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Treaty of Paris is signed
The Treaty of Paris is signed ending the French and Indian War. The consequences were rather harsh for France. All French territory on mainland North America was lost. The British got the french territory in Quebec and the Ohio Valley. The port of New Orleans and the Louisiana territory west of the Mississippi was given to Spain because they were a British ally in the war. -
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Pontiac's Rebellion
Native Americans aren't happy with how the British treat them in comparison to how the French them so they rebel. So the British sign a treaty with Pontiac saying that the colonists can't pass the proclamation line, Britain does this without the permission of the colonists (-economical opportunity, -trust). They do this to stop conflict and to save money. The colonists became frustrated and saw it as an attempt to take away freedom so they just ignore the proclamation line. -
Proclamation Line
British Parliament announces that no settlement can take place west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
Sugar Act
Parliament passed Sugar Act to stop the smuggling of sugar and to settle British monopoly in the American sugar market. This put a tax on importing sugar wine and coffee (colonists refuse to pay this). This made it so that allowed royal officials could seize colonial cargo (+corruption) with no legal cause. Previous acts had regulated trade to boost British imperial economy but Sugar Act made to benefit England at the expense of American colonists. -
Quartering Act
Colonists must supply British troops with living quarters, bedding, food, beer, cider, and rum. The British did it because most soldiers quartered in public buildings, but when away from cities would need to be in private homes. The colonists were furious because this was a time of peace not war so there was no reason to have soldiers in their houses. They see this as another attempt to take away freedom so they refuse to comply. -
Virginia Resolves
Virginia House of Burgesses passed the Virginia Resolves, which took away Parliament’s right to tax the colonies under the Stamp Act. By the end of the year eight other colonial legislatures did the same. -
Stamp Act
This was the first direct tax, this required a stamp tax on all legal documents, newspapers, pamphlets, playing cards, dice, and other printed material (targeted at educated people). In response to this the colonists burned tax collectors in effigy and tarred and feathered them. -
Stamp Act Congress
The congress send a letter to government petitioning to remove tax. This inspired protests, refusals to pay taxes, and even attacks on tax collectors. Nine other colonial delegations agreed that there could be no taxation without representation (united). Under strong pressure Parliament repealed the stamp act. -
Stamp Act Removed + Declaratory Act
Britain repeals the stamp act (victory for the colonists). However the British make a new act (Declaratory Act) which states that all laws in the colonies must be made by the British. -
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Townsherd Act
Britain taxes lead, glass, paper, paint, and tea. Colonists start boycotting British goods. A group of women start making clothes for colonists so they wouldn't have to buy them for Britain, these group of women is called Daughters of Liberty. Britain feels like they are starting to lose control of the colonies again and they start going through an economic depression so they send soldiers. -
Boston Massacre
Group of colonists harass redcoats. Redcoats protect themselves by firing at the group of colonists killing five people. This was used as propaganda to fight the British.