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French and Indian War
-This war began in 1754 and ended in1763.It began in America, with George Washington's clash in the Ohio Valley. It spread to the rest of the world, like in America, Europe, the West Indies, the Philippines, Africa and the ocean; and became known as the Seven Years' War. It went badly for Britain at first, though they emerged as the dominant power (naval as well) at the end of the war. -
Proclamation of 1763
-When Ottawa chief, Pontiac bagan a violent campaign to drive the British out of Ohio country, he killed many soldiers and settlers. The British retaliated, causing even more bloodshed. Due to a primitive version of biological warfare, the uprising was destroyed. Settlers began to trickle into the dam of the Appalachian Mountains, but the British government suddenly issued this act in 1763. It prohibited settlement in that area. This was established in order to protect the colonists. -
Sugar Act
- this was passed by British Prime Minister George Grenville, and it was the first law ever passed that raised tax revenue in the colonies for the crown. It increased the duty on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies. After many protests by the angered colonists, the duties were lowered substantially, and the protests died down.
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Stamp Act
Grenville issued this act as well, and it was thought to be the most odious of them all. It raised revenues to support the British military.The Stamp Act mandated the use of stamped paper or the affixing of stamps, certifying payment of tax. Stamps were required on many bills of sale, as well as on certain types of commercial and legal documents; including playing cards, pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas, bills of lading, and marrige licenses. -
Quartering Act
This act required certain colonies to provide food and quarters for British soldiers. It caused an uproar amongst the people. Grenville issued the act. -
Stamp Act Congress
This began when the colonists decided to speak out against the hated Stamp Act passed by Grenville. The Stamp Act Congress brought together 27 distinguished delagates from nine colonies to New York. Here they drew up a statement of their "rights and grievances" and they attempted to sway the king and Parliament to revoke the acts. It was largely ignored in England and had little impact in America.Though it brought together leaders from different and rival colonies together = intertribal unity. -
Declaratory Act
This act was pushed for by the king, as well as Parliament. It gave Parliament complete control over colonies. Now, whenever an act was put into place and the colonists did not like it, they were forced to comply with its demands, because it was the British government who now "held all the cards". This provoked the colonists, though this gave Britain a firm stance in their total control over the North American colonies. This act was one of the final catalysts for the upcoming American Revolution -
Stamp Act repealed
After a long debate, Parliament revoked the Stampt Act. -
Townshend Acts passed
Charles Townshend, who was gaining power in the London government at the time, issued these acts. These included a light tax on imported glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea. The British government used these tax incomes to pay the royal salerys of the British officials in America, something the colonists were not to pleased about. To get around this act colonists would smuggle their goods. In protest, the colonists would make it very difficult to port, and some ships didn't even attempt it. -
Britich Troops Occupy Boston
Two regiments of British troops landed in Boston, in order to keep a watch on the American colonists. The libery-loving colonists did not like having the "ruffian red coats" around, and many taunted them. Violence was sure to ensue. And when 60 colonist began to provoke 10 British troops, the Boston Massacre began. -
Townshend Acts Repealed
- Here, all Townshend acts were repealed exept for the tea tax. This angered the colonists, because most people drank tea twice a day, and this was the heaviest tax for them to pay.
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Boston Massacre
When colonists in Boston began to provoke 10 British soldiers, or "Red Coats", by throwing stones, snowballs, provoking them and using clubs; an open fire shooting began. Eleven colonists were killed, and more were injured. -
Boston Tea Party
By now, the colonists were completely infuriated with the tea tax. They were protesting as best they could, some ships couldn't even port due to their protesting. Also at this time, the British East India Tea Company was on the verge of bankrupcy, so they decided to try to sell the colonists, and only them- cheap tea. The people felt this was trying to "trick [them] into swallowing the priciple of the tax." So in 1773, disguised as Indians, they boarded ship + threw 342 chests of tea into Harbor -
"Intolerable" Acts
These were a set of Acts from Parliament that were called by the colonists as the "Intolerable Acts", because they were repulsed by them. These acts closed the Boston Harbor and shut off trade, took away the Massachusetts Charter, put restrictions on town meetings, and had the British officials that were on trial were sent back to England for English courts to try. -
Quebec Act
After the French and Indian War, there were 60,000 French subjects under the command of the British Government. The crown issued this act so as to establish a set of rules for them to follow. The act gave them religeous freedom, and they were allowed to keep their religeous customs. The French did their trials without a jury, and they did not have a representitive assembly. The American colonists were angered by this act because they believed it foreshadowed their own futures. -
First Continental Congress
This was held in Philadelphia, and 12 out of the 13 colonies showed up. Georgia was the colony who did not attend. There were 55 delagates, and they met for 7 weeks. Here they did not discuss independance, they really just wanted to reconcile with the crown, and to try to see eye-to-eye. Though John Adams was one who wanted full independance, and was ready to fight for it. He was able to sway many towards his revolutionary cause. Colonists wrote and appealed to the king, clash seemed imminent. -
Battle of Concord
The battle of Concord occured shortly after the Battle of Lexington because th towns were close together. The British troops were still after the gunpowder stored there, because they did not want the colonists to stir up a revolution. But this time, the colonists were ready. They fought back and forced the British to retreat.They killed 70 "Red Coats", and injured 230. This battle is considered an important battle for the colonists. -
Battle of Lexington
A British commander in Boston sent a detachment of soldiers to Lexington to sieze their supply of gunpowder, for they were worried that the colonists would take up arms against them. The "minutemen" who were the town's militia, didnt disperse rapidly enough, and they weren't ready for the attack. Eight were killed, and others were wounded in the scuffle. This became known as the Battle of Lexington, and was considered a British sucess. Next they moved on to Concord. -
Second Continental Congress
Included some of the same delagates as the first, like John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. Here they discussed liberty, legislation and fianancing the war that started not long before the 13 colonies got together for the Second Continental Congress. They also discussed the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, in order to completely seperate themselves from the motherland. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
In May, a small American force led by Ethen Allen and Benedict Arnold captured the British garrisons at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, in upper New York. They secured gunpowder and artillery for the siege of Boston. In June, the colonists siezed a hill, known as Bunker Hill. The British chose to blunder boldy into the enemy ranks rahter than cut off their retreat by atacking their flanks. The American colonists mowed them down with their fifteen hundred men. Was a defeat for col. but moral was upp -
Common Sense published
-This was written by radical Thomas Paine, and was one of the most influential pamphlets of all time.Once an impoverished corset-maker's apprentice, who came from Britain in 1775. Now, Common Sense has reached a total of 120,000 copies within just a few months. It called for a new kind of political society, not just independance, He wanted a republic.
