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The French and Indian War
In the mid to late 1600's, the French contolled the Mississippi and Ohio River Valley. The English settlers wanted to expand and move into/claim that land. When the French got new of this, they tried to kepp the British off their land. Virginia sent George Washington to command the French to leave but they rejected. Then the war begins. Certain colonists created political cartoons to pursuade colonists to help the war. Other colonies created alliances with Indian tribes and other countries. -
The Stamp Act
Due to the Stamp Act, all the colonists had to had to buy special tax stamps to put on certain products and activities. Colonists made speeches and petition about this placement. Most of the colonies organized a boycott on the British goods. All of this worked, because in in 1766 Parliment repealed the Stamp Act. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act's purpose was to save money. Since Britain had 10,000 soliders in the colonies to enforce the Proclamation of 1763, the colonists had to house British troops and provide them with food and other things. This was a violation of rights for the colonists, so they were angry. This is one of the main events leading up to the Boston Massacre and Tea Party. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were unfair acts passed on the colonis due to high national debt and unemployment. They highered taxes, took power away from the colonies, and placed a new tax on goods such as tea, paper, lead, and glass.Some royal officials in the colonies used the colonists taxes to pay their salaries. The colonists were furious so they rebelled and had the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Masacre was a result of boycotting British Goods. During a cold winter night, a crowd of colonists surrounded a few British soliders and harrased them. The colonists were throwing ice at the soliders so they fired into the crowd and killed 5 men. The colonists were very upset so they sent out political cartoons and spread the word of how the British just randomly attacked. This was one of the main reasons the colonies banded together to defeat the colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of male colonists gathered in Boston Harbor to stop the East India Company tea from being unloaded. The men dressed up as indians to prevent from being recognized. They threw 342 cases of tea into the Harbor. They destroyed 90,000 lbs of tea which was worth thousands of dollars. The British were so mad that later they pass the Intolerable Acts. -
The Intolerable Acts
Due to the Boston Tea Party, King George passed four laws. They were so aweful that the colonists called them the Intolerable Acts. The Acts closed the port of Boston. Two increased the powers of royal governor, abolished the upper house of Massachusetts legislature, and cut the powers of town meetings. The last law strengthened the Quartering Acts. The other colonies reacted by sending food and other supplies to Boston. They began boycotting again when the British did not repeal the Acts. -
The Shot Heard Around The World
Thomas Gage, sent roops to seize the arms being held in Concord and to capture important leaders. He sent out minutemen. But, 5 miles from Concord in Lexington, 77 minutemen were waiting for British soloders. The British told them to ome. Neither side did anything. Sudenly a shot went off and both sides fired. No one knows which side shot it. As the British ran away, the minutemen who were stationed in other places shot at them. The Patriots became aware of what they had to do for independence. -
The Continental Army is Formed
On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress decided to create a Continental Army. They hoped that it would provide safety for the colonists and support for the main army. The Continental Army was a strong army, but it had it's weaknesses. It was not as trained as the British were. Since not enogh men volenteered, the congress offered to pay them. First the lower class joined. George Washington became the commander of the army. He won a few major battles such as the Battle of Bunker Hill. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The men fighting in this battle were farmers and workers. The men did not have much amunition so they waited till the British were about 150ft away. The British attacked. They lost the first two fight but won the second due to the Patriots who ran out of amo. Even though the British won, more than 1,000 men were killed or wounded. The Americans proved that they could fight and stand up to the British. The Patriots later had Geogre Washington take over their army. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence built off the ideas of the Enlightenment. It explained why the colonists wanted to break away from the British. It tells about John Locke's idea on natural rights, and how England violates those rights. Then it lists greivances from the king. The ending is firm so the British know that the Patriots are serious. On July 4th 1776 congress approved the Declaration. Now instead of fighting for equal treatment, the colonists were fighting for a new nation. -
Crossing the Delaware/American Victory
In the cold winter of 1776, George Washington led 2,400 men across the Deleware River in small boats. The soliders had nothing and were freezing to death. Washington's troops attacked the British on December 26. They won the attack in Trenton. It gave his men hope. Most of the men decided to stay even though their term was ending. The men became more dedicated. -
Valley Forge
Washington and his troops set up a camp at Valley Forge. It was winter and freezing cold. The soliders were not fed properly, didn't have much shelter and had few garments. Most of the men were sick. When the other Americans learned about the conditions, they sent food, clothing, medicine and ammunition. Some women even went to Valley Forge to care for the sick. It broght all the Americans together to fight for one cause. The men used this time to gather their stength. -
Battle of Yorktown
It was late summer, and the war was ending. The British only had Charles Town and Savannah. The British general, Charles Cornwallis, made a deadly mistake. He moved his main army into a peninsula of Virginia. Washington rushed his troops there. The Patriots and their French alies, trapped the British and forced them to surrender. This was the last major battle of the war. In the end, the Americans got mostly what they wanted. The King wanted to keep fighting but Parliament voted for peace. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was the document that stated the agreements the British and Americans made. It stated what land the Americans got. It also said that the get the rights and property back. The British began to recognize the Americans independence. The Treaty of Paris marked the ending of the 8 year war.
