-
The French and Indian War
Both the French and the British wanted to expand their 'spheres of influence" in the frontier regions. During and after the war, the British began to grow huge financial trouble, mainly because of the Rench and Indian War, and in turn, began to tax the colonists to try and remove this debt. The colonists though this was unfair and began rebelling. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act took place in 1764. It took place in hopes to raise money, stop smuggling, and export and import all things as needed. This affected the colonists by helping them be able to ship certain things but aslo made it much more difficult because they had to fill out long, complicated forms to legalize their shipments. If even a little thing was left out, the cargo on the ship would be seized. The colonists thought it showed symbols of Parliament trying to strengthen ties with the colonies -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act took place in 1765. It took place in hopes to raise taxes to regain money they lost during the Sugar Act, as well as make people buy special watermarked paper for newspaper and all legal documents. This affected the colonists by making them extremely angry. They believed that they should not be taxed without representation from Parliament. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were passed in 1767. The Townshend Acts placed small duties on all imported glass, paper, lead, paint, and tea. This affected the colonists by once again, making life much harder. They reacted by smuggling imports in, not afraid to protest. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occured on March 5, 1770. It occured because of conflict resulting in the death of a small German boy. This affected the colonists because the massacre resulted in five deaths, scaring and displeasing the colonists. They reacted with even more fear toward the British. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was passed on May 19, 1773. The hopes for this act was to get tea from the British East India Company to the American colonies cheaper. The colonists were able to do this, casuing the colonists to be pleased, but they also believed the British might be trying to trick them into paying the much hated taxes. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party iccured on Decomber 16, 1773. The colonists did not enjoy the Tea Act, and decided to get that point across. This was the first damaging attack on the Britsih by the American colonists. The colonists were finally starting to speak their opinon about the British laws/acts/etc. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act was developed to expand British territory. English immigrants objected to the act saying that it violated their rights. -
New England Restraining Act
The New England Restraining Act was made in response to the unrest in Massachusetts to try and control the colonists. The act angered the colonists because it could destroy their economy. It helped spark the revolutionary war. -
Restraining Act
The Restraining Act is basically the New England Act but cast into the colonies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina. It angered all of the 13 colonies. It also helped push the colonists to revolt. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord occured on April 19, 1775. The British dispatched troops to seize miltary weapons stored in Concord, Massachusetts. The British ended up defeating the colonists in Concord and moved on to Lexington. The battle in Lexington was won and the victory encourgaed the colonists to double their efforts. -
Battle of Quebec
The Battle of Quebec took place for the Americans to try and take the British stronghold to try to get the Canadians to rally with the Amercians against the British. It deterred the Amerciancs but they kept fighting anyways. The colonists lost some great leaders and some good men but they were angered by their loss and began to fight harder.