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French and Indian War
Colonists refused to follow one of Britain's rules, prohibiting colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British did this because they did not want the colonist to fight with the Native Americans. After the war England taxed colonists heavily to help pay for all the expenses the war had caused. I give this event a (4/10) because although it did make the colonist angry, it was not the largest contribution, in my opinion, to the war. -
Proclamation Line of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonists from settling West of the Appalachin mountains. The British did so do try to leviate tensions between the colonists and Native Americans. The colonists believed that the land West of the Appalachin was rightfully theirs and so this Proclamation angered them. I give this event a 9/10 because it thoroughly convinced the colonists that Britain was just restricting them from becoming a great nation. -
The Enllightenment
The enlightenment was a period that lasted from around 1600 to 1790. It was a time fulled with philosophical thinkers whom created fundemental ideas which later helped shaped American government. John Locke forged the idea that everyone was born with natural rights, specifically life, liberty, and property and Jean Rousseau stated that all men were created equal. Both are examples of ideas from the Enlightenment Period that appear in U.S. documents, so I give this event a 8/10. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a direct tax and all colonists had to pay it no matter what their wealth or status was. This caused the colonists to boycott British goods, which in turn caused the Stamp Act to be repealed. I give this event a 7/10 because I think it got colonists to believe that they could make a difference for themselves. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an incident in which colonists were protesting in Boston and 5 protestors were shot and killed. I give this event a 9/10 because the colonists used this as propoganda against the British, which influenced many to join the cause for revolution. Also, I think this event helped colonists realize that the British were hurting them more than helping them. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was describes an event in history in which Britain was trying to generate revenue for the floundering East India Company. To try to gain cash and fast the the East India Company brought their tea to the colonies and sold it for bargain prices. This drew trade away from local buisnesses and angered colonists because they thought it was Britain's poor effort to compensate for heavy taxes. I give this event a 5/10 becaused it eventually led to the Boston Tea Party, a significant event. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest on the high taxes that the British were putting on Tea. Members of an elite, colonist society (the Sons of Liberty) dressed up as Indians and threw tea off British ships in the Boston Harbor and into the ocean. I give this event a 8/10 because it helped make colonists believe that they could do something the injustive that was King George, and that they should fight backa gainst the British. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were were Britain's way of getting back at the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. Two of these acts were no trial by jury for the colonists and colonists had to house and feed English soldiers. Another thing the British did was blockade Boston, allowing no boats to leave or enter Boston harbor, causing starvation and other hardships for the citizens of Boston. This thoroughly angered all colonists and so I give this a 9/10. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a group of delegates from the colonies whom met in Philidelphia to discuss the tyranny of King George. The meeting was to discuss the Intolorable and what the colonist's should do about it. The delegates finally settled on a letter to the King asking him to repeal the Intolerable Acts. I rate this event an 8/10 because it showed the colonists that they could organize and form their own form of government. -
Concord and Lexington
The battles of Lexington and Concord were caused by British troops who were marching towards Lexington to confiscate weapons the colonists were supposedly stock-piling. The militia of Concord and Lexington banded together to head off the British troops at Lexington Green. The colonists were defeated but the British gained no weapons; the colonists were defeated again at Concord, but killed a few British. I give this event a 9.5/10 because these battles where the first of the Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
The second meeting of the Continental Congress was to determine what action should be taken against the British. The delegates appointed George Washington head of the Continental Army and also ordered for money to be printed to pay for supplies. Again, the colonists tried to appeal to the King, but the King just sent more soldiers to control the colonists. This then led to the Continental Congress to start to draft the Declaration of Independence, so I give this event a 7/10. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and signed by 56 prominent male figures. This includes such people as Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock. I give this event a 8/10, because it stated that it was our responsibility to become independent, which influenced many people into joining the cause of the revolution.
