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Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were laws passed by England to maintain control over colonial trade. The acts made colonists buy English goods and limited trade between the colonies and other countries. -
Treaty of Paris of 1763
This was the document that ended the war between the British and French over the Ohio River Valley. This treaty ended French power in North America and expanded British territory and increased debt. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation Line of 1763 ensured that no colonists could go west of the Appalachian Mountains. This made colonists angry, considering they had just won a battle over the Ohio River Valley, and can't get to it. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was an act that lowered the tax on sugar, so that less people would smuggle it, and more would pay taxes. This made it harder for colonists to avoid tax, as there was more punishment for those who didn't pay it. -
Writs of Assistance
The Writs of Assistance were search warrants for soldiers to look through houses to see if they were smuggling goods. This made smuggling harder, as some soldiers had the right to go through the colonist's homes. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act placed a tax on every piece of legal paper in the colonies. This was tough for colonists, because everybody had to pay it if they wanted to use a piece of paper. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required colonists to house soldiers if they want to stay with them. This made colonists furious, as they were already against the British, and now they have to feed them. -
Stamp Act of Congress
The Stamp Act of Congress was a boycott of Britan, as well as protests against the King. This caused violent protests, as well as the creation fo the Sons of Liberty. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act said that the Stamp Act would be repealed, but Britan was the authority to the colonies. This did not phase the colonists, as they simply ignored it. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts taxed goods before they got to America. The Birtish thought the colonists woulden't notice, but they did, and protested. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an event that killed 5 colonists, after taunting the British. The colonists were angry and turned the blame on the British. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an act of rebellion against the British, and their tea taxes. This made the British angry, and they made the "Intolerable Acts." -
Tea Act
This act lowered the price on tea. This made colonists angry, and caused boycotts on British tea. -
Coercive Acts
These are acts that the British used in response to the Boston Tea Party. These were very strict, and were hard for colonists to follow. -
First Continental Congress
The first continental congress met in Philadelphia, and all came but Georgia. They banned trade with Britain, and called on the building of a militia for the colonies. -
Olive Branch Petition
Lots of colonists did not want war with the British, despite not liking them. This petition was a final plead for peace between the colonies and the British, but the king rejects it. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
At Lexington, the odds were 10 to 1 for the colonists, and they were chased off easily. But at Concord, the odds were 1 to 4 for the colonists, and killed 273 British soldiers. This provoked the British. -
Second Continental Congress
The second continental congress met in Philadelphia. They agreed to make an army with George Washington as the general, and authorized the printing of money to pay soldiers. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle was a suprise attack against the British, and instead of the 70 at Lexington and Concord, they brought thousands more. They made a lasting impression on the British, killing 1000 of their men, and started the the American Revolution for good. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine was strongly in favor of a war with Britain. He wrote a pamphlet that argued his side, and changed many minds with his writing. -
Declaration of Independence
This declaration, signed by 52 men, was a final statement from the colonies demanding freedom from Britain. The king officially named them as rebels, and the Revolutionary War was to begin.