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French and Indian War
The war was between American colonies and New France. Both sides had allies of the Native Americans. It lasted from 1754-1763. British troops were not only helping the colonies, but were stationed in the colonies for protection after the war. These troops costed money, so The British Parliament decided to tax the American colonies to help afford the troops. -
Proclamation of 1763
Prohibited any settlement beyond the application mountains. They used natural landmarks and barriers to create a blockade. This angered the colonists. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris stopped the French and Indian War. Despite this, it did not bring the Americans and the British closer. -
More Laws and Taxes
After the war, the British had basically left the colonists to govern themselves. And so, they input a number of laws including the Sugar Act, Currency Act, Quartering Act, and the Stamp Act. Motto became "No Taxation Without Representation." -
Protests in Boston
Lots of colonists began to protest against the new laws. A group was created called the Suns and spread throughout the colonies. During the protests, several people were shot and killed. This became known as the Boston Massacre. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act required colonists to put stamps on things such as newspapers, pamphlets, and legal documents. The stamp would cost money and colonists were not happy about that. This lead to the formation of the Stamp Act congress and The Sons and Daughters of Liberty. -
The Townshend Acts
British government had been imposing taxes on colonists but by single items only. When the Townshend Acts passed, the British government put taxes on items in groups which angered the colonists greatly, -
The Boston tea Party
British imposed tax on tea. Several patriots in Boston protested this by going on boats and dumping out tea into the water. This protest became known as the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Blockade
The Boston Port Act Act was one of the Intolerable Acts which shut down the port of Boston for trade. British ships blocked the Boston Harbor, punishing everyone who lives in Boston, both patriots and loyalists. This angered not only people in Boston, but also people in other colonies who were afraid of the British would do the same thing to them. -
Intolerable Acts
British decided that the colonies needed to be punished for the Boston Tea Party. They issued a number of laws that the colonists called the Intolerable Acts. -
First Continental Congress
Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent representatives to the First Continental Congress as a direct response to the Intolerable Acts. A petition was sent to King George III to repeal the Intolerable Acts. No response was received and a boycott was established for British Goods. -
Lexington and Concord
British troops were ordered to Lexington and Concord to rid stores of colonial gunpowder and capture Samuel Adams and John Handcock. At Lexington, open conflict occurred and eight Americans were killed. -
Unity Among the Colonies
Increased laws punishing the colonies did little to control the colonies like the British hoped. It had the opposite effect and the colonies became United to go against the British. Colonies sent supplies to Boston during the Blockade. More and more colonists joined up with the Sons of Liberty. -
Common Sense
The Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine, was a revolutionary pamphlet that was an instant hit among the colonists. It supported complete independence from Britain and encouraged the colonists to fight. -
British Attacks on Coastal Towns
This was before the British naval bombardments and burning of the Coastal Towns of Flymouth, Massachusetts, and Norfolk, Virgina helped unify the colonies.