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End of the French and Indian War
Event: The Treaty of Paris (1763) ended the war, granting Britain control over North America east of the Mississippi River.
Colonial Reaction: Colonists expected to settle westward but were angered by the Proclamation of 1763, which restricted expansion. -
Sugar Act
Legislation: Imposed taxes on sugar, molasses, and other goods to raise revenue from the colonies.
Colonial Reaction: Colonists protested, arguing it violated their rights as Englishmen to "no taxation without representation." -
Stamp act
Legislation: Required printed materials (newspapers, legal docs) to use stamped paper purchased from Britain.
Colonial Reaction: Widespread boycotts, riots (e.g., Stamp Act Congress, Sons of Liberty), leading to its repeal in 1766. -
Declaratory Act
Legislation: Asserted Britain’s right to tax and legislate over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever."
Colonial Reaction: Colonists saw this as a threat, fearing more taxes and control. -
Townshend Acts
Legislation: Taxed imports like glass, tea, and paper, and strengthened British authority in the colonies.
Colonial Reaction: Protests, boycotts, and the "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" argued against taxation without representation. -
Tea Act
Legislation: Gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales, undercutting colonial merchants.
Colonial Reaction: The Boston Tea Party (Dec. 1773) saw colonists dump 342 chests of tea into the harbor in protest. -
Start of the Revolutionary War
Event: The first shots were fired at Lexington Concord (April 1775) after Britain tried to seize colonial arms.
Colonial Reaction: Militias mobilized, and the Second Continental Congress formed to organize colonial resistance.