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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was a movement where primarily English philosophers and intelluctuals reformed society using reason. Some Enlightenment thinkers were Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau and Montesquieu. This would be rated an 8 because the important Enlightenment ideas were about natural rights and encouraged the colonists to form their own government based on reason.Picture -
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French and Indian War
Picture The French and Indian War was a war fought between the British and the French. Even though the British won, they were left deep in debts. This would be rated 4, because it didn't greatly affect the colonists' relationship with Britain. However, it did cause some minor influences toward revolution when colonists were not allowed to move to newly won territory. -
Proclamation Line of 1763
PictureThe Proclamation of 1763 was an order given from the King preventing settlement out west. It drew an imaginary line that separated Indian-owned lands from the colonies. I would rate this 5, because the colonists were a bit unhappy that they did not get a say in the act and viewed it as tyranny. -
Stamp Act
To pay off the debts that the French and Indian War caused, The British passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765. It required all colonists to pay taxes for every printed paper they used which included playing cards, mail, newspaper, books and documents. This would be rated a 6. The act did make the colonists mad but they didn't really think about gaining independence since the taxes went toward the British army which defended the American frontier.
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Boston Massacre
PictureThe Boston Massacre was a street fight between a group of protesting colonists and a group of British soldiers. As a result, 5 colonists were shot and killed. Rated 9, this major event emphasized that the disputes between the two groups were getting out of control and independence was necessary. -
Tea Act
The British Parliament, trying to keep the East India Company from bankrupty, passed the Tea Act which forced colonists to buy the East India Company's unsold tea. This would be rated a 10 because this act was the event that will later cause the revolutionary movement in Boston.
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Boston Tea Party
PictureAfter the British refused to stop sending imported tea to Boston, a group of colonists dressed up as Indians, stormed a ship at night, and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. This event would be rated 10, because the colonists were starting to get frustrated and beginning to revolt. -
Intolerable Acts
PictureIn response to the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament passed 5 Acts that punished the colonists. The 3 main acts were: the Quartering Act, the Boston Port Bill, and the Impartial Administration of Justice Act (no trial by the jury in the colonies). This is rated 10 because the acts hurt and angered the people to the point of war. -
First Continental Congress
PictureAfter the British Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts, delegates of 12 out of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia from September to October. Together, the colonies agreed to boycott all British goods. I would rate this a 3, because they discussed how to make their relationship with Britian better, not revolution, and also sent a petition to Britain to repeal the Intolerable Acts. -
Lexington and Concord
PictureThe Battle of Lexington and Concord started the Revolutionary War. British General Thomas Gage sent soldiers to retrieve and destroy weapons that the colonists were hiding in Concord. He also wanted to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. This is rated 9, because this battle permanently destroyed the colonists' and Britain's relationship. America was now well on its way to independence. -
Second Continental Congress
PictureStarting on this day, the 13 colonies gathered in Philadelphia to discuss how to respond to the King's and Parliament's actions. The Second Continental Congress was a more radical group than the First. Rated 7, they influenced the revolution with a big accomplishment: the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. George Washington was appointed Commander in Chief on June 15th. -
Declaration of Independence
After Britain tried to strengthen their royal army in order to crush the revolting colonists, the colonists started to vote for independence. Thomas Jefferson was given the task to write a document called the Declaration of Independence which talked about why independence was necessary. The Continental Congress officially adopted the statement on July 4th, 1776. This is rated 10, because the document served as a motivational document during the revolution. (www.loc.gov/exhibits)
