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Proclamation 1763
The proclamation of 1763 was signed by the British in an attempt to maintain decent relations with the natives. The colonists did not agree with this proclamation so they chose to ignore it and expand past the Appalachian Mountains anyways. -
Sugar Act
Parliament passed the Sugar Act in order to discourage the smuggling trade of sugar and molasses from French and Spanish colonies, and encourage them to trade with English colonies. The colonists started to boycott this act because they believe it was unfair and it was taxation without representation. -
Currency Act
Parliament passed the currency act in order to control the printing and use of colonial money in the colonies and reduce national debt. The colonists strongly resented the currency act because they believed that it would destabilize the colonies. -
Stamp Act
Parliament passed the Stamp Act in order to help pay for troops stationed in America. The colonists responded to the Stamp Act through a series of boycotts and petitions because they thought it was an attempt to raise money in the colonies without colonial approval. -
Quartering Act
Parliament passed the Quartering Act in order to help Britain save money by housing soldiers in the colonies’ buildings. The colonists protested the act because they believed it was another form of British oppression. -
Repeal of Stamp Act and passage of Declaratory Act
Parliament repealed the Stamp Act after months of protest in the colonies but placed the Declaratory Act instead in order to assert British dominance over the colonies. The colonists were too busy celebrating the repeal of the Stamp Act that they didn’t care about the Declaratory Act. -
Townshend Acts
Charles Townshend passed these acts in order to help cut costs in the colonies. The colonists responded through a series of boycotts, petitions, and newspaper attacks. -
Tea Act
Parliament passed the Tea Act in an attempt to help bail out the East India Company which was going bankrupt. The colonists responded with protest, the Boston Tea Party, and boycotts. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of acts passed by Parliament intended to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. The coloniest boycotted and convened the First Continental Congress becuase they thought that their constitutional rights had been violated. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
British soldiers were sent to Lexington and Concord to capture colonial leaders and war supplies to remove the possibility of a successful colonial revolt. Thomas Paine wrote "Common Sense" which provided a rationale for freeing America from British tyranny, by force if necessary. -
2nd Continental Congress
The 2nd Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia and was significant because it assumed the aspect of a National Governement for the revolution. The Second Continental Congress resulted in the ratifiying of the Articles of Confederation and a change of direction to a more organized war effort. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place in Massachusetts and had a lot of significant effects. Even though the British won, it provided the colonies with a major confidence boost and made the British realize this war was not going to be short. -
Declaration of Independence
The Delcaration of Independence was written in Philadelphia and was very significant because if not only officially claimed the independence of the colonies, but also rallied support from the colonists. The Declaration of Indpendence in addition to claiming independence, brought on a significant amount of support for the war itself. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga took place in New York and brought about a major change in the war and that was the influence of France. After the battle it convince the French to ally with colonists even though the British won the battle. This turned the tides of the American Revolution and helped the colonies out significantly. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was fought in Virginia and was known as the most significant battle in the American Revolution. This was the battle that ended the fighting in the American Colonies and forced a British surrender. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was very important because it not only ended the war between America and England but it also signified the absolute idependence of the colonies.
