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Steps to the American Revolutionary War
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Mercantilism Theory
Mercantilism is an theory that s country's ultimate goal was self-sufficiency and that all colonies were in a competition to acquire the most gold and silver. Since mercantilism was so inspiring, nations concerntated on the blance of trade since a favorable balnce meant that more gold was coming in than going out. -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary Neglect made England relax its enforcement of most regulationsin return for the continued economic loyalty of the colonies. As long as raw materials continued flowing into the homeland and the colonists continued to buy English produced goods, Parliament did not supervise the colonies closely. -
The Tea Act of 1773
he British East India Company, which held an official monopoly on tea exports, was hit hard by colonial boycotts.Their warehouse was full with 17 million pounds of tea, but the company was nearing towards bankruptcy. To save the company, the Tea Act was created, which granted the company the right to sell to the colonies free of the taxes that colonial tea sellers had to pay. This action would cut colonial tea merchants out of trade, that didn't sit well with them. -
The French and Indian War
This was the fourth war fought between Great Britain and France for control of North America. France and Britain fought each other for more territory in North America.The Iroquois (Indians) sided with French when profitable, but also sided with England. Eventually, Great Britain wins the war and claims all of North America east of the Mississippi River. -
Proclamation of 1763
British government wanted to aviod conflicts with the Native Americans so they issued the Proclamation of 1763. The Proclamation of 1763 banned all settlement west of the Appalachians. The colonists were not allowed to cross the Proclamation Line, but Britain could not enforce this law very well. Colonists continued to move west the the Native American lands. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act required the colonists to purchase special stamped paper for every legal document, newspaper, license, and pamphlet. Colonists who disobeyed the law were to be tried in te vice-admiralty courts, where convicts were probable. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act of 1765 required the colonists to house British soldiers in barracks within the colonies. -
The Stamp Act Congress of 1765
Delegated from nine colonies met in New York City in October of 1765. The Stamp Act Congress issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which stated that Parliament lacked the power to impose taxes on the colonies because the colonies were not represented in Parliament. -
The Declaratory Act of 1766
After the Stamp Act was repealed by Parliament, the Declaratory Act asserted Parliament's rull right to make laws "to bind the colonies and people of America." -
The Townshed Act
The Townshed Act was created by Charles Townshed, he was the leading government minister at the time. Since the Stamp Act was repealed, he decied on a new method of gaining revenue form the colonists. The Townshed Act was an indirect tax on paper, glass, lead, and paint as they came into the colonies. The acts also imposed a three-penny tax on tea, which was the colonist most populat drink. -
The Boston Massacre
On this cold afternoon, a fist-fought broke out over the colonists jobs. That evening a mob gathered and taunted tha guards from the Customs House. When Crispus Attucks and several dockhands appeared on the scene, an armed clash erupted. This was the first British attacked defenseless citizens. -
The Boston Tea Party of 1773
The Tea Act of 1773 was the reason why the Boston Tea Party happened. A large group of Boston rebels disguised themselves as Native Americans and proceeded to take action against three British tea ships anchored in the harbor. The "Indians" dumped 18,000 pounds of the East India Company's tea into the Boston Harbor. This angered the British. -
The Coercive/Intolerable Acts
King George III was enraged by the organized destruction from the Boston Tea Party. Parliament responded by passing a series of measures called the Intolerable Acts. One law shut down the Boston Harbor brcause colonists refused to pay for the damaged tea. Another law allowed British commanders to house soldiers in empty private homes and other buildings. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met to protest the Intolerable Acts. The leaders were Samual Adams and John Adams from Massachusetts and George Washington and Patrick Henry of Virginia. The Congress agreed to cut off trade the the British unless Parliament abolished the Intolerable Acts.They also attemted to refine American rights, place limits on Parliament, and agree on tatics for resisting the aggressive acts of the English government. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Britain's General Gage had a secret plan to attack the colonies. During the early morning, he would send out British soldiers to capture colonial leaders John Adams and John Hancock, and then Concord to seize their gunpowder. Gage's plan leaked out throughout the colonies, Paul Revere galloped off to countryside to warn everyone that the British were coming. -
Thomas Paine Writes Common Sense
In Common Sense, a colonist named Thomas Paine attacks King George III. He explains that his own revolt against the king began with Lexington and Concord. Thomas Paine aruged that independence, which is the American 'destiny," would allow America to trade freely with other nations for guns and ammunition and win foreign aid from British enemies. Also, Paine said that independence would give Americans the chance to create a better society. -
Second Contintential Congress
Colonial leaders convened a Second Continental Congress to debate their next move. John Adams suggested a sweeping, radical plan, that each colony set up its own government and that the Congress declare the colonies independent. -
The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson was appointed to prepare a formal declaration explaining the reasons for the colonies' actions. Jefferson's Declaration of Independence drew on the concepts from English philosopher John Locke, who came up with "natural rights," life, liberty, and property. Thomas Jefferson described these rights as"Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." This document was the start of the colonies independence. -
American Revolution Ends
The Battle of Yorktown was a war between the Americans and French against the British. General George Washington defeated Lord Cornwallis's British army; causing the British to surrender and effectively ending the American Revolutionary War. -
The Treaty of Paris
The delegates sign the Treaty of Paris, would confimed U.S. independence and set the boundaires of the new nation. The United States now stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from Canada to the Florida border.
