-
French and Indian war
(1754-1763) this was a war between Great Brittian and France. England wanted to claim the land west of the Appilation Mountians for colinization, but France had already claimed the land. so they fougth over who got it. In the end England won obtaining the vast lands east of the Mississippi River and all of Canada. -
Treaty of Paris
This was the document that ended the French and Indian war. This showed Great Brittians claim over all of Frances territory in America. The colonists were very pleased at the thought of all that land they could now colinize and use for farming. -
Proclimation of 1763
This law forbaded the colinization of the lalnds west of the Appalachian Mountains. England put this act in place to protect the colonists from confrintation with the natives.Also, due to the reasent war, they did not have funds to provide the sufficent amount of troops needed to protect the colinists from the Native Americans.the colonists however were very frustrated when Britian did this. They belived it was there right to colonize the land and that Britian had no rigth to say other wise. -
the sugar act
This law placed a tax on thing like sugar and molasses. The reason England did this was so that they could gain back the money they lost in the war. The colonists were tolerent at firts but taxes appeared to be a growing issue. -
stamp act
this law placed a tax on all legal and commerical documents. once again England needed a way to regain the money they ahd lost ini the war. The colonists were not as tolerant as they were last time.Furiose about the taxes some colonists got together to form the Stamp Act Congressso they could orginize a boycott. Athough they eventually repealed. -
Townshed Act
The British placeda tax on house hold iteams like paper, glass, lead and tea. Though instead of taxeinig the colonists directly they taxed the products before they reatced the colonists. England did this hopeing the colonists would prefer it better than dirrect taxation. The colonists responded with a boycott. -
writs of assisstance
This was an early form of a search warrent saying that they may search an indivualse home,biusness and/or ship for smuggled goods.England did this because they were angry at the colonists who were trying to by-pass the taxes.The colonists were furiose with Britian for invadeing there homes without valiad reasoning other than "they think youmigth have smuggled goods".They,merchants espeacially,did not belive that you should be able to search someones belongings without prior evidence of a crime. -
Boston Massacre
A rior broke out between a group of colonists and a group of British soldiers on front of the Boston Custom House. The situation esciladed and shots were fired. In the end five colonists were killed in teh confrintatio. The colonist Sam Adams used this incident to creat an anit-British propaganda tool. -
quartering act
This said that colonists had to provide food and lodgeing to British soldiers. The British did this because they need a place to put all there extra soldiers that they had been sending in to control the clonists. The colonists were furiouse, but they were powerless to do anything againts the law. -
tea act
The British easr India Company lowered there tea prices cutting colonial merchants out of the tea trade. England did this to show colonists that they were incharge. The colonists countered with the orginization of the Boston Tea Party. -
boston tea party
A group of colonists who called themselves the Sons of Liberty invaded a British mercances ship dressed as indians and dumped a total of 90,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. The colonists did this to show the british that they did not control them and that they would do what they wanted. -
intolerable acts
these were a series of lawsdesinded to punish the colonists. Such as colonists could not hold town meeting, the temperary closeing of the Boston harbor untill they payed for the tea they dumped and any customs officals charged witha crime was to be tried in England. The colonists created the Frist Continental Congress to basicaly show Britian they would do as they pleased. These acts also helped to unite the colonists against Great Britian. -
1st contonental congress
The reason that the first contonental congress meet in order to descuss what to do about England. They ctreated the olive branch petition in order to try to have peace with England. -
batlle of Lexigton and Concord
in the battle of lexington british troops heaed towards leington were 70 militiamen were waiting. the british orderd them to put down there weapons but the refused. causeing, within the first few minuets, the death of 8 militiamen. then british troops headed twards concord were they destroyed suppies and engaged in battle. however the Americans forsed them to retreat. Ralp Waldo Emerson wrote a poem coinig the phrase " Shote heared around hte world". -
Give Me Liberty speech
this was a speech writen by Patrick Henry expressing his thought of how inportant independance form britian was. He gave his speech at the Virgian House of Burgesses. -
Bunker Hill
during this battle th militia ( or Americans) were ordered not to fire at the british solder until they "saw the whites of there eyes." even though the battle was lost to the Americans the british soldiers also suffered casualtys. by the end of the battle 1400 brithish soldiers were either injured or dead. -
Ft. Ticonderoga
Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold and there men launched a surpsisde attack and captured the fort. The fort provided the americans with heavy artillery that they needed to kick General Gage out of Boston. -
2nd continental congress
The virginian deligate Richard Henry Lee introduced a rresolution that decrelard the colonists "free and independant". A Committe was created. The committe ioncluded Benjamin Franklin, Jhon Adams, Rogere Livingston and Thomas Jefferson. They also created the continental rmay and apponted Geroge Washington the commander. -
Comon Sense
this was a pamlet written by Thomas Pain to express his feelings towards the fact that a small island thousands of miies away was bossing them (the American) around and that there were other trade options besides Great Britian. His pamplet also helped to increase public support of the revolution. -
Decleration of Indepedance
this document, that was written by Thomas Jefferson, decared America a free and independant county. the decleration was based on the philosophy of John Lock and his belief that people had unalienable rights that the government could never take away. -
battle of new york
The British attacked Washington’s army on Long Island, and inflicted heavy causalities. Washington was able to avoid capture and was able to retreat to Pennsylvania. The British would occupy New York for the remainder of the war. -
battle of trenton
washington and his men launch a surprise attack and are able to captuare 800 Hessian soldiers. (Hessian soldiers are german soldiers hired by the British.) -
winter of vallley forge
1777-1778 Washington’s troops spent an extremely harsh winter in Valley Forge Pennsylvania. Due to a lack of surfactant resources they were in dire need of food and warm clothing. Many of Washington’s men died of phenomenon. -
battle of saratoga
This was a major turning point in the war. British general Burgoyne had planned to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies, but Daniel Morgan and the rest of the colonists had another idea. American general Horatio Gates was able to surround Burgoyne’s remaining forces. Burgoyne surrendered his entire army to the Americans. Benjamin franklin would help negotiate a treaty of alliance with Spain and France. -
battle of princeton
This battle was fought in Princeton New Jersey. Washington was able to capture 300 British soldiers. -
battle of york town
This was the final battle of the revolution. British general lords Cornwallis moved his troops to Virginia. The time was now right for Washington to set the ultimate trap. James Armistead (a salve) was a spy and gave Washington information. A fleet of French battleships sailed in the bay…. Corn Wallis was now trapped. -
Treaty of paris
Great Britain recognized the United States as a free and independent nation. The United States gained all land east of the Mississippi river. They were also required to return any and all property taken from the loyalty.
