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Thesis
The revolution was started and based on the ideological values of the colonists -
French Indian War
The French and Indian War was fought between the native american and French against the British. The British were fighting to gain more land and expand west. The French were defending to keep this land because of its strategic value. Over the course of the war the Britsh did lose several battles. The significance is that it showed that the British could be defeated, which unified the colonists. It ended on feb 10 1763 -
Albany plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union's long term purpose was to achieve greatre colonial unity. Only seven of the thirteen colonies showed up in Albany. To the colonials it didn't seem to give enough independence and to the British it seemed to give to much. Therefore it was never carried out. Its significance is that it was the first plan to unify the colonies under one government.<a href='http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/cp/90611.htm' -
Battle of Quebec
The Battle of Quebec was fought between the British under James Wolfe and the French under Marquis de Montcalm. The British were attacking the French city of Quebec. Both Wolfe and Montcalm were fatally wounded in the battle, but in the end the French were defeated and the city surrendered. This is one of the most significant battles because after the capturing of Quebec and Montreal the French flag waved for its last time. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was what ended the French and Indian War. In this treaty France gave up all territory in North America. French power was completely removed from North America. With the threat of the French gone the colonies could now focus on unifying, since the war had split them apart.
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print -
Proclamation of 1763
After the defeat of the French American colonists were now free to move westward, but then what seemed to be out of nowhere the British government issued the Proclamation of 1763. This prohibited colonists to settle west of the Appalachain Mountains. The pupose of this was to first figure out the Indian problem and prevent another war or uprisisng. The colonists were angered by this, for they thought it was their right, since they had just fought a bloody war for that land. -
Prclamation of 1763
Most colonists defied this proclamation and pressed westward. The significance of this, is that it further presented the idea that the Britsish were doing more harm than good to the colonies which further unified the colonies together
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print -
Sugar Act
The Sugar act was the first law passed for raising tax revenue in the colonies. The main argument of the this law by the colonists was that of being taxed without their consent.It also placed taxes such as wines and coffe. The colonists hated and resented this act. This act plays an important role in fueling the colonial hatred for the laws being placed by Parliament. -
Stamp Act
In 1765 Prime Minister George Grenville passed the Stamp Act to raise revenues to support the military. Grenville saw this act as just and reasonable, since he believed that Americans should pay a share of the costs for thier own defense. The act mandated the use of stamped paper. Stamps were now required on many bills of sale and commercial and legal documents such as marriage licences, playing cards, newspapers, and diplomas.This law started the saying "No taxation without representation". -
Stamp Act
The significance of the Stamp act was that it caused such a protest with the colonists. This mass protest made more and more people resent British rule in the colonies. Colonists unified against these acts
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act that took place in 1765 required colonists to provide food and housing or quarters for british troops. Colonists saw this as unfair to them. They disliked being commanded to provide quarter for British troops,they preferred to be asked for thier permission if they were going to have soldiers on their land at all. Therefore they refused to comply with the law. Since colonsists refused to allow this it showed a unity within the colonies, which is significant. It endedMar 24 1767 -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress was an attempt to solve the problem of the Stamp Act. The congress was a meeting place for concerns within in the colonies. They discussed and tried to find solutions for the stamp act. The delegates wanted to stop the rioting in the streets. The significance of the Stamp Act Congress is that it was another attempt at problem soving in the colonies.
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print -
Repeal of Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was repealed after much heated debating. Finally Parliament reluctantly repealed the Stamp Act. This was a great victory in the eyes of the colonists. Colonists had won in a battle against British Parliament wich boosted colonial moral and was another step in intercolonial unity -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act stated that parliament had the power to make laws for the colonies, since Parliaments authority was the same in America as it was in Britain. Most of the colonists didn't notice this act because of their "victory" over the repealing of the Stamp Act. When they did realize it, they did not agree with Parliament believed. This shows the Bitish trying to increasingly take control of every aspect in the colonies
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1 -
Townshend Act
Parliament passed the Townshend Acts after being persuaded by Charley Townshend. THe most important was the light import tax on glass, whit lead, paper, paint, and tea. Any law that involved taxes for the colonies caused problems, since their main argument was taxin without repersentaion. This tax on tea, which was a major drink in the colonies, increased smuggling since smuggled tea could be secured at a cheap price.
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Prin -
Boston Massacre
There was a breakdown of order in Massachusetts, so two regiments of British troops were landed in Boston. The presence of these troops angered colonists, who taunted and teased them. One night a large group of about 60 colonists started taunting a squad of about ten troops. A couple of redcoats were hit with snow balls and clubs, and acting without orders the troops opened fire on the citizens killing and wounding eleven people. Paul Revere created an illustration of that event which was -
Boston Massacre
used as propraganda to enrage the colonists against the British. This brought them together against a common enemy
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print -
Boston Tea Party
The London government gave the East India Company complete control over all American tea business. They could now sell there tea more cheaply. Americans however saw this as a trap to trick them into agreeing with the tax. Colonists valued principle over price. So on the night of Dec 16 a group of townspeople disguised as indians smashed and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. This is significant because it was one of the first big acts of rebellion in the colonies. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were in response to the Boston tea party. Many rights in Mass were taken away. Restrictions were placed on meetings. Officials who killed colonial people could now be sent to England for trial, where they were most likely to be set free. This shows further restriction on the colonists and thier rights. The significance to these acts are that the clash between colonists and British are growing and becoming more and more frequent.
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Bosto -
Quebec Act
The Quebec act granted civil government and religious freedom in Quebec. The act was not created out of hate for the colonists, it was just a measure being taken to deal with the French population left in Canada after the war. This angered colonists because it was seen as unfair because they were never given such rights and in addition this act was for old enemies. This anger unified the colonists since Britain was to blame
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. -
First Continental Congress
In response to the intolerable acts the First Continental Congress was called to Philadelphia to adress colonial issues. All of the colonies sent sent men except for Georgia. Colonial leaders such as John and Sam Adams and George Washington attended the meeting. The most important act of the the congress was the writing of the document The Association. This document gave totall boycott for British goods. The significance of this document was that it was the closest thing to a written -
First Continental Congress
constitution that had been designed by the colonists. Overall the First Continental Congress had the main goal of repealing the taxation acts and "offensive legislation" of the British
Bailey, Thomas Andrew. American pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The British commander in Boston sent out troops to Lexington and Concord to capture gunpowder and possibly significant rebel leaders such as Sam Adams and John Hancock. Shots were fired at Lexington and few killed, but at Concord the militia were ready and the British were forced to retreat. By the time the reached Boston they had suffered 300 casualties. These are the final significant events that started the Revolutionary War
