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Proclamation of 1763
Regulated where the British settled in North America. Restricted colonists from settling in Native territories. This act was passed so that the British did not have a bad relationship with the Natives. The colonists were unhappy with this act because they wanted to settle further west in North America and this act declared that they couldn't -
Sugar Act (Revenue Act)
This act cut the duty on foreign molasses. It also made high duty for foreign sugar. This was meant to end the smuggling trade of sugar and molasses. The colonists did not react to this act well because merchants could not smuggle sugar anymore and make a profit from it. -
Currency Act
This act prohibited colonies from making paper money and required all exchanges with British merchants to be paid in British currency. This was passed to ensure that British merchants were receiving currency with value in Britain. The colonists reacted to the act in protest. Without their own paper money, their economy was less efficient. -
Stamp Act
This act made a tac on all official papers and documents made in the colonies. This was to raise funds and pay off debts from the 7 years war. The colonists resented this act because they saw these taxes as extreme and unnecesary. -
The Quartering Act
This act stated that Britain would house its soldiers in colonial houses and barracks. This act was passed so that the British could house more soldiers in their army. The colonists resented this law, not only because of the invasion of privacy, but also because they were forced to pay for the soldiers provisions -
Declaratory Act
This act repealed the stamp act. This was because of backlash from the colonies as a result of the stamp act. The colonists were very happy with this act because it meant that they didn't have to pay taxes for official papers and documents anymore. -
Townshend Revenue Act
This act created new taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper and tea to repay debts from the 7 years war. This act was faced with resentment from the colonists because they had to pay even more taxes than before. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers fire on Bostonians in Boston after the colonists throw snowballs at them -
The Tea Act
This act reduced the tax on tea imported to Britain which gave British merchants a trading advantage. This act rekindled the colonist's opposition to duty on tea because they were taxed without representation in parliament. -
The Intolerable Acts
These acts consisted of the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act. These acts authorized the royal navy to blockade Boston Harbor because the commerce of the king's subjects couldn't be safely carried there. This resulted in protest from the colonists because they were fearful that the British may pass more punitive laws on the colonies. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
British try to confiscate weapons from colonists, colonists fight back and win the battles. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British and colonists battle for bunker hill and the British try to claim Boston Port. British win battle but it shows that the colonists can put up a fight and do some real damage. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists throw tons of British tea into the sea to combat the tax on tea -
Declaration of Independence
The colonists declare independence from Britain with the Declaration of Independence -
Battle of Trenton
George Washington's army defeated a garrison of Hessian mercenaries at Trenton. -
Battle of Saratoga
Americans defeated British. Lifted Patriot morale. -
Valley Forge
A place for George Washington's men to rest and prepare for upcoming battles. -
Battle of Yorktown
Effectively ended American revolution -
Treaty of Paris 1783
Ended American Revolution and recognized the U.S. as their own independent nation. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
First test of federal authority in the U.S. The Rebellion enforced the idea that the new government could levy a tax that would impact the United States. -
XYZ Affair
A diplomatic incident between French and United States diplomats that resulted in a limited, undeclared war known as the Quasi-War -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Laws which raised the residency requirements for citizenship from 5 to 14 years, authorized the President to deport "aliens," and permitted their arrest, imprisonment, and deportation during war time. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Condemned the Alien and Sedition Acts as unconstitutional and claimed that because these acts overstepped federal authority under the Constitution, they were null and void. -
Embargo Act
Closed U.S. ports to all exports and restricted imports from Britain. -
War of 1812
Pitted the United States in a war against Britain, from whom the American colonies won their independence from in 1783. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Supreme Court decision which defined scope of Congress' legislative power -
Monroe Doctrine
Warns European nations that the United States would not tolerate further colonization of the West.