The Road to Revolution

  • Albany Plan of Union

    -wrote in 1754
    -to put the british north amaerican colonies in a more cenralized goverment
    -they rejected it because the goverment would be cotrolling trades ect
    -it was chaos because the colonists rejected giving the goverment that much power
  • Period: to

    French and Indian War

    -War for colonial territory between Britain and France, with native allies on both sides.-Led to worldwide Seven Year's War-During war professional British soldiers held contempt for American "buckskin" militiamen, treated as second-class citizens.
  • Stamp act

    -they had just had an expensive war with the french and spent a great deal of money and the colonies were only contributing a little
    -the colonists resisted and did many things like protested
  • Writs of assistance

    -1763
    -it was written because it would allow law enforcement and tax collecters ect. to make the ëcononomy¨ better
    -it was written to mainly stop smuggling and some colonists did not like this law for many reasons and some did.some rioted and did not cooperate
  • Sugar act

    -First law ever passed by Parliament raising tax revenue in colonies-Increased tax on sugar imported from West Indies to North American colonies-Colonists- very unhappy. After bitter protest these taxes were substantially lowered and agitation died down.
  • Townshend Acts

    -Acts passed by Prime Minister Charles Townshend-The most important of these acts was a light tax on goods such as tea, paint, glass, white lead and paper payable in American ports-Part of tax paid for royal governors' salaries- colonists cherished right to control governors by suspending their salary-Colonists somewhat angered, revived nonimportation agreements, but not as angered as they were by Stamp Act-Smuggled tea for cheaper, smuggling increased
  • Boston Massacre

    Sixty colonists taunted ten redcoats, clubbing them and throwing rocks and snowballs, provoking them to open fire. Eleven "innocent" colonists were killed, including Crispus Attucks, the leader of the mob and a runaway "mulatto" slave. Though both sides were partially to blame, this incident was used in revolutionary propaganda (pictured) and fueled the colonists' anger.
  • Tea act

    -happened in 1773
    -no body could buy tea unless it was from East Inidia Copmany
    -this lead to the boston massacre
  • Boston tea party

    -Bostonians disguised as Indians dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor-Earlier that year- nearly bankrupt British East India Company-17 million chests of unsold tea. British government lose tax revenue if bankrupt- gave British India Company monopoly of American tea trade. Tea cheap, even with tax.-Americans realized Britain's attempt to make them accept tax- protests, including Boston Tea Party.
  • Coercive Acts

    Intended to punish the people of massachusetts for their resistence for the british laws. The colonists held that the coercive acts violated their rights as english citizens.
  • First Continental Congress

    held in Philadelphia to discuss colonial grievances, what to do about them. 12 colonies were represented by 55 delegates. Drew up Declaration of Rights, wrote appeals to other British American colonies, King George III and the people of Britain. Petitions rejected. Also established The Association, banning all trade with Britain- import and export. Did not yet want independence.
  • Lexington & Concord

    "Lexington Massacre" took place right before Battle of Concord. Both were attempts by the British to seize colonial gunpowder and capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock- leaders of rebellion. Colonial militia did not disperse quick enough- British opened fire. Eight colonists killed, several wounded.
  • Second Continental Congress

    All 13 colonies were represented at yet another convention to address American grievances. Made more appeals of grievances to the king. They sent an "Olive Branch" petition as well, affirming their loyalty and pledging for an and to hostilities. Although they did not yet seek independence, the congress decided to raise money for an army, appointing Washington as its commander in chief (pictured) in a contradictory move.
  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    Took place at Breed's Hill overlooking Boston with British staging a frontal attack. The colonists slaughtered the British until they ran out of gunpowder, when they were forced to retreat. Though they lost the battle, the colonists struck a blow to the British, which boosted morale.
  • Olive Brnch Petition

    John Dickinson drafted the Olive Branch Petition. It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 5 and submitted to King George on July 8, 1775. It was an attempt to assert the rights of the colonists while maintaining their loyalty to the British crown. King George refused to read the petition and proclaimed that the colonists had proceeded to open and avowed rebellion.
  • Declaration of Independance

    -The Declaration of Independence was important because it stated that a government exists, all men are created equal, there were 13 American Colonies, and they were not a part of the British Empire. 2. The Declaration of Independence was caused by people not wanting to be with the British Empire. 3. During the Declaration of Independence there was a lot of happy colonist because they were no longer a part of the British Empire.