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French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was also known as the Seven Years War. This war created a lot of conflict between the French and British. The British colonies were angry because France expanded into the Ohio River Valley. The War was ended by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed by the British to make money so they could support their men in the French and Indian War. The act made colonists pay a direct tax. They knew they had to pay this tax by seeing the stamp on a paper of theirs. The stamp was located on practically everything from newspapers to playing cards or documents. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts consisted of four acts. The purpose was to get the taxed goods delivered to the American colonies. Some things that were imported included, tea, paper, and glass. All of these things were now getting imported to the American colonies which never happened before the Townshend Acts. -
Boston Massacre
In 1770 a big group of patriots attacked one of the British loyalist. The loyalist fired a gun on them and ended up killing a boy. This led to even more attacks between the British soldiers and colonists. In the end five people were killed in the Massacre. The attacks went on for days. -
Boston Tea Party
In 1773 there was a protest that took place in Boston, Massachusetts and was called the "Boston Tea Party". The American colonists were not happy with the British for creating the taxation without representation. This leading up to them dumping 342 chests of tea into the harbor. The whole cause leading up to the Boston tea party was the tax they put on tea. -
Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts were a bunch of laws that were made to punish the Massachusetts colonists for what they did at the Boston Tea Party. These laws were passed by the British Parliament a year after the Boston Tea Party. This made the colonists even more angry because they did not benefit much. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
These battles started the American Revolution. These were between the American colonists and British authorities. The British troops created a mob to march to Concord from Boston. When the two sides confronted each other in Lexington that is where it all went down hill. There was a lot of gun fire and fighting but in the end the American colonists got the freedom they wanted. -
Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech
Patrick Henry wrote this speech to tell people that they should not fight/argue for the truth and for God. Patrick Henry believed that the solution to these types of things was slavery and that was his point Henry was trying to get across. The speech was: Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death. -
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense published
The purpose of the book "Common Sense' by Thomas Paine was to gain the most independence from the British Empire. The original name of the book was "Plain Truth" but one of the editors was Benjamin Rush and he suggested the name common sense. Paine wanted many people to read the book and change their views on certain things. -
Deceleration of Independence was adopted
The Deceleration of Independence was adopted and the British colonies provided their input to Great Britain. The Deceleration of Independence provided why the colonists wanted independence. The colonies wanted better treatment so they created the Declaration of Independence and got signatures. -
Nathan Hale executed
In 1776 Nathan Hale the captain of the continental army and teacher was executed. Hale was executed by the British in New York by being caught spying on them. Hale crossed the enemies lines which was not allowed. This lead to the British invading Manhattan, New York. They then took control of Manhattan because of Nathan Hales actions. -
Washington crosses Delaware
The whole point of Washington crossing Delaware was so that the army could attack on troops in Trenton. Washington wanted to attack them and get a victory in hopes to encourage more men to join the army. He also wanted more victories so they looked better as an army. His army crossed Delaware by boat all together. -
Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga
Burgoyne's goal was to divide the Southern colonies and New England but instead it raised conflict. Burgoyne was forced to surrender because his army was outweighed by the Americans at Saratoga. The British army was weak at this time and continued to lose battles so Burgoyne had no other choice but to surrender so he would not hurt his army anymore. -
Siege of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown encouraged the British to surrender. The British rules were abolished and their was new independence for the United States of America. Lord Cornwallis went into Virginia so he could join the British and set up a base in Yorktown. The result was Lord Cornwallis actually surrendering the army he created of 7,000 men. -
Treaty of Paris ends the war
The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War for good. The treaty made France surrender all of their land in North America. This put an end to all of the hatred and threat by the military towards the British colonies. This created slight peace between the colonies.