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French and Indian War
The war was about Britain and France's disagreement over land and fur trade. The Indians were on France's side because Britain was taking their land. However, the colonists were with Britain. In the end, Britain won, and gained the land past the Appalachian Mountains. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was passed in which stated that the colonies weren't allowed to go beyond the Appalachian Mountains (Land that British won after the French and Indian War). This caused the colonies to develop friction with Britain because they felt that they were being stripped away from land, recourses, and opportunities that were over there. -
Sugar Act
Britain's victory in the F&I War lead them to having huge debt because of the need in supplies, and troops. They looked at the colonies for help, and started heavily taxing them. The Sugar act was passed by Parliament, and was a tax on sugar & molasses. They attempted to end the smuggling of these goods, and get a bigger income of money to Britain. This raised tension because the colonies had been experiencing salutary neglect from Britain, & learned how to self-govern themselves over the years. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp act was a taxation on all legal documents including but not limited to news papers, certificates, and letters. One example of the increase in tension was tax collectors getting tared and feathered. Even colonial loyalists who proceeded paying the tax were threatened. Many tax collectors were so frightened that they weren't willing too risk themselves for this job. Britain noticed this and in return it made the colonists look terrible after saying they were able to form a country. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston massacre started with a group of colonists protesting in front of the state house. British troops were sent there to handle the problem, but upon their arrival colonists started throwing snowballs at them. This led to the troops becoming anxious, and after one gun shot was heard the troops opened fire on the colonists causing the deaths of five colonists. Samuel Adams gave the troops a fair trail after because had he not the troops would've been killed right then and there. -
Tea Act
The Tea act gave the British East Indian Company a monopoly over tea provided to the colonists. Meaning, that the colonists were only allowed to buy tea from this specific company. The colonists thought that this was unfair, so as a result they boycotted the tea, made their own, and bought smuggled tea from else where. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston tea party was the Sons of Liberty's civil disobedience towards the tea act, and was made up of a group of men led by Samuel Adams. They went aboard on one of the British tea ships during the night, and dressed up in Native American costumes. Once on the ship, they started dumping all the tea into the harbor. The amount of tea said to be thrown over board is 342 chests or 90,000 pounds which would cost about one-million dollars today. -
Coercive Acts / Intolerable Acts
These acts were a punishment for the misbehavior in the BTP. The harbor was closed meaning Mass. couldn't be shipped anything, they weren't allowed to meet, & the colonists were obligated to provide the soldiers food & a place to sleep if they ever needed. This lead to colonists from other colonies to be fearful that the King could do this so easily. I believe that this was the turning point because I feel as though this was their last straw. They had enough of the mistreatment from Britain. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord was the first fight with Britain in the American revolution. The battle started with British's secret plan to capture weaponry supplies as well as Samuel Adams and John Hancock. With the help of Paul Revere, the colonists were warned about British's arrival. This battle is where "The shot around the world" came from. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was the Colonist's last resort for peace with Britain before officially kicking off the American Revolution. In the petition it stated their loyalty towards King George III, and what they wanted to compromise with him. King George III ended up rejecting their petition, which officially started the American Revolution.