Origins of American Government

  • French and Indian War (Began)

    The war was fought between New France and the British American colonies- both sides were supported by Great Britain and French militaries, and the Native American allies. In the beggining of the war the French had about 60,000 European settlers, while the British American colonies had 2,000,000. In 1756, the metropole nations declared war on each other. The war was mostly fought between the British colonies and New France.
  • "Join, or Die"

    It is a political cartoon that was created by Benjamin Franklin. It was originally published by the Gazette in Pennsylvania. The image was of a snake cut into 8 separate parts; labeled with the initials of each of the 13 colonies. Franklin created this to show that the colonies needed to join together, including Great Britain, to defeat the French and Indians.
  • French and Indian War (Ended)

  • Procolamation of 1763

    It was issued by King George III. It prohibited all settlement past the line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains. But this rule wasn't a success, the colonists still crossed the mountains.
  • Stamp Act

    This tax was for all American colonists. Every piece of paper they used had a tax on them. For example; legal documents, licenses,
    newspapers, and even playing cards.
  • Boston Tea Party

    This act was done in an effort to protest agaisnt taxation. Samuel Adams along wuth the Sons of Liberty went to the Boston harbor, boarded three ships, and threw 342 chests of tea overboard.
  • Intolerable Acts

    These acts were passed to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. It consistied of three acts: the first was that Boston harbor was closed untill the colonists paid for the tea that they threw into the harbor, the second was that the Quartering act was established that required people to house and provide supplies for the British soldiers, and thirdly was the Massachusetts Government Act which limited town meetings to 1 per year unless the government approved any more.
  • Salutary Neglect

    It was an unofficial policy created by Britain that tried to minimize the enforcement of strict regulations, specifically trade law that imposed on the American colonies in the late 17th century and beggining of the 18th century.
  • Second Continental Congress

    They managed the colonial war effort. Trying to move more towards independence, the United States created the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Congress acted like the national government by raising armies, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and making formal treaties.
  • "Common Sense"

    It was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It inspired the people of the 13 colonies to declare and fight for independence
    from Great Britain.
  • Declaration of Independence

    It was created by the Continental Congress. This allowed the 13 colonies to end their political connection with Great Britain. This was because the British created policies for the Northern American colonists regarding taxation and fronteir policies.
  • Treaty of Paris

    This treaty was signed by King George III and United States representatives in Paris. This ended the Revolutionary War.
    This treaty made France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic known as the "Peace of Paris".