-
Treaty of Paris
Ended the French and Indian war as well as the Seven Years war between the French and Great Britain. France gave up all it's territories in North American main land. -
Proclamation Act
Issued by King George III following the Paris Treaty. It forbade all settlement past a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains -
The Sugar Act
It is officially titled "The American Revenue Act of 1764". It is a modified version of the Sugar and Molasses Act (1733) which was about to expire. -
The Stamp Act
Passed by the British Parliament. It was a new tax that was pressed on every American Colonist and required them to pay tax on each peace of printed paper that was used. -
The Quartering Act
Outlined the locations and conditions where British soldiers are to find room and board in the American colonies. It required colonists to house British soldiers in barracks provided by the colonies. -
Stamp Act Congress
Also known as the "First Congress of the American Colonies", it was a meeting held between 10/7 - 10/25 in NYC. It was the first meeting of elected representatives from several different American colonies. -
Deceleration of Rights & Grievances
A document written by the "Stamp Act Congress". It sated that taxes imposed on British Colonists without formal consent was unconstitutional. -
Declaratory Act
A deceleration by the British Parliament that accompanied the repeal of the Stamp Act. It stated that tax in America should be the same as the tax in Britain. -
Townshend Act
A series of British Acts relating to British American colonies in America. Names after Charles Townshend, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer, which is who proposed the program. -
The Boston Massacre
British Soldiers in Boston opened fire on a group of American colonists killing 5 of them. Prior to this the British had instituted many taxes on the colonists and upset them such as tea, glass, paint, lead, and paper. -
Committee of Correspondence
Rallied colonial opposition against the British policy and created a political union within the 13 colonies. -
Tea Act
"The Catalyst of the Boston Tea Party". It granted the British East India trading company a monopoly on tea sales to the American colonists. Eventually more things like glass, lead, oil, and paper fell under this too. -
The Boston Tea Party
A protest by American colonists against the Tea Tax/monopoly imposed by Great Britain. Patriots dressed up as Mohawk Indians, raided three ships, and dumped 342 containers of tea into the harbor. -
The Intolerable Act
Also known as the "Coercive Acts". They were harsh laws passed by the British Parliament. Meant to punish American colonists for the Boston Tea Party and some other protested. -
The First Continental Congress
A meeting of delegates from 12 of 13 colonies who met from 9/5 - 10/26. They met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania early during the American Revolution. -
Lexington & Concord
The first revolutionary battle. British soldiers were sent to confiscate colonial weapons but they ran into an angry untrained militia. The militiaman managed to beat 700 soldiers and boosted their confidence for future battles. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Early in the Revolutionary War, the British defeated the Americans in Massachusetts. Despite losing the battle, the American colonials managed to inflict major damage on the British forces and again provided an important confidence boost for future battles. -
Appeal to Reason Rejected
King George refused the "Olive Branch Petition" which stated some rights that the colonials demanded, also saying that if these demands were met they would stay loyal to Great Britain. -
Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It advocated independence from the British to the people in each colony. He wrote it very clear and persuasive to encourage the common folk to fight for a better government. -
The Stamp Act Repealed
Benjamin Franklin wrote an appeal to the British House of Commons for the Stamp Act. Parliament voted for it and the Stamp Act was finally repealed after months of protest. That same day Parliament passed the Declaratory Acts, giving the British government total legislative power over the colonies. -
The Deceleration of Independence
Mainly Written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress. It stated the reasons the colonies of North America sought independence on July 4, 1776. A long history of abuse lead the British colonies to overthrow their tyrannical government and create a democracy.