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Albany Plan of Union
An idea proposed by Benjamin Franklin to unite all the colonies under one government, instead of under British power. This happens in response to the outbreak of the French & Indian War, and the question of State vs. National power.
This shows the first early form of self government by the colonists, and also shows an early slight push away from being controlled by the British. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the French & Indian War, and gives all of France's land in North America to either Britian or Spain.
This treaty takes all of France's North American Land away from them, leaving the British the main power of North America, and to blame the colonists for all the war debt that accumulated over the 7 years of fighting. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a direct tax that was created in order to collect taxes from the colonists to repay the war debt. The tax was on any printed goods.
This act created intense colonial resistance, resulting in the creation of the Stamp Act Congress, which focused on protecting taxation against the colonists, and creating boycotts or non-importation agreements. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts was a replacement of the Stamp Act. It taxed all imports like glass, paint, tea. The money collected was used to fund British troops IN the colonies, which furiated the colonists. Colonists were also forced to house troops by the Quartering Act in 1766.
These acts would anger the colonists, who felt their rights were being violated; their right to property. Protesting would ensue in the years to come. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Masscare was an effect of the protesting from the furious colonists after the passing of the Townshend Acts. The colonists were taunting a group of British troops, and resulted in the troops firing their rifles and killing 6 colonists.
This led to a great push to overthrow the British government, and much more protesting against any other taxes. -
Tea Act > Boston Tea Party
The Tea Act was a tax on tea, and one of the final attempts to tax the colonists. The British East India Co. was in danger of bankruptcy due to competition by the Dutch India Co. and poor investments by the British.
This Act results in the monopoly over the colonists, forcing them to only be able to buy tea from the British, infuriating them and causing the Sons Of Liberty to react with the Boston Tea Party. They will end up damaging 1-3 milliong dollars worth of tea, angering King George. -
Intolerable Acts > 1st Continental Congress
The Intolerable Acts were the response of the British Parliment to the Boston Tea Party. They were used to punish the Bostonians, and isolate Massachusetts from the rest of the colnies and make an example of them for what they did.
This leads to the 1st Continental Congress, an all inclusive meeting of the colonies (except Georgia) to discuss how to defend their rights against these 'intolerable' acts. -
Lexington & Concord
The battles of Lexington & Concord were the first of the Revolutionary War. The King found out that there was a militia forming in Massachusetts, and sent troops over to seize weapons and the leaders. The British had a very unsecret plan of the capturing, landing noisily on shore. The colonist's spy network found them out, resulting a trasnfer of weapons so the British found none, and were ambushed by the colonists on their way back to Boston. Almost 300 British troops were killed. -
2nd Continental Congress
The 2nd Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from all the 13 colonies in result of Lexington & Concord. There were new people at this meeting from the first, and they mostly argued over independencec vs, reconcilliation with the British. This meeting also resulted in the appointment of George Washington to lead the army. -
Rejection of Olive Branch Petition
The moderates in the colonies worked to form the Olive Branch petition, which was to reconcile all ties with the British, and cease fire. The King rejected it, and took it was a joke. This reaction pushed many moderates to the radical side to demand independence, and draft the Declaration of Independence. A unison of all the colonies results after the publication of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense", which inspires the fight for independence, the Revolutionary War.