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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War, also known as The Seven Year War, was a war between the colonies of British America and the French, along with Native American allies. This war was sparked because of the want of control of North America. The French and the British would each claim land, and they each felt this would lead to a war of land. The French and Indian War lasted from 1754 to 1763, ending with the Treaty of Paris 1763. -
Proclamation of 1763
After the French and Indian War, King George III passed a law. This law banned colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains, due to the rising tensions between the Indians and the British. However, many colonists ignored this law, which showed they're disdain for the proclamation. -
The Stamp Act
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which was a new tax all colonists were required to pay on all printed paper products. The British used this act to pay off the debt from the French and Indian War. Many colonists were infuriated by this act. They felt it was unright to be forced to pay off debts for a war they were against. The Sons of Liberty and The Daughters of Liberty formed in a revolt against this. No taxation without representation! -
Boston Massacre
A mob of colonists lined the streets, harassing British soldiers on guard. They threw rocks, shouted and cursed at the soldiers. The troops ended up opening fire, killing five colonists, the first casualty being an African American named Crispus Attucks, and injuring six. The colonists showed their anger of unfair treatment by the British and Parliament (i.e. unnecessary taxes with no representation.) -
Boston Tea Party
After the Tea Act was passed (this made all colonists to buy all of their tea from the British East Indies company), the colonists grew mad. Even though this lowered the price of tea, the colonists felt the British Parliament was making decisions for them. On this night, the Sons of Liberty and their leader Samuel Adams went on board three ships on the Boston Harbor in a protest against the taxes placed upon them and no representation. Dressed as Indians, they threw overboard 342 chests of tea. -
Intolerable Acts
In response to the mess the colonists made during the Boston Tea Party, the British wanted the colonists to pay for what the destroyed tea. These Acts closed the Boston port, placed Massachusetts under British rule, and disbanded the Massachusetts legislature. The colonists felt violated and that these acts were too far. -
First Continental Congress
Twelve delegates from the thirteen colonies had multiple meetings in Pennsylvania between September 5, 1774 to October 26, 1774. The delegates expressed their feelings on the British rule and Parliament, and wrote the Declaration of Rights, appeals to the Britishand the King, and called for a full boycott of all British goods.
