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The French & Indian War
Since Britain and France had been rival countries. they often fought. The French wanted to claim part of the colonies and eventually take control of them.
Importance: The colonies almost became a part of France instead of Britain. -
Sugar Act
The British taxed important items, such as sugar and wine, in order to get more money to provide security for the British colonies.
Importance: Britain was trying to protect the colonies in order to make them feel safe and perhaps keep them from trying to separate themselves. -
The Currency Act
The British limited the colonies' access to British currency. So, the colonies developed their own form of currency. However, in the long run, this put the colonies at a disadvantage with British merchants.
Importance: This was one of the colonists's first actions in showing Britain that they didn't need them, that they could be an independent nation. -
Stamp Act
Required the placement of a tax stamp on all legal documents, business agreements, and newspapers.
Importance: Started an outrage in the colonies, outrages led to the colonies wanting their independence, Had this event not taken place, the colonies wouldn't have felt the need to rebel. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fired on a crowd of colonists. Five people died.
Importance: The Boston Massacre shows that the colonists were getting fed up with the British.
Importance: The colonist's reactions (dumping of the tea) started the colonist's rebellion; telling British that they don't want to be a part of their nation anymore and that they won't go down without a fight. -
The Boston Tea Party
A group of about 30-130 men disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and protested the British by breaking tea chests and dumping the tea into the harbor.
Importance: Shows the British that the colonists are not going to take -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from the colonies gathered in Philadelphia to discuss the current situation (the British had just placed the Intolerable Acts on them) and to discuss possible plans of action. As their plan of action, they sent a Declaration of Rights to King George III.
Importance: This was the colonies' first attempt at gaining independence. -
Battles of Lexington & Concord
Thomas Gage, a British general, sent troops over to the colonies to destroy guns and ammunition. At the end of the battle, 73 British soldiers were dead.
Importance: This battle showed that the colonies were willing to fight for their freedom. -
Second Continental Congress
Since the British refused to compromise with the colonies, the delegates from the First Continental Congress gathered again, this time during the Revolution.
Importance: The colonies refused to give up on fighting for their independence. -
Declaration of Independence was signed1776
Signed by 56 people.
Importance: The colonies gained their independence from Britain. Gave a start to the U.S.A. ^_^
