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The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious revival that started unexpectedly in the New England church. Johnathan Edwards was one of the first to witness astounding results from his preaching. Other preachers such as George Whitfield would soon follow with the same zeal as Edwards -
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The Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War began earlier in the colonies than it did in Europe. It started in 1754 when some English colonists and Native Americans lead by George Washington killed a French Diplomat. The French fought back at the colonies. Europe finally joined the war in 1756, where England overcame early defeats to end the war in North America in 1760. The continued to fight Spain until 1763. -
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Pontiac's War
Encouraged by a Native prophet, Pontiac, an Ottawa leader, rose up against the colonists. Though they Natives did not win, the peace agreement forced the British to realize they would have to protect the Natives if they wanted to keep peace in the West. -
The Sugar Act
One of the first acts that truly upset the colonists was the Sugar Act. The duty was cut in half, but it was enforced much more strictly. Additionally, smugglers would be tried by vice-admiralty courts instead of juries. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the first act to actually create a new tax. It required all paper to have stamps in order to show the proper duty had been paid. It affected a wider range of colonists than the Sugar Act. -
The Sons of Liberty are formed, the Stamp Act is repealed
The Sons of Liberty were a group of men who organized resistance against the stamp collectors. Their actions along with the growing violence in the colonies lead to Parliament repealing the Stamp Act. -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were new duties on items such as lead, glass, paint, and tea. While in theory they were not taxes, many colonists viewed them as such since they were designed to gain revenue from the colonies. -
The Boston Massacre
Several young men began throwing things at a British sentry. When soldiers who came to help quell the riot shot into the crowd, they killed five people. It was quickly labeled as a Massacre despite the fact it was nothing of the sort. -
The First Continental Congress
Delegates from every colony except Georgia met and drafted a “Declaration of Rights and Grievances.” Their main complaint was that they should be treated as native Britons. They could not be taxed without representatives and they had the right to trial by jury. -
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The American Revolution
The American Revolution ended in the colonies becoming a separate nation from England. It was the birth of the United States of America. -
The colonies declare independence
About a year after the war started, congress finally agreed to declare independence from England. -
The Constitution
After much debate about its usefulness, all state ratified it and George Washington became president about a year later.