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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a period of new philosophers, new ideas, and a new kind government. Philosophers, Locke and Montesquieu, brought ideas like seperation of powers and natural rights. We adopted English Influences like common law, which was an understood law by the people. When England made a Parliament, it gave Americans the idea to not let one person have complet power. This is why we have a democracy. I rate this a 8 because we are independant, using England's ideas but making them our own -
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The French and Indian War
Britain and the American colonists fought the French and indians on the colonist's land. It was a long war and caused the British to have a large dept. I rate this a two because this is only the beginning. The British and Americans were still working together and they didn't really have indpendance in mind. The British had no idea they were in debt and they were still willing to follow the king. -
Proclomation of 1763
pictureThe Proclomation of 1763 forbade the American colonists from settling past the Appalachian Mountains. This way, there would be no conflict with the natives. However the colonists did not follow this rule. I give this a 4 in a rating because it was the first step in defying the King, and the colonists knew that the King couldn't keep them from settling there. -
Stamp Act
pictureThe Stamp Act was an act the british enforced where every single document was stamped. That included newspapers, mail, cards,etc.) Upset at the crazy cost, the colonists started to boycott British goods.The British really needed their money so they repealed the Stamp Act. I would Rate this a 5 because this is the first time the colonists realized the british needed them, more than they needed the british. Also, they realized they were able to go without british goods. -
The Boston Massacre
pictureThe Boston Massacre was a fight between American protesters and British soldiers in Boston. It resulted in five deaths. It was called a massacre for the dramatic effect of propaganda. It made the British troops look more guilty and agressive than they really were. I rate this an 8 because this is the first real confrontation with weapons against the two. The propaganda also added to the want for independance. -
The Tea Act
pictureThe tea act was yet another tax the British made on the colonist's tea. This was another attempt the British were trying to get out of debt, but the colonists were not ready to cooperate and were especially not willing to pay for tax on their tea. I rate this a 5 because this really angered the Colonists and it was one of the turning points for a lot of Americans of wanting independance from Britain. -
The Boston Tea Party
Picture The Boston Tea Party was a group of Bostonians who called them selves the Sons of Liberty who decided to throw an unusual protest. They put on costumes of Indians and slung hundreds of boxes of tea off of british boats into the Boston Harbor. I would rate this an 8 because the colonists are finally rebelling against the king out in the open. They now want to get the King's attention. -
The Intolerable Acts
Picture The British were furiouse about the Boston Tea Party, so they made three new acts that came to be known as The Intolerable acts. No trial by jury, forced to house and feed British soldiers, and no ships could enter or leave Boston Harbor. I rate this an 8 becasue this made the colonists realize that they were no longer free and were still under the power of the King. Then they knew they needed to fight back. -
The First Ccontinental Congress
pictureThe First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from 12 of the colonies that took place in Philadelphia. They met to discuss the unfairness of the Intolerable Acts. They decided to send a letter to King George III for a repeal but the King refused. I rank this a 4 because most of the colonies are finally deciding to work together but they don't get very far, politely asking the King to repeal the acts. -
Lexington & Concord
pictureThe British start to get suspicious of the colonists and believe they're hiding weapons in Concord, Massachusetts. On their way they were stopped by farmers and militia in Lexington who used guerilla warefare. However the British won the battle. I would rank this a 6 because we lost this battle but we despite of our loss, colonists continued to volunteer. -
The Second Continental Congress
pictureThe next time all of the delegates met was for a different reason, This time they discussed the battles in Massachusetts. They were split down the middle in whether they were for or against independance. Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" pamphlet changed a lot of people's mind and it convinced the colonists to support independance. I rank this a 9 because this is when they all came together and decided that independance was a must and that they were going to work together to make it happen. -
The Declaration of Independance
pictureThe Declaration of Independance was written primarily by Thomas Jefferson. The declaration states and supports ideas from Locke and Rousseau and also 27 ways the British have wrongfully used the colonists. This document first and foremost states America's independance. I rank this a 10 becuase this document finally legalizes Americans independant from the king. They are no longer under his rule.
