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Albany Plan of Union
In response to French attacks on the frontier, Benjamin Franklin proposed this plan for uniting the colonies. The colonies rejected the plan however because it gave too much power to an assembly made up of represenatives from all thirteen colonies. -
French and Indian War
Started as a struggle between the French and the British over lands in western Pennsylvania and Ohio. By 1756, several other European countries became involved. Great Britain won the war in 1763 and gained complete control of the eastern third of the continent. The defeat of France meant American colonists no longe needed the British to protect them from the French. The real impact of the war, however was the cost to the British. Left with a huge war debt. -
George III becomes king of Great Britian
He was determined to deal firmly with the American colonies. To help pay for the war, the king and his ministers levied taxes on tea, sugar, glass, paper, and other products. -
Stamp Act
It was the first direct tax on legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers, and even dice and playing cards. Parliament also passed laws regulating colonial trade in ways that benifited Great Britian but not the colonies. -
Stamp Act Congress
It was the first meeting organized by the colonies to protest King Georges actions. Delegates to the congress sent a petition to the king, arguing that only colonial legislatures could impose direct taxes such as the Stamp Act. -
The Boston Tea Party
Samuel Adams established the first committee in Boston. The idea spread quickly, and within a few months, Massachusetts alone had more than 80 such committees. Virginia and other colonies soon joined in this communication network. Two prominent members of the Virginia committee of correspondence were Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. -
Coercive Acts
In retailiation Parliament passed the Coercive Acts., which the colonists called the Intolerable Acts. One of theses acts closed the Boston Harbor. Another withdrew the right of the Massachusetts colony to govern itself. By the early 1770s, events clearly showed that revolution was not far off. -
Committees of Correspondence
Theses committees consisted of colonists who wanted to keep in touch with one another as events unfolded. Samuel Adams established the first committee in boston. The idea spread quickly, and within a few months, Massachuseets alone had more than 80 committees. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from all the colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia. Key colonial leaders such as Patrick Henry, Samual Adams, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington attended. The delegates debated what to do about the relationship with Great Britain. The finally imposed an embargo on Britain and agreed not to use British goods. They also proposed a meeting the following year if Britian did not change its policies. -
Lexingtion and Concord
British Redcoats clashed with colonial minutemen at Lexingtin and Concord in Massachusetts. This skirmish was the first battle of the Revolutionary War. -
The Second Continental Congress
Delegates from all thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia. It assumuned the powers of a central government. It chose John Hancock of Massachusetts as president. It served as the acting government of the colonies throughought the war. It purchased supplies, negotiated treaties, and rallied support for the colonists cause. -
Resolution of Independence
After more than a year of frightening had begun in the colonies, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia did declare independence. Lee introduced a resolution in the Continental Congress that theses United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free, and independent states. This basically is what strated the declaration of independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The colonies officially broke with Great Britian. The Congress then turned its attention to Jeffersons draft. After considerablt debate, a few passages were removed and some editorial changes were made. On july 4th the Congress approved the final draft. John Hancock was the first to sign it, which eventually held the singnitures of all 56 delegates. It explained the reasons for declaring independence.
