas. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening spread through the colonies and it lasted many years . A traveling minister preached that religious emotion was more important than religious behavior. This touched hearts and brought large crowds. Jonathan Edwards scared people with pictures of God's anger but he promised that they could be saved. Congregations split up alot because they argued over religious practice. Some people left their churches and joined others like Baptists. Churches gained 20,000-50,000 members. -
Zenger Trial
John Peter Zenger was arrested for printing articles that said negative things about the governor. He was charged with a libel and his trial was very exciting. His lawyers proved that the statements were true. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act requires a new tax to be paid. All diploams, contracts, wills, legal documents, and commercial documents have to have a stamp on them proving that the tax is paid. This also includes newspapers which are written on stamped paper. -
The Boston Massacre
The Redcoats (called Lobsters) and the Yankees got into a fight. They were fighting for their freedom. Five people were shot and killed one was Crispus Attucks. There were lots of anti-British news articles written about the fight. People were very angry. The Redcoacts were arrested for murder and were defended by John Adams who felt that the law should be "deaf...to the clamors of the populace." The soldiers were found not gulity because they were defending themselves. -
Tea Act
Americans lost their control over the Tea Trade to the British East India Company because tea could only come into the colonies through the British East India Company ships. Colonists were forced to have to pay taxes on the tea. Colonial shippers and merchants were very angry and they wondered what Parliament would do next -
Boston Tea Party
Patriots broke into British merchant ships dumped 342 chests of tea overboard. In response, Parliament passed the "Intolerbale Acts." One of those acts closed Boston's port to most shipping. Another act took away Masschusetts' rights to self-rule. -
Intolerable Acts
The Boston Tea Party made Britain mad. The people of Boston decided they needed to get revenge. Parliament passed laws called the Intolerable Acts to punish the colonies. These acts closed the docks of Boston until the colonists paid for the tea, they banned the committees of corresponsedence, they allowed British troops to be wherever they were needed to be and they allowed British officials accused of crimes to stand trial in their own country. Gen. Thomas Gage was selected as the enforcer. -
Lexington and Concord
British troops (minutemen) got to Lexington and found Capt John Parker and about 70 militiamen waiting. A British commender told the Americans to drop their muskets and they refused. In a few minutes eight mitiliamen were dead. The minutemen went to Concord and they destroyed military supplies. 4,000 minutmen and mitiliamen arrived and lined the road from Concord to Lexington. They attacked the Redcoats with musket fire. The Lexington and Concord were the first battles in the Revolutionary War. -
Declaration of Independence
This is a document announcing independence. It was signed first by John Hancock in large letters that read "There, I guess King George will be able to read that.". The Declaration of Independence is based on the philosophy of John Locke stating that the people have rights that could not be taken away by the government. The government will lose their right to govern if they ignore these rights. The peple can get rid of that government if necessary. These rights only applied to white men.
