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Proclamation of 1763
This act prevented the colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. This irritated the colonists because it restricted land claims and prevented settlement, and
the colonists wanted to expand their land and settle left of the Appalachian mountains, but England was telling them no. -
Sugar Act of 1764
This act prohibited the smuggling of sugar into the colonies. The government hoped to stop smuggling by taxing the sugar, but the act made the colonists mad instead. The colonists grew angry because they wanted to find a side way of making money that was not already taxed and people didn’t know about because it was illegal. -
Currency Act of 1764
This act prevented the colonists from printing paper money. The colonists were very angry because they printed extra paper money to pay off all of their debts. Once that was taken away, the colonists had to pay takes and debts in their resources like gold and silver. -
Stamp Act of 1765
This act stated that legal documents, academic degrees, appointments to office, newspapers, pamphlets, playing cards, and dice required stamps as proof of payment of the tax. The colonists were upset because all of the little things that they owned were becoming taxed so that England could make money. -
Quartering Act of 1765
This act required colonial governments to provide and pay for feeding and sheltering any troops stationed in their colony. The colonists were angry because they had to feed and keep the British soldiers in their homes. -
Declaratory Act of 1766
This act stated that the Parliament could make laws binding the American colonies, so the government could secure it to enforce other laws and taxes, that the colonists couldn't disagree with. The colonists were okay at first with this act because it didn’t tax them or scam them out of money like all of the other acts but later became very important for the Parliament. -
Townshend Revenue Act of 1767
This act was a series of acts that the Parliament gave the colonies to try and end many acts that upset them. The Parliament was trying to make some last minute taxes to gain extra money to pay off the debt. The colonists were calmer because many acts were being released. They were also angry that not all acts were lifted like the smuggling of sugar was still illegal. -
The Boston Massacre
This event occurred when an angry mob of colonists started teasing the soldiers stationed in the colony, which made them upset. The soldiers threatened the colonists with weapons, but the colonists were still taunting them. The soldiers then fired their weapons and ended up killing 5 people, and they were sent to jail/court. -
Tea Act of 1773
This act allowed the East India Tea Company to rid itself of a large amount of tea while also allowing the government to reinforce the Parliament's right to tax the colonies on the tea. The colonists were very angry and upset that their tea was now being taxed too. Many colonists boycotted the tea and protested because their favorite (and main) drink was being taxed, so they had to pay extra to fund England. -
Boston Tea Party
The colonists were upset that Britain had taxed their tea, and decided to revolt. Some colonists dressed up as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of tea, from British ships, into the harbor. The British saw this as unruly and decided to try and control the colonists. -
Intolerable Acts of 1774
This act was a bunch of laws and taxes meant to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. The colonists were furious that England sent out laws, which they didn’t follow, and now they are being punished for not following them.
The colonists want to take all of their profits for themselves so that they can feed their family and run their normal lives instead of giving it to England. -
Lexington and Concord
This was a fight that the British and the Colonists fought against each other because the colonists were upset that the British was trying to take their gunpowder. 70-80 colonists lined up and were prepared to fire at the British. No one knows who fired the first 2 shots. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle was fought between the British and the colonists who were both trying to gain control over Bunker Hill. The colonists traveled up the wrong hill and built a fort on Breed's Hill instead of Bunker Hill. The British then seized control over Bunker Hill and controlled who came in and out of Boston. The British won, but they lost a lot of men. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document written by the colonists to declare that they were their own country, and they had full power over themselves. They told Britain, the colonists, and the world that they were separated to gain allies, unify themselves, and let other countries know that they are strong. -
The Battle of Trenton
The battle was lead by George Washington against German mercenaries lead by Colonial Johann Rall and the battle was in Trenton, New Jersey. America won this battle and they captured around 900 Germans and killed 22, but no Americans were captured or killed. The Americans wanted to continue the war because they felt stronger and more spirited after the battle and felt greatly improved as a united army. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The British and German mercenaries wanted to gain control over the Hudson River Valley, but the Americans ended up winning and outnumbered them. The Americans lost roughly 600 men whereas the opposing army lost several hundred more. This gave the Americans confidence and pride to win the Revolutionary War. This battle was the turning point of the revolutionary war and It led directly to the intervention of France on behalf of the Americans. -
Valley Forge
This was a training camp for the continental army. The battle was during winter in Pennsylvania, so the Continentals struggled to survive with weeks without meat and shortage of fuel. Howe retreated his army after four days and America won. The troops’ encampment in Valley Forge was a critical point in the American Revolutionary War. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The Americans and their French allies fought against the British in the battle of Yorktown. General George Washington beat Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis and it was the last battle in the American Revolution leading to the Treaty of Paris. -
The Treaty of Paris
This was a treaty between Britain and America signed in Paris signifying that America was free and their own country. It was signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Lay. The revolution came to an end with the Americans winning, the British had lost its reign of America, and the Americans became an independent country.