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Parlament in England passes several acts to pay off debt left over from the Seven Years War. The first is an act on sugar. This put taxes on sugar coffee, wines, and indigo. It also banned the use of buying goods from the French/
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The next act inacted was the stamp act. This put a tax on all documents. It also required a stamp. This act included taxes on playing cards, newspapers and all other paper documents.
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The next act was the Townshend act. In this act parliament put duties on any imported goods. This angered the colonists who thought they were being taxed without proper reprsentation.
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A drunken mob in Boston harrassed several British soldiers. After attempting to attack the soldiers the mob was shot at by the soldiers. Three died instatnly, two die days later, six are wounded. Later the soldiers involved and are charged with murder.
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Colonists angry over acts already inacted disguised themselves as Mohawks Indians and dumped several million dollars worth of tea into Boston Harbor.
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British soldiers moved to put down local militia at Lexington and Concord. They were also sent to take a stockpile of weapons. Paul Revere, William Dawes, and several others alterted the local militia. After a fierce battle the British were turned back losing 70 to death. 170 of the soldiers were wounded. On the colonist's side there were 90 killed wounded or missing.
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The intolerable acts were acts that parliamnet passed. These acts closed the Boston port. It was to remain closed until the colonists payed back the amount of tea that was dumped.
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After the first Continental Congress a second more permanent one was founded. Some of the first members were still in the second one. This included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson. This congress was divided between independence and colonial self rule.
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The Battle of Bunker Hill started when British soldiers attacked the hill known as Breed's Hill. The British marched up the hill three times. The first two times the British were repulsed on the third attempt. They only succeed because the colonists ran out of ammo.
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The Olive branch was the last attempt by the colonists to peacefully breaky away from England. This failed so it led to the war.
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Common Sense was first written by Thomas Paine. He wrote it to express ideas to the colonists. It also explains why breaking off of Britain is common sense.
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The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. He based the writting in it on the Enlightenment of the 18th century. He divided it into four parts. The introduction. The list of rights. A list of complaints. Finally the revolution of independence.
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The battle was fougt close to Christmas. Washington took his troops and quietly snook across the Delaware. The next day they attacked Hessian troops stationed there. They were not ready for the attack. This let the moral greatly improved.
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The battle of Saratoga is usually considered the turning point in the war. British General John Burgoyne was planning to cut off the New england colonies from the rest of the colonies. General Horatio Gates was charged to stop him. After a fierce battle Burgoyne surrendered. this victory not only gave the colonists a morale boost, but also brought France to help them.
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Wahington took his troops to a place called Valley Forge for their winter camp. This winter was hard and grueling. Many died from disease, hunger, or exposure to the harsh winter weather. Many let their enlistments ended which led many to leave. Morale dropped to an all time low. One day a Prussian military officer named Baron von Steuben. With him in camp he properly taught the colonists how to fight. This led them to become a proper fighting force. Now they were ready to fight the British.
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In the latter years of the war the British put General Cornwallis in charge of taking the southern colonies. The colonists were defeated in Charleston and Camdem. After retreating they were surrounded. However instead of surrendering the choose to fihgt. This led to the battle of Cowpens. during this battle the colonists were able to defeat Cornwallis. More battles followed. Most notably Guillofrd courthuse. Even thugh the British won they lost to many soldiers to make an impact.
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Washington joined in the fight with Cornwallis. French commander Laffeyette brought soldiers to help. They chased Cornwallis to Yorktown. The city was put into a siege. After several weeks Cornwallis surrendered. HE was so ahsamed of being beat that he made his subordinate surrender in his place.
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The British decidied to pursue peace with the colonies. Representives of all the countries met in Paris to sign the treaty. The terms of the treaty. were that the colinies would become independent. the British withdrew all their soldiers. The border was from NEw england to the Mississippi river. Florida returned to Spain.
