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French and Indian War
The first shots were fired in spring of 1754. This war occurred because the French and English both wanted to acquire the land near Ohio Valley for fur trade with the Indians and resources the land provided. The colonists reacted by fighting in the war in order to acquire the Ohio Valley area. In the end, the English won, in 1763, concluding with the Treaty of Paris. -
The Proclamation of 1763
The purpose of this proclamation was to prevent all the colonists from pursuing west over the Appalachian Mountains, even though the colonists had just fought in the French and Indian War for this land. The British wanted to prevent the colonists from creating tension with the Indians but, most importantly, they wanted to make it easier for the crown to tax and control the colonists. The colonists responded by rebelling against this law and pursuing their dreams they have planned into west. -
The Stamp Act
This tax was enforced on November 1, 1765. This act took place simply because England wanted more money and wanted to show authority over the colonies. Many colonists, after hearing about this tax in April, organized many protests and riots to show their anger. After November 1, 1765, many colonial businesses and government offices shut down isnstead of complying with the law. -
Declaratory Act
This act took place to give the crown the exclusive right to tax the colonies and prevent nobody else creating taxes. In response, colonists were outraged and argued and protested that their rights were being taken away. It was obvious that more acts would be created, taxing the colonists, because of this act. -
The Committees of Correspondence
The purpose for these committees wa to create unity and cooperation within and among the colonies. The committees kept each other informed about local resistance and the progress for colonial rights. The colonists were in favor of these committees. These committees were good for the colonists and colonies because they made the colonies and colonists more like a nation and helped them fight for independence. -
Tea Act
The purpose of the Tea Act was to financially help the failing East India Company, which played a dominant role in Britain's economy, by making it a monopoly and to show the colonists the crown's power over them. The colonists reacted by planning the Boston Tea Party, where 60 colonists, dressed as Indians, threw 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. -
Patrick Herny's famous speech at St. John's
Patrick Henry's was leading therevolt to the Stamp Act of 1765 and made his famous words, "give me liberty or give me death". After the Revolution, he helped establish the Bill of Rights to ensure rights to the American people. The colonists were grateful because this because they needed a leader in order to rebel and fight for independence. Patrick Henry was one of those leaders. -
William Dawes rides
On the night of April 18-19 1775, William Dawes was one of the riders who rode through the night warning the colonists that the British army was approaching. The colonists were grateful for this because, without the warning, the colonists would not have been prepared for the battle of Lexington and Concord.
