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Stamp Act (PART 1)
After the French and Indian war which occurred in North America, Britain was struggling to pay their debts (for recovery). So, they thought of a plan to tax the colonies. They decided to make a requirement of a stamp on every public and legal document. But, the stamps weren’t free, meaning that the colonists had to buy the stamps. (This taxing idea was the Stamp Act) -
Stamp Act (PART 2)
This raged the colonists which made them form protestant groups called the Sons/ Daughters of Liberty. Within these groups, they would boycott which showed Britain their hostility towards the Stamp Act. Also, the colonists declared, “no taxation without representation,” which ment that without virtually representing (tyranny) the colonies, no taxing would be allowed. Because of this, the Stamp Act was repealed. -
Stamp Act Congress
When the Stamp Act was passed, there were many colonists that were furious. So, they formed a huge congress which was entitled the Stamp Act Congress. In this congress, 9 different colonies would approve a united course action. By this the Crown of Britain saw that the colonists hated the Stamp Act a lot. So, to prevent further conflict, Britain repealed the Stamp Act. -
Townshend Acts (PART 1)
This Act was named after Charles Townshend. It was passed after the Stamp Act was repealed.The Townshend Acts placed duties on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea. It was intended to raise income by taxing the colonists (to punish them). To enforce the Townshend Acts the British officials used writs of assistance, which stated that the custom agent's have the right to search for any smugglers. Also, John Dickson, Samuel Adams, and other colonists protested. The Sons and Daughters of liberty -
Townshend Acts (PART 2)
were 2 types of groups that boycotted by refusing to buy British goods due to the Townshend Acts. This makes the British government's econmoy struggle which leads to the repeal of the Townshend Acts. -
Boston Massacre (PART 2)
Paul Revere is a famous person who recorded the Boston Massacre by drawing one scene in the Boston Massacre with a variety of colors. He is also the one that states that the British are enemies and have come for tyranny. -
Boston Massacre (PART 1)
A British soldier (standing guard sentry)was on duty at the Customs House on King Street, present day State Street, argued with a colonist (local merchant) and when he got irritated he fired. British soldiers fire into a crowd of colonists killing 5 men which made the colonists protest and bring the soldiers to trial. This shooting is called the Boston Massacre.There are many versions of stories by different people. (This referred as America's road to independence.) -
Tea Act (PART 1)
Tea was one of the British’s most favorite drinks. However, the British government taxed the teas in the colonies. They had to do so in order to help the British East India company because the company was running out of business. This act gave a monopoly (control) on tea sales to the British East India company. -
Tea Act (PART 2)
The tea was sold directly to the colonists instead of going to the merchants first. This made the tea cheaper. However, the colonists saw this act in the means of “taxation without representation,” which created many boycotting groups. So, this act later lead to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
There were ships carrying tea cartons. However, the colonists knew that the tea would be taxed because of the Tea Act. They didn’t like the taxing, so the Sons of Liberty (protestant group; wants liberty and rights) decided to go to the Boston Harbor (where the ship would arrive) at night. They dressed up as Mohawk Indians and secretly took out 342 cartons of tea from the 3 British ships (Beaver, Eleanor, Dartmouth) carrying tea and dumped them all into the Boston Harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
British reaction to the Boston Tea Party: Boston Port Bill (closed Boston Harbor, disabling trade there), Quartering Act (colonists house and supply the British soldiers when needed), Administration of Justice Act (British governor could choose the place of the trials), Quebec Act (gives civil gov. and religious freedom to Catholics in Quebec), and Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act (royal assent for town meetings; law officers subject to appointment by the royal governor). -
1st Continental Congress
Delegates from all colonies except for Georgia, met in Philadelphia to respond to the Intolerable acts (that took away their rights and invaded their privacy). They had discussions and debates to declare that they have their own rights and that their rights shouldn’t be taken away by the British gov. This congress wasn’t made in order to show their independence toward Britain, but to state their rights and state how Britain should support their rights, rather than violate it. -
Concord/Lexington (PART 1)
General Gage (British) had a secret plan. He said that he would secretly send British solders to Lexington in order to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock (Leaders in colonies). Then they would go to Concord where they stored gun powder and food. But, Paul Revere heard this news and alerted the colonies by saying his famous quote “ The British are coming!” -
Concord/Lexington (PART 2)
By this, colonial soldiers got ready for battle and minutemen were stationed in their needed places. (Minutemen were the people that came to help in one minute’s notice. They were very elite and assembled very quickly.) Because of the minutemen the colonists were waiting at Concord by the time the Redcoats (British people) came. Later the Redcoats were forced to surrender. -
2nd Continental Congress (PART 1)
The 2nd Continental Congress met at the State House in Philadelphia. There were some new delegates that came for this congress. John Hancock was the president of this meeting and all the delegates discussed the issues from the Battle of Lexington and Concord. However, the main reason why the delegates met, was to figure out how they would drive the Redcoats out of Boston. -
2nd Continental Congress (PART 2)
Later, some delegates came up with an idea about a Continental Army (military force) that would fight against the British Army. All of the delegates liked this idea and agreed with it. They also elected General George Washington to be the Commander of Chief (leader) for this Continental Army. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British leaders formed a secret plan on capturing/attacking the unoccupied hills (Bunker Hill) close to Boston. However, the colonists heard this by their spies and sent around 1600 men to fight against the British soldiers. (Leader of the British troops was General Howe.) The patriots were able to handle 2 British charges, but on the third charge they retreated, making the British win the Battle of Bunker Hill. -
Olive Branch Petition (PART 2)
This not only made King George, but all British citizens mad because the Olive Branch Petition was all about creating peace for the countries, but the colonies weren’t making peace, they were invading! -
Olive Branch Petition (PART 1)
The Olive Branch Union was to King George III asking to abruptly stop the war making peace between the 2 countries (Britain and America)and to repeal the Intolerable Acts. On July 5th, Congress approved this petition with 48 delegates signing it and was sent to London. However, King George the third wouldn’t open the petition send to him because he heard the news about the colonies invading Canada. -
Common Sense
The common sense had 47 pages and was made in Philadelphia. It was published anonymously but later revealed that it was written by Thomas Paine. He argued that the citizens should be the ones make their own laws, not the kings and queens. This made the colonists change their view of their king. It made people want more freedom and independence away from dictatorship. -
Declaration of Independence (PART 1)
This was a formal written document by Thomas Jefferson that announced the colonies’ break from Britain. It talked about the rights and freedom of the colonists. He argued strongly on the fact that King George was violating their rights and breaking their social contact. Many people signed this written document and on July 4th, 1776 America was made. -
Declaraton of Independence (PART 2)
(From this, there were 2 groups of people, the patriots and the loyalists. The patriots were the colonists who decided to set apart from Great Britain. The loyalists were the people who sided with the British.)
