French and Indian War

French and Indian War

1754

The French and English have been competing for dominance in Europe. When France and England went to war, the colonies went to war too. What led to the rebellion of their former allies from the war was from the colonial reaction. After the war these colonies felt a sense of unity and confidence.

Sugar Act

1764

The Sugar Act cut the tax for the Molasses Act. The Sugar Act cut out smuggling. This act gave British courts the right to try colonial smugglers, then taking power away from colonial courts

Stamp Act

1765

All printed material had to carry a stamp. These protesters organized the Stamp Act congress. British parliament then repealed the Stamp Act.

Declaratory Act

1766

statement from British parliament that repealed the Stamp Act. The colonists thought of it as victory because British parliament abolished the old laws which brought in the Declaratory Act.

Townshend Act

1767

This Act was created to stop smuggling. The colonists responded with a boycott. Some states were on board, and some not so much. Artisans got more money to boycott, but merchants from cities like New York and Philadelphia made a living by importing and selling goods.

Tea Act

1773

Gave tax exemptions and rebates of tea that came in from the British-East India Company. The colonists were upset because they thought this cheap tea would cut into the profits of smugglers. Others were just angry on principle.

American Revolution

1775

The way the colonies responded was what started the revolutionary war. Massachusetts passed resolutions for colonists, disobey the Intolerable Acts, stop paying taxes, get ready for war. The first continental congress in 1774, 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to plan the resistance of the Intolerable Acts.