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The French and Indian War ends
The French and Indian War was a struggle between France and Britain over the control of land, western Pennsylvania and Ohio. This war, however, cost Britain a great deal of money. They didn't have the money to pay off their war debts, so they looked toward the colonists to pay it off for them. This is an important event leading up to the Declaration of Independence because it caused Britain to tax the colonies with out their consent. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a way for Britain to make the colonists pay off their war debts. The Stamp Act taxed anything that was printed on stamped paper. This was one of the many acts imposed on the colonies to pay off the war debts. This is an example of Britain's taxing without representation. -
Boston Massacare
The Boston Massacare was an event that helped start the Revolutionary War. This event caused colonists to become more upset at Britain because they killed innocent people protesting the Parliment. This event is another reason why the colonists revolted against Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists dumped 342 chests of British tea in the Boston Harbor. This, however, lead the British to put more taxes on the colonists. This caused Britain to become very angry and to tax them even further. -
Committees of Correspondence
Orginizations called committees of correspondence were urging resistance against the British. These colonist wanted to keep in touch with each other as events were unfolding that they had planned. As the colonists were resisting, Britain took unnecessary force upon them, angering the colonists further for the unreasonable actions. -
The First Continental Congress
Delegates from all colonies, except for Georgia, met in Philadelphia for the first continental congress. They discussed what they were to do about their relationship with Britian, the finally impsoed that they do an embargo. Imposing this embargo caused colonists to become more involved in their uprising against Britain -
First Shots Fired
At Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, British Redcoats clashed with Minutemen. This clash would later be known as the "shot heard 'round the world." It marked the first battle of the Revolutionary War. -
Lee's Resolution
Samuel Adam influenced the colonists. He said " Is not America already independent? Why not then declare it?" Richard Henry Lee of Virgina did this. He brought up a resoluiton to the Continental Congress "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states." -
The Declaration
Congress approved of Lee's resolutin. Congress then looked toward Jefferson's draft. once changes were made, it would have to be signed and the war to be won. -
The Declaration of Independence
Once the changes were made, Congress approved of Jefferson's final draft. John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.