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French-Indian War (1756-1763)
The war between France and England. And because of the war England was in debt and began to tax the colonists. -
Navigation Acts
Series of laws passed by the British Parliament that restricted colonial trade. -
Stamp Act
A law made by the British government that made colonists have to add a stamp to all legal documents and paper, which meant all paper they used was taxed. -
Quartering Act
Britain brought new soldiers and had them stay in colonists houses. If they overtook colonial housing, they would stay in barns, inns, alehouses, etc. -
Townshend Act
Britain taxed colonists on household items such as glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. -
Boston Massacre
Street fight between a patriot mob, which were throwing clubs and snowballs, and a squad of British soldiers. After provoking the soldiers, many colonists were killed or injured. -
Boston Tea Party
A protest that happened at Griffin's Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. Colonists angry at Britain with "taxation without representation" dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of laws passed by the British Parliament to punish the colony of Massachusetts Bay for the Boston Tea Party. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
"The Shot Heard Around the World." It was the start of the American War of Independence. It convinced many Americans to join and support the cause of independence. -
Second Continental Congress
A meeting of delegates from the 13 colonies that united in support of the American Revolutionary War. The country was first named United Colonies and later renamed the United States of America. -
Olive Branch Petition
A petition sent to the King as a last attempt to stop war from being declared. It deepened their loyalty to the British crown and their rights as British citizens. -
Common Sense
A 47-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It had two main points, Independence from Britain and the creation of the democratic republic. -
Declaration of Independence
The final separation of the 13 colonies to gain independence from Great Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the 13 American colonies. It established the laws and principles. -
Daniel Shays' Rebellion
A chain of violent attacks on courthouses and other government properties in Massachusetts. It led to a full-blown military confrontation. -
Constitutional Convention
An event that took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was to decide how America was going to be governed. The convention has been officially called to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, but many delegates had much bigger plans.