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French and Indian War
The British and French went head to head fighting each other for control over North America. Ending in 1763, the British won, resulting in the beginning of a new taxes being placed on a bunch of everyday things in attempt to pay for the war costs. -
The Albany Congress
The Albany Congress was a meeting and union of the British colonies discussing their security and defense against the French. They later were unified.
Ended on July 11 -
Proclamation of 1763
After the British fought and won the Seven Year War, they gained more land in North America. The British Crown then issued a Royal Proclamation stating that the colonists could not settle west of Appalachia. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was the first tax that was placed on American colonists. It was intended to reduce the smuggling by taxing sugar and offering molasses at a lower price. Reducing the price will mean more business for the British, which means more money. The colonists were smuggling imports of sugar from the French and Spanish colonies, meaning Britain wasn’t making very much money. -
The Currency Act
Being passed by British Parliament, this act forbade the colonists from issuing paper money. This made it even harder for the colonists to pay taxes and debts. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was placed on every piece of printed paper the colonists used. They taxed printed paper, ship’s papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and other publications. They even taxed playing cards. The major one is specifically the news paper tax. People found out information by the news paper and gossip. This made it harder for people to find out what was going on. -
The Quartering Act
British Parliament passed the Quartering Act in 1765, resulting in British soldiers being allowed to room and board in an American colonists home if there was no room in the barracks (also provided by the colonies). Soldiers could also stay in local inns, livery stables, and wine cellars. This a total invasion of privacy for the colonists and they were also required to pay for provisions and barracks for the soldiers. -
Patrick Henry Treason Speech
Patrick Henry made a suggestive speech regarding King George III. This speech caused a stir in the colonies and even made the news paper. “If this be treason, make the most of it." Henry attacked the Stamp act and Parliaments authority to tax the colonists, then continues to say that the kings fate will be the same as those of leaders who have been assassinated if he continues what he’s doing now. -
The Townshend Revenue Act
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws set in place that took away certain freedoms from the colonists.
One of the acts was the Townshend Revenue Act where Britain placed taxes on several more goods which included:
Glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea.
The other acts made the colonists anger rise. -
The Boston Massacre
British soldiers open fired on a group of American colonists killing 5 men. A "Patriot" mob was throwing snowballs, stones and sticks at the soldiers. It started out as a street brawl but quickly escalated. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act was set in place to force American colonists to order tea from the British East Indian Company, trade through this company, and use ships from this company. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party involved 3 British ships in the Boston Harbor. This event took place because the colonists didn't want to pay the tax for British tea. Members of the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans and raided 3 British ships then dumped the crates of British tea into the Boston Harbor. -
Patrick Henry's Liberty Speech
Patrick Henry delivered a speech at a meeting discussing the state's strategy against Britain. "Give me liberty, or give me death!" Henry explains that Americans need to fight for their freedom. His belief is that if they don't fight against the British, it will result in them being British slaves. Meaning they'll be ruled by Britain forever. Patrick Henry's point is, he'd rather die than be ruled over with no freedom. -
Paul Revere and William Dawes
Paul Revere and William Dawes were just few of the men who alerted colonial minutemen in Massachusetts that the British were coming. Without them and the other men horseback, the minutemen wouldn't have known when the British were going to be there. -
Lexington and Concord
“Shot heard around the world” Lexington and Concord was the first official battle that started the American Revolution. The British moved towards Lexington and Concord to seize the colonists' military supplies and to arrest revolutionaries. In the end, the Americans won the battle and the British retreated back to Boston.
