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Jamestown
The very first English colony has established to provide for the mother country. It was only after Tobacco, an import cash crop established in Jamestown. -
House of Burgesses
This colonial governing body allowed the colonists their first self-government. Representatives from each burgess or district would meet and establish the taxes and laws for their area. Although, these had to meet with the royal governor's approval, but colonists still felt like they had power. -
The Mayflower Compact
The Puritans from Plymouth colony decided to create their very own laws, which established a very important self-governing principle of majority rule. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
First written constitution by a colony; limited the power of the government; majority rule, consent of the governed, and protect minority rights. -
Triangular Trade
The New England merchants traded basic supplies with the West Indies in return for sugar and molasses. Then Africa was added to the route and the left that transported slaves from the West Coast of Africa to the New Enland colonies became known the "Middle Passage." This trade was most often done without the English Government -
Maryland Toleration Act
The land granting religious freedom to all Christians(Protestant and catholic) living in the Maryland colony, also not including Jewish religion. -
Mercantilism
The economic system that was beneficial to the home/mother country because of the favorable trade balance, accumulation of the wealth, and the colonies that provided raw materials and market goods. -
Navigation Acts
England felt that the American colonies were gaining great profit through overseas trade and wanted a good share of the profit. These acts slightly stricted enforced policies that established Britain as the middleman in colonial trade. Any ships that passed through English ports and have majority Enligh or colonial crew on board. English authorities also had approval over which countries could trade with the colonies. -
John Peter Zenger
Zenger was accused of sedition and libel by a royal official who took offense to the newpaper man's criticism of limits on free expression. Zenger was put on trial in front of a colonial jury who found him innocent because he printed what was the truth. This decision is the basis for the fundamental American freedom of press. -
Great Awakening
Many of the colonists began expressing their religious ideas through new churches other than the Church of England or Anglican Church. This break with the official religious authority in England shows that colonists began thinking for themselves and choosing to differ from the mother country. -
French and Indian war
England and France have been warring on and off for over hundreds of years. This time around, the American colonists want to expand to the Ohio Valley and Canada. This skirmish gets its name because England and her colonies were fighting against the combined forces of French and her Native American allies. The Natives like the French a lot more than the English because the French are not settled in the are and tended to be trading partners. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin's attempt to unite volunteers from all colonies to establish a common defense. The plan did not work but it was the first time colonists planned to unite and defend themselves without help of England. -
Proclamation of 1763
In an attempt to settle the Natives along the frontier, England banned all the colonial settlement past the Appalachian Mountains. This policy enraged the colonists who only fought the French and Indian War for more land. -
Stamp Act
England's latest attempt to get money from the colonies comes in the form of a direct tax on a variety of goods. Things ranging from legal documents to decks of cards. The colonies protest by going after custom agents and later organize a more effective boycott of English goods. -
Quartering Act
This part of the Intolerable Acts were espeially infuriating to the colonists who felt that they should not have to shoulder the responsiblity of housing the British Army when they dont want them around in the first place. Few colonists actually had to have their privacy compromised but the idea of possible doing outraged many. -
Boston Massacre
There was tension between colonies and the standing army left over from the French and Indian War has beem high. Many citizens feel that the soldiers were spying on them, others resent the competition they present for local jobs. When soldiers begin fighting colonists for jobs, someone shoots into the crowd. When the violence ends, five colonists are already dead. To drum up support, Samuel Adams and other patriots dub the skirmish a "massacre." -
Intolerable Acts
In an effort to punish the members of the Boston community for the Boston Tea Party, the British government vows revenge until the damanged tea is completely paid for. Boston is hurt the worst by the closing of the local harbor, but other punishments such as a curfew and Marshall law are put into place which outrage the citizens. Colonists from other areas are incensed by the behavior and these actions serve to distance more than just New Englanders from the crown. -
Tea Act
In an effort to eae the tention with their American colonist and save their lagging East Indian Company, the British government passes this act which gives all colonial tea business to the Indian company bu at a much lower price to the consumer. Rather than be ungrateful, being cut out of their own business outrages the colonists. This is what led Samuel Adams and many others to dress up as Natives and act out the Boston Tea Party. -
Lexington & Concord
Fighting between colonial militias and British soldiers occur when General Gage finds out that colonists are stockpiling weapons. When he tries to confiscate the arms he is met with armed resistance. The first shot between the two sides were fired in a crowd and no one is sure who shot first. Colonists oficially became the enemy of the British and Boston was now helf captive by the British army. -
Olive Branch Petition
A commitee of colonists draft a letter to the king of England asking for an end to fighting and vow obedience if certain demands are met. King George III refuses to even read the letter. -
Common Sense
A popular pamphlet was written by Thomas Paine states that it is obvious that England and her American colonies should not remain united. The two are so vastly different that they can't have common goals and the rule of the monarchy is so oppressive that the colonies will never prosper under British rule. The only "common sense" is to declare independence. This helps to persuade some colonists who had been against such actions. -
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson drafts a document that is a list of compaints against Britain. This list is designed to serve two purposes: one, to notify England and the rest of the world of America's intent and reasons for it, secondly, it was to rally the colonists behind a great cause by inspiring them to throw off the shacles of oppression.
