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The Navigation Acts were a series of laws passed by Parliament that were meant to restrict colonial trade. The mercantilist British economic policy used the American colonies to build up the British state power. These acts were a significant factor in the build up of the Revolutionary War. -
England and it’s colonies defeated France and Native American allies. However, the war ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris. Furthermore, Britain treasury drained and they thought colonists should pay their share. -
Parliament passed new taxes on the colonies including the Stamp Act, which taxed items such as newspapers and pamphlets. These taxations led to anger because they were used as attacks on colonists rights. -
Colonists were pelting British soldiers with stones and snowballs leading to the death of 5 protesters. Colonists called the death of five protesters the Boston Massacre. They were annoyed with the taxations and continued to revolt. -
The Tea Act was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. Their objective was to reduce the massive amount of tea held by the financially troubled British East India Company. This reinforced a tea tax in the American colonies. Filled with rage and anger the colonists were ready to strike. -
A handful of colonists hurled a cargo of recently arrived British tea into the harbor to protest a tax on tea. This incident became known as the Boston Tea Party in December of 1773. Eventually, the colonists were punished for their action. -
The Coercive Acts of 1774 were a series of four laws passed by the British Parliament to punish the colony of the Massachusetts Bay for the Boston Tea Party. Colonists responded to the Intolerable Acts with a show of unity. -
As tensions rose, representatives from 12 colonies gathered in Philadelphia. These representatives discussed how to respond to Britain’s harsh moves against Massachusetts. The crisis between the colonists and the British exploded into war. -
At the battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, colonists clashed with British troops. The opening shots of the American Revolution had occurred. The Continental Congress wanted to plan for further responses because they understood that war had begun. -
The Second Continental Congress met and set up a Continental Army with George Washington in command. With war beginning, they needed to come up with new plans in order to reach their overall goal of independence. -
Congress took a step forward and voted to declare independence from Britain. Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the principle author of the Declaration of Independence stating the rights of colonists. With perseverance, the colonist continued to fight for their freedom. -
The Battle of Saratoga was the first turning point in the war because the Americans triumphed over the British. This was unexpected because of the disadvantages that Americans had. Furthermore, this victory encouraged France to join the Americans against Britain. This was much needed with winter around the corner. -
In the brutal winter of 1777-1778, Continental troops at Valley Forge suffered cold, hunger, and disease. George Washington knew that good times were coming and he continued to stay patient. -
Finally, with the help of the French fleet, British surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. Ending the war was the Treaty of Paris about two years later. Moreover, freedom for America was finally achieved. -
James Madison, known as the Founding Father formatted and wrote what we know as the US Constitution. This including ideas given from Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. -
The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America. New laws and rights were formed in order to protect and free the people. They wanted to create a government with enough power to act on a national level, but without so much power that fundamental rights would be at risk.