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Ben Franklin proposes the Albany Plan of Union and draws the first political cartoon captioned "Join or Die" to propose that the colonies unite. This plan is rejected by the colonies because they fear losing power to a central government and don't want to pay taxes.
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The French and Indian war breaks out between the French & Indians (and later Spain on the French side) vs. the British & Colonists
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It is called the Seven Years' War in Europe. (Named after the war is over)
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King George III makes the Proclamation of 1763 stating that colonists are not to move West (into the Ohio Valley area). He does this to prevent conflict with the Native Americans in the area.
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The British & Colonists win
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Treaty of Paris marks the official end of the war. Britain wins all land East of the Mississippi River (including Florida and except New Orleans). Spain gains New Orleans (from France) and all land West of the Mississippi River. France wins nothing and the people go North to Canada or back to France.
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Native American Chief Pontiac in the Ohio Valley decides he and his tribes will stay in the Ohio Valley and fight.
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The Colonists are not following the Proclamation of 1763 and are moving West anyway. King George III makes the quartering act, leaving 10,000 British troops in the Colonies to supervise the colonists and stop them from moving West. The Colonists need to "quarter" the troops which means to provide them housing and food.
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King George III needs revenue (income) raised to pay for the French and Indian War, as well as to pay the 10,000 soldiers living in the Colonies to supervise the Colonists. He imposes a tax on the Colonists. This tax is on all paper products which must be stamped. Colonists are enraged, resulting in boycotts and riots.
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Parliament cancels the stamp act. Colonists win.
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King George III declares he will impose a harsher law than the Stamp Act
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Parliament passes the Townshend acts.Tax on glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea brought into the colonies
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