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French and Indian War (1756-1763)
The French and India War or the Seven Years War was massive and involved many countries including: Austria, England, France, Britain, Prussia, and Sweden. France and England fought for colonization in North America along with the Caribbean and parts of India. The massive amount of debt created from the Seven Years War caused tension between the English Government and the colonists, leading to the Revolutionary war.
Video: http://www.shmoop.com/video/french-and-indian-war -
Royal Proclamation of 1763
After the French and Indian War had ended, King George III issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763. This forbade colonists settlement pass the Appalachian Mountains and made them give up the land they had already settled to the English. Like the taxes pressed on the colonists from the debt of the war, this proclamation built up tension between the English Government and the Colonists.
“...or pass any Patents for Lands beyond the Bounds of their respective Governments..." (Proclamation of 1763). -
The Sugar Act
Parlement created The Sugar Act as a modified version of the Molasses Act. The Sugar Act reduced the previous rate of tax on molasses from six pence to three pence per gallon. Along with this the Stamp Act required more foreign goods to be taxed such as coffe, wines and fabrics. Both this act and the Currency Act influence the revolt after the Stamp Act was impossed. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was impossed by the Parliment. This act forced taxes on all colonists and required them to pay for all printed paper items. This act was also created to help pay for the great debt created from the War. Many colonist were recalcitrant to this taxing act. -
Sons Of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a secret organization of American colonists founded in Boston. These men fought for the rights of the colonies and were agaist the taxation the Stamp Act and Quartering Act possed on them. This group was different from other colonists groups because they were willing to use violence to enforce their beliefes. -
The Declatory Act
In responce to the colonists' uncooroperative attitudes to the Stamp Act, Parliment created the Declatory Act to ease the defiance. However, this act became more harsh and declared Parliment stronger authority over the colonies.
"...full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America, subjects of the crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever" (Declartory Act). -
The Townshend Acts
Starting from the first one on June 15th to July 1767, the series Townshend Acts were an attempt of the English Parliament to have authority over the colonies by suspending colonists assemblies and the collection of revenue duties through the collection of taxes on colonial ports like glass, paint and tea. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between the British soldiers and the patriots. As a result of this fight several colonists were killed which led to a campaign by speakers to rouse up the anger of the colonial citizens. -
The Tea Act
This act was passed by the English Parliament that imposed policies that granted the British East India Company Tea, tea sales in the American colonies. This was seen as the final event that sparked the revolutionary movement in Boston being the catalyst of the Boston Tea Party. -
The Boston Tea Party
Three ships carrying tea entered the Boston Harbor allowed by Governor Thomas Hutchinson. Before any money could be collected for the amount of tea, Boston citizens dumped 342 chests of tea into the water of the Harbor -
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts began with the Boston Port Act on March 31st 1774 all the way to the last, Quebec Act on Jun 22nd 1774. The Intolerable Acts were a series of laws that acted as punishments to the colonists for their actions at the Boston Tea Party. -
The First Continental Congress
Each of the collonies, except Georgia, sent delegates to meet in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress meeting (September 2nd to October 26th 1774). The Pennsylvania and New York colonies sent delegates to find a agreement with England. The rest of the colonies were defended colonial rights. This First Continental Congress led to a boycott of Great Britain. -
Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
On April 18, 1775 , Paul Revere was instructed by Dr. Joseph Warren to ride horeback to Lexington, Massachusetts. Upon arrivel he was instructed to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British troops were coming to arrest them. This event came to be known as Paul Revere's Midnight Ride. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
A Bristish general by the name of General Gag had a plan to send the British soldiers to Lexington. Upon arival the British met eye to eye with the Colonist. All of a sudden there was a shot fired, unknown from which side, known as "the shot around the world." The small colonial troops defeated the British in this battle. -
Second Continental Congress Meeting
After the battle of Lexington and Concord things had turn south. British Soldiers would storm Boston looking to arrest patriotic leaders. Because of this, the Continental Congress had met in Philadelphia. Here delegates drafted the first Declaration of Independance. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Artemas Ward ordered his American troops to move out of their camp to Bunker Hill. However, the troops misunderstood and traveled to Breed's Hill, very close to the British camp. The next morning there was a head-on attack. Resulting in both sides having thousands of casualties. -
Betsy Ross created the American Flag
Betsy Ross created the first American Flag. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War. “peace talks in Paris began in April 1782 between Richard Oswarld representing Great Britain and the American Peace Commissioners Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams” (Primary Documents in American History). These men and Henry Laurens joined to sign the Treaty. With the signing of this treaty independence was established and so were the borders of America. -
The Constitution of the United States
The Constitution of the United States was created September 17, 1787 and ratified June 1788. The Constitution established a national government for the United States along with law. This was signed by the Constitutional Convention delegates and George Washington in Philadelphia.
