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French and Indian War
Started first by George Washington in Ohio, the war stemmed out into a world-wide conflict known as the Seven years war. France was successful at first while defending the frontier forts, but eventually great leadership and a changed strategy allowed the British to win the war. After the British took Louisburg, they made their way down the St. Lawrence River to take on and later defeat the French forces at their two main settlements of Quebec and then Montreal. -
Proclamation of 1763
This was when the London government issued this proclamation to prohibit settlement in the area beyond the Appalachians. The Proclamation was made to prevent any other possible bloody eruptions between the settlers and Indians. -
Sugar Act (American Revenue Act)
Sugar Act—First law ever passed by the Parliament for raising tax revenue in the colonies for the crown. Increased the duty on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies. After bitter protest, the duties were lowered and the agitation died down. -
Stamp Act
This act mandated the use of stamped paper for legal documents, diplomas, almanacs, broadsides, newspapers and playing cards, certifying payment of tax. The funds accumulated were mainly to raise revenues to support the new military force of the British soldiers protecting the American colonies. -
Quartering Act
In 1765 the act was enacted and required of certain colonies to provide food and quarters for British troops. -
Stamp Act Congress
Stamp Act Congress met in October of 1765. The act was mainly to raise money for the new military in America. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament passed this act, reaffirming its right to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever. -
Townshend Acts(The Revenue Act)
Townshend Acts—In 1767 "Champagne Charley" Townshend persuaded Parliament to pass the Townshend Acts. These acts put a light import duty on glass, white lead, paper, paint and tea. The acts met slight protest from the colonists, who found ways around the taxes such as buying smuggled tea. -
British Troops Occupy Boston
In October of 1768 the British troops were brought to the colonies because of the Townshend acts. -
Townshend Acts (The Revenue Act) repealed
Townshend Acts repealed- Due to its minute profits, the Townshend Acts were repealed in 1770, except for the tax on tea. The tax on tea was kept to keep alive the principle of Parliamentary taxation. -
Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre—A group of 60 townspeople set upon 10 redcoats. Acting without orders but under extreme provocation, the troops opened fire and killed/wounded eleven “innocent” citizens. Both sides were in some degree to blame. Only 2 redcoats found guilty of manslaughter. -
Boston Tea Party
On November 28 the Dartmouth arrived in Boston harbor with a cargo of Darjeeling tea. Two other ships, the Beaver and the Eleanor, arrived with more deliveries from the East India Company. The vessels were boarded, the cargo carefully taken from the holds and placed on the decks. There, 342 chests were split open and thrown into the harbor.
Liberty Kids:The Boston Tea Party -
"Intolerable Acts"
In 1774 parliament passed a series of acts designed to chastise Boston. They were branded in America as ‘the massacre of American Liberty’ The most dramatic was the Boston Port Act which was later joined by the Quebec Act in 1774.
Liberty Kids: "Intolerable Acts" -
Quebec Act
The act was designed to afford greater rights to the French inhabitants of Canada. The act provided a new governor and council to govern affairs in Quebec, the French civil code was officially recognized for use in Quebec, recognition was given to the Roman Catholic Church in Quebec, and the administrative boundaries of Quebec were extended south to the Ohio River and west to the Mississippi rivers. -
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First Continental Congress
Met in 1774 in Philadelphia. 12 out of 13 colonies arrived (Georgia didn’t show up). The congress consisted of 55 delegates who met for 7 weeks. They wrote appeals to king, colonists, & British people and decided that they would meet again in May 1775 if necessary. -
Battle of Concord (War of Independence)
On April 19, 1775 a British commander in Boston sent a detachment of troops to nearby Lexington and Concord. The red coats pushed onto Concord after Lexington. 70 red coats were killed and 230 injured. The British were forced to retreat because of the “rough and ready Americans”. -
Battle of Lexington
In the village of Lexington, the residents had been preparing for a fight they thought was imminent. On the evening of April 18, 1775, many of Captain John Parker’s militiamen gathered in a local tavern to await word about the movement of British soldiers. Shots quickly followed, and when the smoke cleared, eight Americans lay dead and 10 were wounded. One British soldier was slightly wounded. The outmatched Minutemen retreated into the nearby woods and the redcoats proceeded westward to their m -
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Second Continental Congress
From 1775-1776, the Second Continental Congress met. They selected George Washington to head the army besieging Boston and in July of 1775, they adopted the "Olive Branch Petition", which professed American loyalty to the king and begged to the king to stop further hostilities
<a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ1dktC5ykU&feature=related' >Liberty Kids:Second Continental Congress -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The patriots heard through their spies that the British were planning to attack Bunker Hill. The patriots sent 1600 men to set up fortifications on Breed's Hill (Bunker Hill), which was closer to Boston. On June 17, 1775 General Howe led 2600 British soldiers up Breed's Hill. British warships also fired on the Patriots position. The Americans held off two British charges, but were finally
<a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaAIk6ydRwg&feature=related' >
Liberty Kids:Battle of Bunker Hill -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Published anonymously by Thomas Paine in January of 1776, Common Sense was an instant best-seller, both in the colonies and in Europe. It went through several editions in Philadelphia, and was republished in all parts of United America. Because of it, Paine became internationally famous. Common Sense advocated an immediate declaration of independence, postulating a special moral obligation of Americ
<a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usvlOOkjHII&feature=related' >
Liberty Kids:Common Sense
