-
Jamestown
The first permanent English colony was established to provide profit for the mother country. It was only after tobacco was established that Jamestown became a success. -
House of Burgesses
This colonial governing body allowed the colonists their first taste of self-government. Representatives from each burgess or district would meet and establish taxes and laws for their area. This had to meet with the royal governor's approval, but the colonists still felt like they had power. -
Mayflower Compact
The Puritans from the Plymouth colony decided to create their own laws, which established the important self-governing principle of majority rule. -
Fundamental Orders of Conneticut
First written constitustion by a colony. Limited the power of government, consent of the governed, majority rule, prtected minority rights. -
Triangular Trade
New England merchants traded basic supplies with the West Indies in return for sugar and molasses. Later Africa was added to the route and the leg that transported slaves from the West Coast of Africa to the New England colonies became known as the Middle Passage. -
Maryland Toleration Act
Law granting religious freedom to all christians living in Maryland. Did not include Jews. -
Navigation Acts
England felt that the American colonies were gaining great profit through trading overseas and wanted a share. These acts strictly enforced policies that established Britain as the middleman in colonial trade. English athorities had control over who the colonies traded with. -
John Peter Zenger
Zenger was accused of sedition and libel by a royal offical who took offense to the newspaper man's criticism of limits on free expression. He was put on trial in front of a colonial jury who found him innocent because what he said was the truth. Their decision is the basis for the American freedom of press. -
Great Awakening
Many colonists began expressing their religious ideas through new curches other than the church of england or anglican church. This direct break with the official religious authority in England shows that colonists were beginning to think for themselves and choosing to differ from the mother country. -
French and Indian War
England and France war over the Ohio vally. England and their colonies vs France and the Native Americans. -
Albany Plan of the Union
Benjamin Franklin's attepmt to unite volunteers from all colonies to etablish a common defence. Didn't work but was the first time colonists planned to unite against England. -
Proclamation on 1763
Banned colonial settlement past the Appalachian Mountains. Enraged the colonies. -
Stamp Act
Another attepmt of England's to get money from the colonies. Taxed paper goods ranging from legal documents to playing cards. -
Boston Massacre
Soilders and colonists fight over jobs and such due to tension. Violence breaks out and five colonists end up dead. -
Tea Act
Gave all colonial tea business to the India company at a much lower price. Being cut out of their own buisiness outraged the colonies which lead to the Boston Tea Party. -
Intolerable Acts
Boston Harbor is closed in revenge for the Boston Tea Party. Curfew and marshall law are put into place. -
Quartering Act
Colonists had to let soldiers live with them. -
Lexington and Concord
Fight between colonial minutemen and british soldiers when Gen. Gage finds out the colonists are stockpiling weapons. He tries to take them which results in a fight. The war began. -
Olive Branch Petition
A committee of colonists write a letter to the king asking to end the fighting and vowing obediende if certain demands are met. The king doesn't even read it. -
Common Sense
Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that states that America has to break away from Britain. That it was only common sense to do so. -
Declaration of Independence
Document ment to notify England and the world of America's intent and reasons and to rally the colonists.