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French/Indian War
It is also known as the Seven Years' War which lasted from 1754 to 1763. Despite the name, the French were allies with the American Indians and they were fighting against the British. Britain declared war on France and the control of the land was called the French and Indian War. Britain and France ended the war by signing the Treaty of Paris. Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/french-and-indian-war
https://alphahistory.com/americanrevolution/french-and-indian-war/ -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act is the first tax imposed on the American colonists by the British. The purpose of the tax on all paper documents in the colonies was to help ease Britain's debt from the French and Indian War. The colonists deemed the tax unconstitutional thus resorting to mob violence. Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. Sources: https://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/stamp-act
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/stamp-act -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts were a series of taxes on imports of goods such as paint, paper, glass, lead, and tea. They regulated colonial trade. Sources: http://www.stamp-act-history.com/category/british-taxation-colonial-america/
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/townshend-acts -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a riot on King Street in Boston. It began as a street fight between a British soldier and American colonists but then escalated to a bloody, chaotic massacre on the street. Sources: https://www.stmuhistorymedia.org/the-incident-on-king-street/
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/massacre.html -
Tea Act
The British East India tea company had a surplus of tea which needed to be sold. The British government passed the tea act which allowed the British East India tea company to have a monopoly on the importation and to directly sell tea to the colonies at a lower cost which would ease the company's financial burden. Sources: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/326018460504752448/
https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/the-tea-act -
Boston Tea Party
American colonists dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor at Griffin's Wharf in Boston. It was a political protest when colonists were angered at the British for imposing taxes. Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party
http://paintingandframe.com/prints/others_boston_tea_party_1773-23393.html -
Intolerable Acts
These were the responsive measures to the Boston Tea Party. They were five laws passed against the colonies which were an attempt to reimpose British control. The five laws consisted of: the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act, the Quartering Act, and the Quebec Act. Sources: http://thehistoryjunkie.com/intolerable-acts/
https://www.britannica.com/event/Intolerable-Acts -
1st Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was comprised of delegates from each colony who met in response to the Intolerable Acts. Their aim was to organize colonial resistance to Parliament's Intolerable Acts. They met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. Sources: https://www.dkfindout.com/us/history/american-revolution/continental-congress/
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/the-continental-congress -
Lexington and Concord
The battles of Lexington and Concord ignited the American Revolutionary War. British troops stormed to Concord to sieze the colonies' military stores. Paul Revere gave warning of the attack and the British troops met on Lexington Green. The Americans won and the British retreated back to Boston. -
2nd Continental Congess
The second Continental Congress met after the American Revolutionary War had already begun. The second Congress managed Colonial War effort and moved toward Independence. It agreed to the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/the-continental-congress
http://fwoan.wikia.com/wiki/Second_Continental_Congress -
Publishing of "Common Sense"
Thomas Paine published a pamphlet which included his arguments in favor of American Independence. Considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history, "Common Sense" argued for the independence from England and the creation of a democratic republic. Sources: http://americainclass.org/thomas-paine-common-sense-1776/
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-paine-publishes-common-sense