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The French and Indian War also known as the Seven Years' War began as a result of conflicting claims about territory between the British and the French about the Ohio River Valley. George Washington ignited the war after a surprise attack on the French. Many Natives sided with France in the war, many French settlers had been converting Natives to Catholicism. Following the war, the British forcibly made the Native Americans obey the new laws of their land.
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The Proclamation of 1763 set limits on where Europeans could settle in America. It created a boundary known as the "proclamation line" that Europeans could not cross and interfere with Indigenous land. The proclamation showed that the Europeans could settle anywhere between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. This border is still in effect today between the US and Canada. https://www.history.com/videos/proclamation-of-1763 -
The Sugar Act continued the Molasses Act of 1773 by lowering taxes on molasses but increasing taxes on other goods. The purpose of the Sugar Act was to raise revenue from the American Colonies to combat the debt caused by the French and Indian War. Americans opposed the Sugar Act by refusing to import and export goods from Britain. As a result of the Sugar Act, there was an increase in smuggling goods in America. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYFLEZ3SkFE -
The Quartering Act forced colonists to provide food, drink, quarters, fuel, and transportation to British soldiers in their towns or villages. The point of the Quarting Act was to improve housing options for regularly stationed troops. The colonists viewed the Quarting Act as just another form of unjust taxation. The Quartering Act ended in 1767 like many other intolerable Acts it was repealed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-lGwU7gSGw -
The Stamp Act was another act passed in order to get money from the colonists to help pay for the debt as a result of the French and Indian War. The Stamp Act placed a tax on official documents. Many Americans refused to pay the tax, in turn, the separatist movement grew during protest of the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act increased colonial hostility towards the British. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stamp-act-imposed-on-american-colonies -
The Townshend Acts were 4 laws passed by the British parliament. The Townshend Acts consisted of the Suspending Act, the Revenue Act, the Indemnity Act, and the Commissioners of Customs Act. This act imposed very high taxes on imported British goods like tea, paper, lead, and china. These policies encouraged colonists to take action and boycott British goods. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKGSda3sEVU -
As American colonists were starting to revolt against the unjust taxation things started to get violent. One example of this is the Boston Massacre. On March 5th, 1770 a group of colonists confronted a group of soldiers, the colonists insulated and threatened the soldiers. The soldiers then fired at and killed 5 colonists. This led directly to the Royal Governor to evacuate the occupying army from Boston. -
To protest the British Parliament tax on tea American colonists dumped 92,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. The colonists boarded the ship and started to throw chests of tea off. The American Colonists did this to show how they felt about the taxation of their tea. The British Government considered this treason and responded harshly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-9pDZMRCpQ -
The Tea Act was imposed on the American colonists after the British Parliament granted the East India Company monopoly over the importation of the sale of tea. The main purpose was not to raise revenue to combat debt, it was to help the struggling East India Company. The East India Company was a key factor in the British economy. The American colonists opposed the Tea Act which led to the Boston Tea Party. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cT_Z0KGhP8 -
The Coercive Acts also known as the Intolerable Acts were 4 laws passed by the British Parliament in order to punish the colonists after the Boston Tea Party. The 4 laws passed were the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Gov. Act, the Admininstatition of Justice Act, and the Quarting Act. These oppressive acts sparked strong resistance from the colonists eventually leading to the First Continental Congress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDlVfCYOBaM -
The first Continental Congress happened in Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the Continental Congress was to allow the colonies to discuss the current dispute with England. One of the decisions made during the first Continental Congress was to declare that the laws made in the 13 Acts of Parliament violated the colonists' rights. They also decided to boycott all all trade with the British. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ7o4umxOYA -
This was the first battle of the American Revolution. Massachusetts colonists defeated British troops at Lexington and Concord. The British troops planned to suppress the possibility of rebellion but the colonists had an alarm system in place and were notified when the troops showed up. Following this battle were the colonists fighting for their freedom against the British government. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first time American Patriots were fighting against the full force of the British Army. It took place throughout a hilly landscape across the Charles River in Boston. The Americans were defeated by the British Army. Although the British army took twice as many causalities as the Americans. -
The Second Continental Congress met in the summer inside Independence Hall in Philadelphia. During the Second Continental Congress, they established a continental army and elected George Washington as Commander in Chief. The Second Continental Congress also debated and discussed the Declaration of Independence. They ultimately agreed to the Declaration of Independence which was later signed. -
The Olive Branch Petition was an idea posed by Congress. It was a last-chance resort at making peace with Great Britain before they officially declared war. The petition emphasized their loyalty to Great Britain. King George III refused the petition and got rid of the hope of recollection. -
"Common Sense" was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. The point of the pamphlet was to bring attention to his two viewpoints on the current state of the war. Paine believed in freedom from the king and a democratic republic. Over 120,000 copies were sold of the pamphlet spreading Paine's idea all throughout the war. -
The Declaration of Independence was written by colonists in June of 1776 and signed in August. The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which our government and ideas are run. The Declaration of Independence had new ideas and a new way of running a country that had never been done before. The Declaration of Independence is still used today to run our country. -
British troops attacked American forces stationed in New York. By nightfall, many Americans had been captured, killed, or driven further west. This crushing defeat for the Americans allowed British troops to have control over a valuable port until the end of the war. This was the first major battle to take place after the Americans declared independence. -
General John Burgoyne and his troops marched to Saratoga after a defeat. Overnight the American army had surrounded them forcing them to surrender. This was an important victory for the American colonists as it boosted morale and gave the people hope. This victory for the Americans persuaded the French to ally with the Americans in this war. -
A Continental Army led by George Washington defended against an attack from the British in Trenton, New Jersey. After crossing the Delaware River, Washington and his men fought against Hessian Merchants. This battle was known as Washington's first military victory since establishing an army. This victory yet again boosted morale and hope that the Americans were going to win the war. -
Valley Forge was known as the winter encampment site for George Washington and the Continental Army during the third year of the war. Due to many unhealthy conditions, many soldiers perished during the winter. No battle was fought in Valley Forge but it was known as a turning point in the war. Washington was known for keeping the spirits of his soldiers up even in difficult times. -
The Battle of Monmouth was the biggest and longest one-day battle fought throughout the entire war. General George Washington and Charles Lee attacked a small portion of General Sir Henry Clinton's army. The Continental Army remained in the field while the British Army went back to New York. This victory for the Continental Army continued the hope of freedom that lasted throughout the war. -
Now with the French Army's support, George Washington's army defeated the British Army in Yorktown, Virginia. The Britsh were caught by surprise leaving the general to surrender around 8000 men to Washington. This erased any hope that the British army had of winning the war. The Americans were beginning to show that they could defeat the British Army. -
Benjamin Franklin rejected many offers from Great Britain on a settlement for the war. Instead, Benjamin Franklin and other philosophers sat down and drafted the Treaty of Paris. The Treaty Of Paris was known as the official end of the war after declaring America's Independence. The Treaty of Paris also declared new borders for the new nation and kept America's alliance with France.