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Stamp Act
Imposed by Britains George Grenville to the American colonies to cover the cost on maintaing troops that defended the colonies. This tax included books to newspapers, which angered many colonist because it violated the principle of "No taxation, without representation". The colonist's also could not afford to pay the newly imposed tax. An organization called the Sons of Liberty, demolished a home of a British officer to exemplify the wrath of the people. -
The Townshend Act
Aftrer the French and Indian war, Britains aggregate of debt leaded them to imposed the Townshend act; boost revenue, and tighten enforcement and authority in America. The Chanceller, Charles Townshend was not concered about the rights of the colonist, and cared more about empowering Parliment. Colonists opposed these acts because it put special taxes on materials lead, paper, glass, and tea. -
The Boston Massacre
The tensions between the colonist and British soldiers increased due to the early taxation and British soldiers where harassed verbally and physically by angery colonists. On March 5th a group of colonists where mistreating a British soldier who called for help, In a result of nine other soldiers under the command of Captain Thomas Preston. The crowd continue to abuse the soldiers and in the mist of things someone yelled "fire" and the soldiers opened fire. Five towns people where killed . -
The Boston Tea Party
The new act granted a monopoly on tea trade. The Governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Hutchinson, insisted that the tea be unloaded in Boston, despite a boycott which was organized by the Sons of Liberty. On the evening of December 16th, thousands of Bostonians loaded on a vessel and unloaded 90,000 pounds of tea overboard. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met at Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia. The Congress composed a list of complaints against Britain. The Declaration of Rights was address to the King, because the colonies claimed Parliament did not represent them. The delegates agreed to meet in the next spring if their complaints had not been addressed. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress meeting started with the battle of Lexington and Concord. Delegates of the 13 colonies gathered to discuss their next steps in Philadelphia and the militia were still encamped outside of Boston. The Second Continental Congress established the militia as the Continental Army to represent the thirteen states. They elected George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. -
Declaration Of Independence
Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Livingston, and Sherman, where appointed by Congress to draft a Declaration. It first consitted of individual rights, and acts of tyranny by George the III that would justify the reason for Independence of Britain. On July 4th the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was approved. The elaborate signature of all on the Declaration would be John Hancocks which is no surprise be that he wanted immediate independence from Britain and held a strong role in War -
Article of Confederation Passes
After the ratification of the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress set to work on a document that would provide a framework for the Union. Dickinson presented a proposal of Articles to structure the government. Because fear of one centralized government, Dickinsons articles was changed before they where sent to be ratified. The Articles of Confederation helped the states excersice self-government. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War. The treaty gave independence to the U.S. and agreed that they be granted western territory in the U.S. It also established peace between Great Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands.
