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The Proclamation prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains due to fear of Indian attacks.
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This was the first law passed by Parliament to raise revenue for the crown from the colonies. It increased duty of sugar from the West Indies.
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The Stamp Act imposed to raise revenue to support the new military force. It mandated the use of stamped paper or affixing of stamps, certifying tax payment.
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The Quartering Act of 1765 required colonists to provide food and quarters for British troops. Resentment continued to burn in the colonists.
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The Stamp Act Congress drew up a statement of the rights and grievances of colonists. This beseeched the king and Parliament. It was largely ignored in England, but was a step towards intercolonial unity.
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The Declaratory Act was passed by Parliament to reaffirm its right “to bind” colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”
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Imposed a light import duty on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea. Colonists took the new tax less seriously.
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Townspeople began taunting redcoats, and acting apparently without orders, the troops opened fire and killed/wounded eleven citizens. Both sides shared the blame for the incident, but only two redcoats were found guilty.
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About 100 Bostonians, loosely disguised as Indians, boarded tea ships docked in Boston, and smashed open chests of tea then dumped the contents into the harbor.
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These acts limited rights traditionally practiced in Massachusetts. Restrictions were placed on town meetings and officials who killed colonists in the line of duty could now be sent to Britain for trial. A new Quartering Act gave local authorities power to lodge soldiers anywhere. The Boston Port Act closed the port until damages were paid.
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The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to redress grievances. Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent 55 men. It was more of a convention than it was a congress. They drew up a Declaration of Rights as well as a solemn appeal to other British colonies, to the king, and to the British people.
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British commander in Boston sent troops to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of gunpowder and to arrest the “rebel” ringleaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. At Lexington, the colonial “Minute Men” refused to disperse and shots were fired, killing eight Americans and wounding several more. The redcoats pushed to Concord, where they suffered heavy losses.
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The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and this time all colonies were present. They selected George Washington to lead the hastily improvised army besieging Boston.
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The colonists seized Bunker Hill and the British blundered bloodily when they launched a frontal attack with 3,000 men. The Americans mowed down the British, but ran out of ammo and were forced to abandon the hill.
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Congress appointed a committee to prepare a formal statement of separation with Thomas Jefferson to write it. Jefferson gave his appeal by invoking the “natural rights” of humankind. He also set forth a long list of misdeeds of George III. The Declaration soon became an inspiration to many other revolutionary movements.
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The Continental Congress adopted the petition, professing American loyalty to the crown and begging the King to prevent further hostilities.
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At Trenton, George Washington surprised and and captured 1,000 Hessians. This victory as well as the victory at Princeton, revealed “Old Fox” Washington at his military best.
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General Burgoyne became trapped by the Americans and was forced to surrender his entire command to General Horatio Gates. This victory revived the faltering colonial cause and made possible the urgently needed foreign aid from France.
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The disorganized colonists fought almost the entire war before adopting a written constitution.
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At Valley Forge, PA, shivering soldiers went without bread for three days in the cruel winter of 1777-1778. During one anxious period, 2800 men were barefooted or nearly naked. Valley Forge was the winter encampment of the Continental Army.
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British general Cornwallis blundered into a trap when in fell back to Chesapeake Bay at Yorktown to await seaborne supplies and reinforcements. Washington beset the British by land, while Admiral de Grasse (French) blockaded by sea. Cornered, Cornwallis surrendered his entire force of 7000 men.
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By the Treaty of Paris of 1783, the British recognized the independence of the United States.
