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French and Indian War
News ArticlesThe French and Indian War began in the Ohio Valley and transformedinto a world wide conflict, the Seven Years War. The French Army was successful in defending the frontier, British reinforcements were sent to America and innovative strategies helped win the war. -
Proclamation of 1763
<ahref='http://http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/documents/documents_p2.cfm?doc=247' >Proclamation Annotation</a>
The Proclamation of 1763 made it so English colonists were not allowed to live west of the Appalachian Mountains. If settlers were already living in the West they were forced to move back East. In order to lessen the tension between England and the Native Americans, English land in between the Mississippi River and the Appalachians Mountains was turned into Indian reserve. -
Sugar Act
cartoonThe Sugar Act reduced the tax from six pence to only three on molasses per gallon, though the tax was lessened measures were now taken so it would be strictly enforced. The rum industry immediatly declined as result of this act. Coffee, wines, pimiento, and ome furs were also taxed, as well as the the institution of a regulatory system for the export of iron and lumber. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act placed a tax on printed materials such as magazines, newspapers, and boxes. The law required that London embossed paper be used when printing as it carried a revenue stamp.The tax was was instituted to help pay for the British troops stationed in the Colonies, for the English felt that the colonies should pay atleast a part of the cost for they directly benifitted from the troops. -
Quartering Act
Quartering Act Text
The Quartering Act allowed England to set up quarters for the British soldiers in colonists' homes and other colonial buildings, without paying a penny. The act was an amendment to the Mutiny Act, which had regulated the British army since 1689. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress conviened in 1765 in the colony of New York. Only nine colonies were present with a total of twenty-seven delegates. They discussed their grievances but had little to no impact. -
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Townshend Act
<<ahref='http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/townsend_act_1767.asp' ' >Townshend Act</a>> The chancellor of England, Charles Townshend wanted to reduce Britain's debt by taxing the colonies . So he instituted the Townshend Acts, these laws placed new taxes on glass, paint, paper, lead and tea. All of which were later lifted except for tea. -
British troops occupy Boston
The British sent two regiments of troops to Boston to help maintain order and enforce the Townshend Acts. Colonists called them 'Red Coats' and many street fights broke up, it was a precursor to the Boston Massacre. -
Boston Massacre
Ten 'red coats' were gaurding a government building when roughly sixty colonists taunted them, and threw rocks and beat the soldiers with clubs. Provoked, the British soldiers opened fire and there were eleven 'innocent victims'. -
Tea Act
Tea Document
The 1773 Tea Act gave monopoly of tea sales to the East India Company. Though it did not impose any taxes per say on the tea, it did raise the cost immensly. The colonists believed this to be the most insulting act, it sparked the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
Ships were unable to reach the boston port because of on-going protests. However, one ship came into the harbor, and angry colonists disguised themselves and threw over 350 chests of tea over board into the ocean. In response, Parliament issued the Intolerable Acts shortly after. -
Intolerable Acts
Issued after the BostonTea Party, stating that the trials of British officials were to take place in England. It included The Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act that restricted town meetings as well as the Boston Port Act which closed tradeoff until Boston paid for the revenue lost during the Boston Tea Party. -
First Continental Congress
All but one colony was represented at the seven week-long Continental Congress in Philidelphia. Delegates included John Adams, Sam Adams, George Washington and Ben Franklin. The majority wished to reconcile with Britain. They wrote appeals to the King and also created the Association, boycotting British goods entirely. They planned to meet again the following year if furthur plans needed to be made. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act replaced the temporary government of 1763 in Quebec with a permanent one, it also granted religous freedom and the will to practice old methods. -
Battle of Concord
The battle of Concord occured right after the Lexington battle. The colonists fought back and forced the British to retreat. Seventy 'red coats' were killed and over 230 were severly injured. -
Battle of Lexington
A British commander stationed in Boston sent a detachment of soldiers to the town of Lexington to take the colonial supply of gunpowder. Eight 'minute men' were killed, and a few more injured at the scene. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress delgates met in Philadelphia for the second time, however this time representivies from all thirteen colonies were present. They did not meet with the intention of independance, however the Declaration of Independence was created because of this meeting. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the first import battles, where weak colonial soldiers managed to fight off the British side for over two hours at Breed's Hill, due to their locational advantage. Over one-thousand British troops were left severly injured, even though the patriots were forced to retreat. -
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"
Correct publication date for COMMON SENSE
Thomas Paine's Common Sense sold well over 100,000 copies making it a best-seller. He wrote that a small country in size such as England should not be controlling a large size of land such as America. He wanted independance and he also belived that government officals should gain their power from the people.
