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French and Indian War
British victory over the French in North America that enlarged the British Empire. Caused conflict between Britain and the colonists because of taxation without representation. -
Sugar Act
Extended the molasses act by changing the tax on imports from the Caribbean at 6 cents to 3 cents, aimed at ending smuggling of imports. American colonists responded to the Sugar Act with a protest about taxation without representation. -
Stamp Act
All printed material had to carry a stamp that, unsurprisingly, was not free. The colonists formed the Stamp Act Congress and decided to boycott British goods. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was an act that accompanied the repeal of the Stamp Act, while also lessening the Sugar Act. Except, the Declaratory Act also stated that Great Britain had the right to tax their colonists for every day necessities. Many colonists celebrated the repeal of the Stamp Act and did not protest the Declaratory Act. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts used all the money collected for imported goods to pay the salaries of British soldiers. The colonists boycotted British goods once again. -
Tea Act
The British parliament made a deal with the East India Tea Company, and forced the colonists to order tea from this company, trade through this company, and use this company's ships for delivery (all while still being taxed for tea). On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists from Boston decided to dress up, board the ships, and dump over 300 cases of tea into the water. This was later known as The Boston Tea Party. -
Start of the Revolutionary War
In April 1775 British soldiers and minutemen, the colonists' militia, exchanged gunfire at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. This is described as "the shot heard round the world". It signaled the start of the American Revolution and led to the creation of a new nation.