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End of French and Indian War
The French and Indian War ended when the Treaty of Paris was signed, sending the French back to Cananda and leaving the British in charge of America. To help pay off the 140 million pound debt, they started taxing the colonists which would eventually lead to the Revolutionary War. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by King George III that stated that colonists could not move west, and that the people settled in the west had to move back to the colonies. Although Britian's purpose for the proclamation was not ment to harm the colonists, but the settlers responded with anger and disdain. -
Sugar Act
The infamous Sugar Act raised revenue on Sugar from the West Indies. It forbid the importation of foreign rum, and put new taxes on items such as silk, wines, coffee,and lowered the taxes on molasses. Colonists responded to the law by trying to defy it, and even smuggled goods in. -
Currency Act
The Currency Act was an act stating that the colonies could not make its own money, or issue any kind of bills with credit. It angered the colonists becuase it meant that Parliament was in control of their banking system. -
First Committee of Correspondence
Originally formed to help resolve some issue by patriot leaders, they were shadow governments which eventually lead to our first Continental Congress. The first commitee was formed in Boston, in opposition of the Currency Act. One of the famous leaders was Samuel Adams, who helped spread new through letters. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was another law the british imposed to help pay off their debt, taxing almost everything the colonists needed. The outraged colonists had to directly pay taxes on playing cards, newspapers, marriage and lawyers' liscences. -
Quartering Act
This act proclaimed that colonists were supposed to open up their homes for Brtitish troops for them to live, and to feed them if necessary. -
Stamp Act Congress
A meeting in New York City where 27 delegates from nine colonies brought the colonies together in an opposition against Britian by writing a statement of rights and grienvances. -
Formation of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty
An underground society of patriots who were created after the Stamp Act, who tried to protect the rights of colonists. They were not afraid to stand up for their actions, like tar and feathering, and are famous for undertaking in the Boston Tea Party. -
Repealed Stamp Act
British Parliament repealed the stamp act becuase it was bad for British buisness, and they did not think they could enforce the law any longer with the opposition from the colonists. The colonists rejoiced, and many of the patriots subsided and there seemed to be peace in America. -
Townshed Acts
After the British let there be peace in America, they once again started taxing the colonists. The Townshed Acts, named after Charles Townshed, was to raise revenue in America by taxing on items like glass, paper, and tea. The colonists were less violent responding to this act, but increased the smuggling to avoid the tax that brings more troops to Boston. -
Colonists Boycott British Goods
The Colonists, now agitated by the Townshed Acts, decided to Boycott all imported British Goods, especially luxury items. People wore homespun cloth, found substitutes for tea, and used colonial made items or went without. Within a year, British importation dropped by half and violence broke out in Boston where the mercantile interests are the most sensitive. -
British Troops in Boston
Since the rebelling after the Townshend Acts, Parliament decided to send 1768 ships full of British troops to occupy Boston. The two culture obviously clashed, and it would later lead to the Boston Massacre -
Boston Massacre
After 17 months of British troops in Boston, the Colonists and the soldiers finally openly clashed. What began as something harmless, turned into a mob attack with three Bostonians dead. This event showed the cruelty and heartlessness of the British soldiers. -
Townshend Acts Repealed
Since the boycott on goods hurt British merchants, they decided to repeal the taxes on everything but tea. Even though this was an improvement, it was still too little and too late and just inflamed the colonists even more. -
The Burning of Revenue Cutter Gaspee
Captain Thomas Lindsay tricked the hated British revenue schooner the Gaspee into following him into shallow waters. The colonist crew then hijacked the ship and overwhelmed the small crew that was on the Gaspee. They then set the ship afire. -
Tea Act
The British East India Company, who was in a financial need, was granted a trading monopoly by Parliament on tea that was traded in America. -
Boston Tea Party
50 colonists, led by Samuel Adams, dressed as Mohawk Indians and boarded three British ships that were lying at anchor and dumped thier tea cargo into the Boston Harbor. They dumped 90,000 pounds of tea overboard. -
Intolerable Acts
New rules in response to the Boston Tea Party, which consited of four laws. One was to close down the Boston Port, the next was to have the Crown choose their councilors, and then once again the Quartering Act. The Final one was the Quebec Act, which extended the territory for the French and let them worship freely. -
First Continental Congress
From Sept. 5 to Oct. 26 all of the colonies ( except from Georgia) sent representitives to meet in Philadelphia for the first Continetal Congress. The representitives were split into two groups, the conservatives and the militant. In the end, they settled on passing a call for non- Importation and non- Exportation. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first official battle of the Revolutionary War. When the last shots were shot, and the red coats retreated their losses were three times of the Americans.
