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The Albany Congress
The Albany Congress was a meeting of colonial leaders called by the British hoping to unite the colonies, to fight the French, and ally with the Iroquois, which temporarily failed. It took place in Albany, New York. Benjamin Franklin made the "Albany plan of Union." The Albany Congress approved it, but the colonial assemblies rejected it, resulting in it failing. -
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The French and Indian War
British, Iroquois, and the 13 colonies VS the French, Huron, and Algonquin. The war was to win control over the Ohio River valley / Territory in North America. The French lost the war, with all of their North American Territory. The war brought the colonies closer together, while separating them from the British. -
Treaty of Paris
The French lost the French and Indian war. After losing Quebec, they basically had no other choice than to surrender, and they lost almost all of their North American land, French Canada, French territory East of the Mississippi, and Spanish Florida to Britain. The Treaty of Paris is the end of the war, which both Britain and the French signed. -
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Pontiac's War
The leader of the Ottawa nation, Pontiac, formed a group of western Native Americans to prevent colony and British expansion, they attacked British forts and settlements and killed 0ver 2,000 settlers. The war eventually failed after a battle near Fort Pitt. -
Proclamation of 1763
To avoid further wars concerning colony expansion passed the Appalachian mountain, Britain created the Proclamation of 1763. It was a border on the Appalachian mountains in which the colonists could not settle east of. Although, The Border was basically impossible to stop most of the colonists who ignored the rule. -
Sugar Act
Britains first attempt to impose taxes on the Colonists began with the Sugar Act. The tax was on molasses and other products. It even called for punishment to smugglers. Colonial merchants protest. -
Stamp Act
The new Stamp act was a stamp that all legal documents needed, including wills, licseneces, land contracts, newspapers, Etc. Patrick Henry made an emotional speech attacking this new law. Colonists then wrote a petition and boycotted British goods as a whole. -
Quartering Act
Britain then created the Quartering Act. This was to save money by not having to pay for soliders' housing and food, So 10,000 soliders were sent to the colonies, and the colonists had to house, feed, and give supplies to the troops. Protests continued, as Colonists though this violated thier rights. -
Boston Massacre
When a small group of British Soldiers were surrounded by colonists, they were hit by rocks and snowballs. The frightend soldiers shot, and killed five, wounded six. John Adams acted as the soldiers' lawyer, as he believed that every person has the right to a lawyer and a fair trial. In the end, two of the soldiers' thumbs were branded. -
The Tea Act
When the British Parliament passed the Tea Act, it was meant to help the British East India Company, Which had but seriously hurt by the boycott, The Tea Act is a tax on tea, although overall, prices are now lower due to the fact that the company can send tea directly to the colonies. Later, The British East India Company had a monopoly for tea in the colonies, which seriously hurt colonial merchants. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists called the "Sons of Liberty," they tried to stop East India company's tea from being unloaded, But it inevitaby failed. But one night, a group of people dressed as native Americans raided the tea ship, and in 3 hours, they unloaded 342 cases of tea into the harbor, destroyed over 90,000 pounds of tea, that was worth thousands of dollars. -
The Intolerable Acts
As a reaction to the Boston Tea party, Britain decided to make an example out of Boston and Massachusetts. They passed four laws. 1- Close the Port of Boston
2 and 3 - Increase the powers of the royal governor
4-Strengthen the Quartering Act -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress took place in Philadelphia and was a meeting of representatives from all of the colonies (Except Georgia) John Adams, John Jay, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Washington all attended. The Congress repelled the Intolerable Acts, and decided that the colonies had the right to tax and govern themselves. The Congress also called for colonies to begin training militias to fight if necessary. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Britain refused to meet the Continental Congress' demands and decided to enforce their authority. Meanwhile, the colonies were arming minutemen. the governor of Massachusetts sent 700 men to seize arms and capture colonial leaders. 77 minutemen were waiting for them and killed 8 minutemen. Also, at Concord, 400 minutemen fought the British and killed three. As they retreated, 4,00 more Americans fought, and by the time they reached Boston, at least 300 were killed or injured -
The Second Continental Congress
As Britain did not accept the colonist's demands, As the First Continental Congress decided prior, They met as the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Nearly all delegates agreed to prepare for war nonetheless. The Congress chose George Washington as the commander of the new army. The Congress even began printing paper money to pay the soldiers. -
Battle for Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga is located at the Southern end of Lake Champlain and protected the water route to Canada. Ethan Allen, a blacksmith, lead a group of 83 colonists to take the fort. Only 42 British troops guarded the fort, So they surrendered without hesitation. As a result, the colonists now had cannons, dozens of them. -
Battle of Bunker and Breeds Hill
British General Howe decided to attack Breeds Hill. Israel Putnam, the American commander had his army wait until the British were 150 feet away as they had an ammunition shortage. Hundreds of British Soldiers fell dead or wounded. The first two attacks failed, although the third succeeded as the colonists ran out of ammunition. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Second Continental Congress still hoped for peace with Britain. So the Olive Branch Petition was created to restore peace. It asked for the fighting to stop. King George didn't even answer the Olive Branch petition and claimed the colonies in "open... rebellion." British Parliament then send 20,000 soldiers in hopes of stopping the rebellion -
The British withdrawal from Boston
With the cannons taken from fort Ticonderoga, George Washington placed them over high ground overlooking Boston, With this, British knew they couldn't defend Boston an longer, so they left by sea and never returned. -
Invasion of Quebec
Two American armies were moving into Northern Canada. One lead by Richard Montgomery, the other by Benedict Arnold. Arnold and his troops had a terrible journey through the Maine woods.Eventually in a snowstorm, the Americans attached Quebec. The attach was turned back as Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded. Eventually, The Americans had to withdrawal and let Britain keep Canada