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Stamp Act
Tax act was aimed at American colonists by the British government. It put a tax on all paper documents. Parliament did this to get money back after the debt they acquired through the Seven Years War. Colonists protested the act, and the phrase "No taxation without representation!" came into existence. Because of colonial resistance, the act was repealed in 1766. -
Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts
Four acts passed by British Parliament in response to colonial defiance. First act, Boston Port Act, closed the Boston port until the tea from the Boston Tea Party was repaid. The second act, Administration of Justice Act, said that British officials accused of crime were to be tried in England. Third act, Massachusetts Government Act, removed the colony's right to autonomous government. The fourth act, Quartering Act, stated British troops could be housed anywhere, including citizens' homes. -
Declaration of Independence
During the summer of 1776 the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. They revised a document drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence, which set out to list all grievances the colonists had with the British government and to denounce the monarchy. The document was adopted by the congress July 4, 1776 but was officially signed by the members of the Second Continental Congress on August 2, 1776. -
Battle of Saratoga
In an attempt to halt American rebellion, the British decided to merge three of their armies at Albany, New York. However, only the army headed by General Burgoyne made it. Waiting for them was Continental troops led by General Horatio Gates. There had been two battles between the British and American forces in September and October. Following the second battle, Burgoyne surrendered his army to Gates. This was the turning point in the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Yorktown
General Charles Cornwallis of the British army, and his men had been waiting at Yorktown for supplies from New York. However, Continental and French soldiers would arrive before the supplies and trap the British troops. They captured Yorktown and Cornwallis' forces, forcing Cornwallis to surrender. -
Articles of Confederation
Written in 1777 as the first constitution for the United States, the Articles of Confederation designed the first formal government. As it is the first constitution it had many weaknesses. Including there only being one branch of government, congress couldn't levy or raise taxes, it wasn't strong enough to enforce laws, and it couldn't regulate trade, and there was an overall weak central government. Its main strength was the strong state governments. It wouldn't be fully ratified until 1781. -
Treaty of Paris
Peace negotiations between American and British representatives began in Paris following the Battle of Yorktown. In the treaty, Great Britain had to acknowledge the colonies as their own independent sovereign nation and cede most of its territory to the United States of America. However, the treaty didn't solve the issue of Americans confiscating property from British loyalists or stop Great Britain refusing to give up forts in the Northwest Territory. -
Signing of the Constitution
The Articles of Confederation, written in 1777, had proved to be faulty and the union could break if it weren't amended. But when delegates from the states met to discuss this, they decided to draft a new document. The Constitution designed the new government and reserved the rights of citizens with its opening amendments. The document could be amended in the future and was not fully rigid in its guarantees. It was signed September 17, 1787.