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French and Indian War
A global conflict called the Seven Years War. The French and British had the most territorial disputes within North America during this war. Both countries wanted access to the profitable fur trade business and the cheap fertile land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Although the British lost majority of the initial battles they ultimately won the war. The war caused relations to worsen between the British and the Colonists. The colonists were angry with the Proclamation Line of 1763. -
Sugar Act
The British Parliament passed the Sugar Act in 1764 in order to help pay for their debt from the French and Indian War as well as to pay for the troops guarding the Proclamation Line of 1763. It forced the colonists to pay a 3 cent tax on goods like sugar, coffee, indigo and certain kinds of alcohol. The colonists were not happy with this law because they had no say in parliament. The slogan “No Taxation without Representation” became popular in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act in order to support the British soldiers protecting the Proclamation Line. The Stamp Act required that a stamp purchased by the British government had to be placed on all important documents like court papers, newspapers and even playing cards. The colonists were outraged because they were paying for troops that were keeping them out of the land they had just fought for in the French and Indian War and they still had no representation in Parliament. -
Sons of Liberty
A well-organized political organization shrouded in secrecy that was established to undermine British rule in colonial America. This group sprang up in port cities like Boston and NYC. Group members were men from all walks of life, and they were known to be hot headed and violent. -
Townsend Acts
The Townshend Acts taxed imported items such as paper, glass, paint and tea. The English Parliament passed this act to cover costs of the French and Indian War, as well as to show that they still had power over the colonies. The colonists were outraged with this act so they held public demonstrations, boycotted products and smuggled in goods. Parliament eventually decided to repeal this act because of colonial protests. -
Boston Massacre
Violent confrontation between the British soldiers and colonists. Soldiers opened fire at the colonists in the colonies. Documents suggested that the colonist provoked the soldiers which lead to the shooting. Many colonists died because of this shooting. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists dumped tea into the boston harbor. Colonist dressed up as indians. They did this because there was a monopoly on tea. -
Tea Act
Taxes were raised on tea and colonists were not happy with this decision passed by the Parliament in 1773. The price of tea went up everywhere in the colonies. The colonist reacted to this by throwing tea into the harbor and boycotting tea. This led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
The British Parliament put some acts up that made the colonists mad. The acts were paying for the tea that was destroyed, the colonists could not be trialed in the colonies so they had to go to Britain were they would no get justice so the British felt ok to abuse the colonists, the colonist had to feed and house the British troops and that left them to be able to steal property, and the last act was were the colonists lost there right to govern themselves. -
The First Continental Congress
Letters that went to king George that said if the intolerable acts did not go away they would meet again and make the decision to stop exporting goods to England. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
There were shots fired by the British soldiers on to the colonists. 8 people were killed and 10 wounded. They did this because they needed weapons.
