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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment is the age in which Americans started to think more about liberty, democracy, life, property, etc. The ideas of European philosophers, such as John Locke and Montesquieu. This Enlightenment helped push the movement towards independence. Rate: 10
I gave the Enlightenment a 10 because the ideas that were generated from it helped write the declaration, which is the foundation of the United States of America. -
French and Indian War
This war was fought by England and the colonies versus the Native Americans and France. The Native Americans sided with the French to try and take back the land they had been forced out of. England and the colonies won the war, but gained a tremendous debt from it. Because of that debt, England tried paying off the debt by taxing the colonists. Rate: 3
I give this event a 3 because this war didn't help the movement toward revolution too much. -
Proclamation Line of 1763
The Proclamation Line of 1763 was set up by England to try and prevent colonists to go past the Appalachian Mountains and settle. The English did this to try and avoid issues with Native Americans, even though they had no means of enforcing it. Rate: 1
I give this event a 1 because the colonists didn't really obey the rule anyway, and it was really not significant to the movement for independence. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an act that was enforced by the British, the Act forced the colonists to pay taxes on all goods. The colonists then refused to purchase products made by England until they repealed the act. Rate: 5
I gave this event a 5 because the Stamp Act made the colonists have a little more resentment toward the English people. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an incident where five colonial men were killed by British soldiers out of sheer fear. The British soldiers opened fire once the crowd started shouting insults and throwing objects. Rate: 5
I give this event a 5 because it definitely helped the Sons of Liberty gain supporters for their cause. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was a new law that put a tax on tea. Tea, being one of the main goods that are imported and exported into the colonies, was vital to profit in the region. Putting a tax on tea really bugged the colonists, and led to the Boston Tea Party. Rate: 5
I give this event a 5 because it really aggravated the colonists, finally causing them to recoil with the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a result of the Tea Act. The Tea Act put a tax on tea, which is a major product of the colonies. Outraged by this, a group called the Sons of Liberty came together and put on a protest. They all put on costumes so they looked like Mohawk Indians, and threw all of the tea off of British boats that were docked in the Boston Harbor. Rate: 7
I gave this event a 7 because it showed the English that the colonists weren't afraid to rebel against them. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress is when twelve representatives of the colonies met in philadelphia to discuss the issue of independence and the Intolerable Acts. This is when they sent a letter to the king of England, King George III, asking him to remove the Intolerable Acts. They're attempt to ask nicely failed. Rate: 6
I give this event a 6 becuse this is where the delegates first met and really brought up the issue of independence and discussed it. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were created by the British because of the Boston Tea Party. They were enraged at the colonists for what had happened, so they set up three new acts to punish them. The English made it so no one could have a trail by jury, the colonists had to feed and house the English soldiers, and made it so no ships could enter or leave the Boston harbor. Rate: 6
I give this event a 6 because it made the colonists pushed around, which influenced them to discuss Independence. -
Lexington and Concord
While British troops were on the way to Concord, Massachusetts, they were confronted by farmers and miltia members at Lexington, The British were going to Concord to see if the rumors of stockpiled weapons were true. The British troops defeated the colonials and went to Concord and defeated more. Rate: 3
I gave this event a 3 because I don't feel like it influnced the movement to independence that much, it just made the colonists upset. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress came back together to talk about the events that had taken place on the issue of independence, such as the battles in Massachusetts. The Congress were evenly split on the issue. Whenit finally came time to vote, the delegates went with the notion to support independence and set up a group of people to write the declaration. Rate: 10
I gave this event a 10 because the declaration was actually written! The motion has passed!! -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document written by Thomas Jefferson using ideas from JeanJaques Rousseau and John Locke. This document stated that the thirteen American colonies declared themselves independent from the British Empire. Rate: 10
I gave this event a 10 because its the document that separated the colonies and England!
