-
The Albany Plan
The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the problems of colonial trade and the danger of attacks by the French and their Native American allies. Ben Franklin's plan proposed the creation of an annual congress of delegates from each colony. -
The Stamp Act
Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which imposed taxes on printed paper and harsh trade policies on the British colonies. The taxes raised Great Britain's revenue. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occurred between a mob of Patriots and British soldiers. It climaxed because of the tensions that were growing between the groups. Although John Adams was feuding against the British, he defended the British officers that were accused of murder in the Boston Massacre. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by colonists disguised as Indians. They dumped a bunch of tea into the Boston Harbor as a protest against the taxes on tea. They believed because of them doing this, that the British were trying to steal their freedom and independence. -
The First Continental Congress
Parliament passed another set of laws to punish the colonists for the troubles in Boston and elsewhere. The new Intolerable Acts prompted widespread calls for a meeting of the colonies. They discussed the situation and debated plans. John Adams had become a supporter of independence and a political analyst. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were disciplinary laws, named by the colonists, passed by the British to punish Massachusetts after the Boston Tea party. The Boston Harbor would be closed until colonists paid for the tea dumped. Town meetings would be held in Massachusetts, meaning there would be no more self government. The British soldiers could only be tried for crimes in Britain so the British were free to do whatever they wanted in colonies. Also, British soldiers were to be housed in private homes. -
The Second Continental Congress
The delegates from the thirteen colonies believed that compromise with Great Britain was no longer possible after the battles of Lexington and Concord. They then agreed to create an American army which included former delegates and two new, John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin. John Jay drafted a petition as a last attempt to make peace with Britain. John Dickinson made the final draft which they all signed but unfortunately King George III declined. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
The British Army set out from Boston to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington and to destroy the Americans weapons and ammunition in Concord. Paul Revere warned Sam Adams and Hancock of the British arriving in Lexington to find hidden guns. The Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the outbreak of armed conflict between Great Britain and the thirteen colonies. It transferred into the American Revolution. -
Start of the American Revolution
The American Revolution began with the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The thirteen colonies rejected the British monarchy and worked to overthrow the authority of Great Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is the formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for the thirteen colonies from Britain. -
End of American Revolution
The Revolutionary War ended when the treaty of peace was signed by the British. With the help of French army, the Americans were able to fight the British army and regain their independence and victory.
