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French and Indian War
The British and the French both desperately yearned for the Ohio River valley, but the Native Americans were already settled onto it. The British rudely demanded them to leave, but the French asked peacefully. Therefore, the Native Americans sided with the French. The British declared war, but lost due to their stubborness. But they were sent help and eventually won. -
Proclamation of 1763
To hopefully stop the fighting, the British passed the Proclamation of 1763. This law declared the Applachian Mountains as temporary colony territory. Ironically, this act led to even more conflict. -
The Sugar Act
To expectantly abolish smuggling, the British passed the Sugar Act. This act lowered the tax on molasses to hopefully convince the colonists to pay the tax instead of smuggling. This act also allowed British officers to freely search homes for smuggled goods, which highly angered the colonists. -
Stamp Act
After the Sugar Act, the British passed the Stamp Act. This act put a tax on almost all printed material. The colonists were left disgruntled by this act because they were being directly taxed without any say. -
Sons of Liberty
Fed up with Stamp Act, Samuel Adams began a group called the Sons of Liberty. They rebelled in evry way possible. They burned rag figures, destroyed houses, made petetions, and boycotted goods. -
Declaratory Act
After the Stamp Act, Parliment passed the Declaratory Act. This act stated that British had the right to tax the colonists. The colonists didn't like this act because they didn't feel like the British should tax them. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts passed a tax only on imported goods, being paid at the port entry. Colonists were (shockingly) upset because the felt like only their own representatives should tax them. This led to lots of fighting and the Daughters of Liberty, a peaceful groups of protesters. -
Boston Massacre
Colonists were fed up with the British because they violated their rights, stole their jobs, and acted rudely toward them. As a result, a group of Bostonians forned a mob, threw sticks and stones, and threatened the British. One British was hit by a stone and knocked out cold, and the British openly fired. Thus began the spark of the Revolutionary War. -
The Tea Act
Because their tea company was failing, the British passed the Teas Act. This law put thre British in control of American tea trade. Colonists boycotted even more than before due to this act. -
The Boston Tea Party
Rebelling against the Tea Act, the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Mohawks and boarded ships in the middle of the night. They dumped 342 chests into the Boston Harbor. Colonists celebrated this, but King George III was furious. -
The Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)
As punishment for the Boston Tea Party, King George passed the Coercive Acts, which the colonists nicknamed the Intolerable Acts. This act closed Boston Harbor until the damaged tea was paid for, banned town meetings, and forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers into their homes. -
First Continental Congress
Fifty five delegates from each colonies (except Georgia) formed to represent American interests abnd challenge the British. They drafted a document to repeal the 13 Acts of Parliment. They also voted to boycott. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington was the first official battle of the revolution. It was against the British and the minutemen, colonists who "could be ready on a minute's notice". A shot was fired, but the shooter was unknown. The British won the battle. When the British were marching across a bridge to Concord, a bunch of colonists demolished the bridge. This gave time for the colonists to inform others that the redcoats would attack soon and prepare for battle. -
Second Continental Congress
When the Second Continental Congress, some delegates weren't ready to gain independence from Britain. At this point, they were governing the colonies. And most importantly, they formed the Continental Army to fight against the British. -
The writing of the Declaration of Independence
Taking up Richard H. Lee's resolution for independence, the Congress decided to create a document expressing their yearn for independence. This was formally known as the Declaration of Independence. It was written By Thomas Jefferson with inspiration from John Locke. THis document was flly approved on July 4th, 1776.
