-
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower compact was a written agreement that was made by the new settlers at Plymouth to ensure fair and equal laws.
The people wanted to elect representatives that would work for the general good of the colony. This was the first case of colonial self-government.
"...Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and the Advancements of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and our Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia..." -
French and Indian War
This was a seven year war between Europe and the American colonies, and the French. The British defeated the French and France lost control of Canada. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris and the colonies were given more secure land.
The war was referred to in the colonies as "the beginning of open hostilities between the colonies and Great Britain." -
Virginia House of Burgesses
The first elected assembly in the American colonies. This assembly was made to enact a legislative body in the colonies. Although the assembly's ideas were often vetoed by Britian, it was a way to enforce self-government in America.
"...it is essential to British liberty that laws imposing taxes on the people ought not to be made without the consent of representatives chosen by themselves..." -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament. It was to help cover the cost of the war between Great Britain and France, All of the printed materials were required to have a stamp placed on them, in order to show that the tax had been paid. It gave the people a reason to rebel, "No taxaition without representation".
"...raised, levied, collected, and paid unto his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, throughout the colonies and plantations in America..." -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occured when British troops were occupying the colonist's city of Boston. The unwelcome occupation led colonists to attack the troops. The British troops killed three people in the riot.
This event led British troops to leave the city and was a signal event leading to the Revolution. Paul Revere would recall this event in his print as "the Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street." -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston against the British government. After officials in Boston refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonists boarded the ships and destroyed the tea by throwing it into Boston Harbor.
"Protests in the colonies against the Stamp Acts had died down when Parliament passed the Tea Act. The new act granted a monopoly on tea trade in the Americas to the East India Tea Company." -
The Battles at Lexington and Concord
This was the first military engagement in the American Revolution. British troops were sent to Lexington to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams. After the first fight and a no sight of the two men, the British marched toward Concord. They ran into a group of minutemen at Concord's North Bridge. After the fight, the British retreated.
"This evening intelligence has been recieved that about 1200 regular troops, have proceed towards Bofton and Concord and fired on the inhabitants..." -
Declaration of Independence
The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were now independent states becasue of the colonial greivence against King George III
"...in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES;"