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French & Indian War.
The French and Indian war was a part of a long fight between France and Britain. The reason its called French and Indian war and not French and Britain war, is because lots of Native Americans fought with France in the most recent conflict. It was the colonists decided to call it French and Indian War. The war was a fight for territory and power. The turining point in the war was in 1759. The British troops captured Canada. -
Proclamation of 1763
Once the French and Indian War finished, they faced many problems concerning the Native Americans and the colonists. When the settlers pushed westword, it became harder to controll them. George III simply drew a line down th crest of the Appalachian Mountains. Settlers stayed east of that line, Indians stay west. -
Boston Massacre
Five defensless patriot men. The british soldiers werent liked by many. Especially the patriots. They threw snowballs at them and told them to go home, they dared them to aim fire, knowing they werent allowed. Sam Adams taught his dog to nip at the "lobsterbacks" feet. One man threw a snowball to hard and knocked a soldier down The soldiers had had enough. panicked, they turned around and shot the man in the front of the crow, except he wasnt the last. Four more innocent people were shot. -
The Boston Tea Party
In 1773 a new law was made. They had to put a new tax on tea. The PATRIOTS werent happy. a new idea sparked. What if they dumped alll the tea in the Boston Harbor! The patriots dressed up as Mohawk Indians, and unloaded the tea. -
Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts was a series of harsh laws. They were set up to punish Massachusets for the Boston Tea Party. A few of th eBritish leaders were worried about the colonists rebelling. -
First Continental Congress
Fifty leaders from twelve colonies met in Philadelphia. Delegates from most of the British colonies were used to thinking of themselves as citizens.All delegates agreed to send a respectful message to King George to urge the King to consider their complaints and to recognize their rights. -
The Revolutionary War
The American colonies won their independence from Great Britain. Britain had a professional army whereas America had a poorly trained and a poorly equipped army. In the beginning, Britain was winning. When France and Spain joined the Americans, they had the strnegth they needed to outlast. Patriots, were the people who believed that colonies had the right to govern themselves, and the LOYALISTS who believed in Great Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
Congress sent a petition in July 1775 to KING GEORGE III. This was called the OLIVE BRANCH PETITION because olive tree branches are the symbols of peace. A patriot named THOMAS PAINE published a pamphlet called COMMON SENSE. THOMAS JEFFERSON, a thirty three year old man from Virginia, had a job to explain to the world why the colonies were separating from Britain. He wrote a decleration of independence. -
Second Continental Congress
When the redcoats had fired into a boston crowd, times had taken a turn for the worst. GEORGE WASHINGTON agreed that a second continental congress would be made. That included a CONTINENTAL ARMY. The Congress authorized the printing of money, and even appointed a standing committee to conduct relations with foreign governments. -
Articles of Confederation
Congress tried to unite the states under one national government. Many members of congress feared that such a government would trample the rights they were fighting to preserve. The solution to this was known as "The Articles of Confederation." This created a loose union run by congress for each state had one vote. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty of Paris negotiated between the United States and Great Britain. It ended the revolutionary war and identified American independence. -
North West Ordinance
This was a law that divided the north west territory into smaller territories. It could elect its own legislator or law making body. Once the population had reached 60,000 it could apply to congress to become a state. The north west ordinance had a list of rights that gave people the same priveleges as other citizens. Besides slavery was banned from the north west territory. -
Shay's Rebellion
Paper money printed y congress was worthless with these money problems. Congress had enough power to make coins that were couldnt lose their value. The states printed their own money. Not long after, bills were all over the place without worth. Farmers had it worst with the money shortage. Shay and his followers got scared and closed down courthouses to make sure judges didnt take their farms. -
Constitutional Convention
The debate on who congres should represent continued into July. Finally they reached a compromise. This is known as the GREAT COMPROMISE. Another debate that went on was wheteher slaves should be counted as people. This compromise is called the THREE FIFTHS COMPROMISE, because they counted them as three fifths. The next debate was who should elect the president and vice president. They came up with a highly educated group called the ELECTORAL COLLEGE to do so.
