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Stamp act
“No taxation without representation”
The British government issued several taxes in order to pay for the war efforts. Imposed a stamp duty on newspapers and legal and commercial documents. -
Boston tea party
American colonists were frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation.” They dumped 342 chests of tea, imported by the British East India Company into the harbor. This was the first event that was the first major act of defiance to British rule over the colonists. It showed Great Britain that Americans wouldn’t take taxation and tyranny sitting down, and rallied American patriots across the 13 colonies to fight for independence. -
Intolerable Acts
These laws were made meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their defiance in the Tea Party protest in reaction to changes in taxation by the British Government. -
Declaration of Independence
It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and established the United States as an independent nation. The philosophy of John Locke was included, “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.”
The government is to protect citizens rights although people can overthrow the government if it does not. -
Battle of Yorktown
The British were fighting France, Spain, and Holland. Washington marched his troops from New York to Virginia to trap the British southern army under the command of General Charles Cornwallis.
Cornwallis kept his men in at Yorktown waiting for supplies and reinforcements from New York, but the Continental and French armies arrived first. They were followed by a French navy contingent, encircling Cornwallis’s forces and, after laying siege to the city, forcing him to surrender. -
The treaty of Paris
This treaty need the American revolution. Benjamin Franklin was the chief negotiator. The agreement recognized U.S. independence and granted the U.S. significant western territory, much larger than 13 colonies. -
Articles of confederation
Developed by the second continental congress. Set up A central gov. with a one house legislature, each state had 1 vote. Congress had authority to make war, and settle interstate disputes. They had little power to enforce new laws, could not coin money, and couldn’t regulate trade. This lead to very weak and unstable government and economy. In conclusion, This was the written doc that established the functions of the national government of the U.S. after declared independence from Great Britain. -
Bill of rights
The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the citizens like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States.
