American revolution battle of trenton cannons photos

Road to Revolution

  • French and Indian War

    French and Indian War
    The French and Indian war was a conflict between Great Britain and the Thirteen colonies, against the French settlers and some Indian Tribes. Great Britain won, and established some new boundaries.
  • The Proclamation of 1763

    The Proclamation of 1763
    The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by King George III, and made the borders between New France and the Thirteen Colonies. It also forbade anyone from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, because that was made an Indian reserve. (So much for that one.)
  • The Sugar Act

    The Sugar Act
    The Sugar Act was a tax on the Thirteen Colonies. It said that some goods could only be shipped to Britain, including lumber. It hit in a time of economic depression.
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act
    The Stamp Act was another tax on the colonists, this time requiring everything to be on special stamped paper, made only in London. Most colonists hated the tax, and they threatened to boycott trading.
  • Townshend Acts of 1767

    Townshend Acts of 1767
    The Townshend Acts were a series of laws passed by Parliament that raised taxes on the Colonies. They were to raise money for Britain, and were met with fierce resistance from the colonists.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    The Boston Massacre was the result of all the taxes that Britain had enforced in the last five years. It was a confrontation between the townspeople of Boston and the British Soldiers, which resulted in 3 townspeople dying immediately, with two after.
  • Tea Act

    Tea Act
    The Tea Act was a declaration that said that the British East India Company had the right to ship and export its tea with no taxes. This made the colonists mad because this undercut the price of smuggled tea, which a majority of the tea in the colonies was.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    The Boston Tea Party was the culmination of the opposition towards the Tea Act. Some of the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans and destroyed an entire shipment of British tea.
  • The Intolerable Acts

    The Intolerable Acts
    The Intolerable Acts were a series of laws passed by Parliament intended to punish the Colonies for the Boston Tea Party. One of the laws practically dissolved all state governments, reminding the Colonies who was in charge.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress
    The Continental Congress was where delegates from 12 states met to discuss what the colonies would do to oppose the British oppression and taxes. Another Continental Congress was formed the following May.