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Britain Taxes Colonists for War
After investing so much time and money, the British wanted more control over their colonies. They had a large war debt and expensive job of guarding territories taken from the French. The British believed that the colonies should help pay these expenses. -
Violation of the Magna Carta
New tax laws made it hard for colonists not to rebell against the British. They had no opertunity to vote on the new laws. Parliment went ahead of the colonist and approved the laws themselves. This violated the Magna Carta, because they had no say in the making of laws for the colonies. The British took control. -
Treaty of Paris
Also know as the "Peace of Paris 1763." It was signed by the kingdoms of Great Britian, France, and Spain, with Portugal. It was an agreement that ended the 7 Years War (French and Indian War) with a successful end for the British. While all French territory of the Americas was lost, the British gained Quebec and the Ohio River Valley. Spain also gained the Port of New Orleans, and the Louisiana territories west of the Mississippi River. Britain still had a downside to this, the debt of war. -
Wrists of Assistance
A general search warrant of the British. This allowed them to check ships and homes at random if they felt goods were being smuggled. They didn't need a specific place or item to have the warrant for; colonists became angered and felt violated by these warrants. Colonists fought agains these, and they were considered to be injust and this added to the anger for the upcoming American Revolution. -
Stamp Act
This was an act of British Parliment. It added taxes to important and commercial documents, also newspapers, books, and even written documents. Britian expected an income from the colonists, in order to pay off war debt. Eventually colonial opposition led to the acts being removed from the law. Although they were removed this was just another reason for the colonies to have it out for Britian in the upcoming American Revolution. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers were posted to guard Parliment in Massachusettes Bay because of the previous unfavored decisions. Colonists hated the soldiers because they represented what affected them most, Parliment. They threw things at the soldiers and even threatened them. The soldiers shot and killed 5 people. They were tried and found "not guilty", so colonists tended to believe soldiers killed to enforce laws. Colonists added to the tension of the soon-to- come war. -
Tea Act
This act, approved by the British Parliment, was made in order to help the British East India Company. The British East India Company had a surplus supply of tea that made the company have slow business. This act limited the smout of tea stored there, therefor, the tea was taxed without colonist vote. Even though it was cheaper, colonist refused to buy this tea because it kept their dignity. Eventually it was repealled in 1778. -
Boston Tea Party
Event in which colonists of the Sons of Liberty (anti-tax group) threw tea off of ships into the harbor as a rebell against the "Tea Act". Sons of Liberty was started by John Hancock and Samuel Adams. They led this rebellion, that later encouraged other reballions. Colonists spent about 3 hours emptying the tea into the Boston Harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
Laws of British Parliment haing to do with the Boston Tea Party (Boston Tea Party-caused by tea acts, colonist throwing tea in the harbor to rebell against taxes). Took away the rights of self-government, hoping to show the other colonies what rebelling causes, and that they wouldnt follow the pattern of rebillion. The harbor was closed, public meetings became illigal, and military rule was imposed on the colonies until the tea was paid off. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
This was the first battle of the American Revolution. Fought in the Provence of Massachusettes Bay. Troops leave Boston to steal weapons of the colonies. Paul Revere made warning "THE BRITISH ARE COMING", and the colonists readied themselves for the British. About 4,000 colonial soldiers attacked the British while marching to Concord and back. The British suffered 273 casualties, while the Americans had 90. This and many other battles followed in the war.
