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Steps to the Revolutionary War
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Mercantilism Theory
In mercantilism, countries had the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency and are in competition to acquire the most gold and silver. This encouraged trade and exploration. This lust for wealth and power led to the discovery of America, the restrictions from Britain, the violent protests, then the Revolutionary War. -
Salutary Neglect
The King decided that the colinists were doing well economically, so he chose to ignore them and just take the money he gets from trade. The colinists got little regulation from the King in return. Once William and Mary took the throne, regulations began and taxes were put on trade. This eventually led to protests, then restrictions, then the war. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was the 4th war between France and England for control of North America. William Pitt helped the British to win and the Indians fought on both sides. After the British won, they gained land from North America. Once Britain gained more land, they started getting more strict. This eventually led to taxes to pay off the war debt which upsetted the colonists and eventually started the war. -
Proclamation of 1763
The British government made the Proclamation of 1763 in order to prevent further conflicts with the Indians. It was meant to keep colonists from setting west of the Appalachian Mounains. However, some colonists continued to settle there and others believed that Britain keeping the colinies from expansion meant Britain didn't care about them. This conflict led to more laws and more protests, thus the war will soon begin. -
The Stamp Act
This act required colonists to pay for special stamped paper for each legal document, license, newpaper, pamphlet, and almanac. Colonists united to defy this act and merchants agreed to not import goods made in Britain until the Stamp Act was repealed. This, like the other acts, led to protests against Britain and the colonists are one step closer to war. -
The Stamp Act Congress
The colonial assemblies met and issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances. This stated that Parliament had no power to impose taxes because the colonies weren't represented in Parliament. "No taxation without representation" started and the colonies were even closer to war. -
The Declaratory Act
Parliament made this act to have full right make laws to control the colonies and people of America in any case. This was to make Parliament's power clear to the public. Protests soon began and the war is soon to follow. -
Townshend Acts
Passed by Parliament, this law had indirect taxes on imported materials like glass, lead, paint, and paper when they came from Britain to the colonies. The acts also put a 3-penny tax on tea. These acts continued protests and the colonists are closer to the Boston Tea Party and even closer to Independence. -
The Boston Massacre
A group of angry citizens and poorly paid soldiers were fighting over jobs to take in the colonies. Eventually a larger group formed and the many British soldiers shot some men. This event was portrayed as a group of British soldiers killing defenseless citizens and Samuel Adams along with others called this the Boston Massacre. To some colonists, this proved that British power in America had to be stopped as soon as possible. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act was devised by Frederick North, a British prime minister. The act granted the right for his company to sell tea to the colonies without the taxes that colonial tea sellers had to pay. This would cause merchants to be out of tea trade since East India Company could directly sell tea for less. Then, violent protests began and the Boston Tea Party was soon to come and aid in Independence for America. -
The Boston Tea Party
On this moonlit evening, a large group of Boston rebels disguised themselves as Natives and took action against 3 British tea ships. They dumped 18,000 pounds of tea from the East India Company into the ocean from Boston Harbor. This protest was probably the largest and most popular since the acts that followed was the breaking point for colonists. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act established that any soldier or commander could stay in vacant private homes and buildings whenever they pleased. The colonists believed that this was an invasion of privacy and was wrong for the King to do. Obviously the colonists wanted this to change as quickly as possible, but soon a Revoluiton will start. -
The Intolerable Acts
King George II was furious with the Boston Tea Party, so Parliament passed a series of measures called the Intolerable Acts. One law was that Boston Harbor be shut down and another ws the quartering act. Boston was held under martial law and Thomas Gage was appointed new governor of Massachusetts. This was the breaking point for colonists and they knew they should stand up agaisnt Britain. -
First Continental Congress
56 delegates decided to take action upon the Intolerable Acts and drew up a declaration of colonial rights while defending the protests in Massachusetts. They also defended the colonies' rights to run their own affairs. If the British use force agaisnt the colonies, the colonies should fight back. This sounded great to the colonists and soon, they will fight back. -
Lexington and Concord
General Gage orders his troops to Concord and seize colonial weapons, but minutemen intercept them and engage the battle. This battle occurs first in Lexington then in Concord. This was the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The colonists won. -
Second Continental Congress
This Congress was more focused on the War than the first congress was. They made a Continental Army, had militiamen, and appointed 43 year old George Washington as general of this army. -
Thomas Paine writes Common Sense
Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine and describes his own revolt against the King which began with Lexington and Concord. He called for America to be an independent republic and trade freely with other nations. He also stated independence would create a better society, one free from tyranny and have equal social and economic opportunities for all. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and declared America free from Britain's control while establishing rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. It states that all men are created equal. With this document, the American colonies were free. -
The Revolutoinary War Ends
In order for France to get back at Britain, the French army decide to help Washington in 1778. After several battles and Britain losing the war, the British raised the white flag of surrender at Yorktown. The Revolutionary War has come to an end. -
Treaty of Paris
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay demanded Britain to recognize America's independence. Britain agrees and the delagates sign the Treaty of Paris. This treaty confirms U.S. Independence and set the boundaries for the new nation. The new borders are from the Atlantic Coast to the Mississippi River and from Canada to the Florida border. A nation is born.
