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French and Indian War
When the British began taking over French territory, the French and their Indian allies foughta gainst them. Britain spent an immense amount of money to fund the war, putting the nation in debt. Parliament decided to pass the Stamp Act to force the colonists into helping pay the debt. Even with the French territory won, the colonists weren't allowed to setle there, as British government feared Natives would attack. -
Proclamation of 1763
After the French Indian War, a proclamation was issued by the British. It was intended to pacify the Indians, and declared Western lands off-limits to settlers. They could not buy any land or make any agrrements with Natives, and all relations would go through the emperial government. -
Stamp Act
First tax levied on all American colonists by the British government. The act imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies. This was to pay off British debt caused by the French Indian war. -
Stamp Act Congress "No taxation without representation"
First colonial action against a British measure and was formed to protest the Stamp act issued by British parliament. The stamp act congress was atteneded by 27 representatives of 9 of the 13 colonies. Virginia, NC, and Georgia did not attend. -
Declaratory Act
The act was passed to assert Parliament's power over the colonies. It stated that Parliament's authority was the same in the colonies as in Britain, and that they had power to pass laws in the colonies. Because the act didn't specifically state that British Parliament could enact taxes, the colonists thought they'd won over the British. However, the act stated they had power “in all cases whatsoever”, meaning they could use that power to enforce taxes. -
Townshend Acts
Laws passed that placed taxes on things in the colonies like glass, lead, paint, and tea, It was an extension of the Stamp Acts, which Parliament hoped would pay for royal espenses in Britain. By 1770, all taxes and duties of the act were repealed except for the tax on tea. This lead to a temporary truce between the British and the colonists. -
Boston Massacre
An incident that occured after British soldiers were stationed in Boston. They acted as police, protecting the laws appointed by the British Parliament. As tension between colonists and troops rose, an angry mob formed around a soldier. Soon 8 more joined him, being threaened and harassed by the crowd, and shots were fired into the crowd. 5 were killed, and 6 were injured. -
Boston Tea Party
After the Tea Act was passed, which increased taxes on imported tea from East India Company, colonists rejected and boycotted the unfair taxation. On December 16, 1173. the Sons of Liberty, dressed as Natives, boarded 3 ships in the Boston Harbour. They threw 342 chests of tea overboard. -
The Intolerable Acts
Series of four acts established by the British government.The purpose of these acts were to restore order and punish the colonists for their Tea party. The Intolerable acts included The Boston Port act which closed the port of boston until the expenses from the tea party were paid. The Massachutes government act which made British officials immune to criminal prosection and the quatering act which required colonists to house and quater British troops on demand. -
1st Continental Congress
This was the meeting of representatives from 12 out of 13 colonies, which was called after the Coercive Acts were passed. The congress was called to discuss options in response, like boycotting British goods and petitioning King George for their rights to be restored. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
British troops were sent to take away colonial weapons. Paul Revere and his men saw the soldiers and rang the bell to let everyone know the British were coming. The militia and the soldiers meet but no one wanted to take the first shot but when someone did it was called "the shot heard around the world" -
Common Sense
Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to inspire people in the thirteen colonies to declare and fight for independence from Great Britian.
