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The first comprehensive slave code passed by the House of Burgesses
This code comprehensively covered the legal details of the institution of slavery in Virginia at the time. -
Early Piety is published
Early Piety, a collection of sermons, was published by a group of New England ministers. This publication aided in triggering the great awakening. -
Slave rebellion in New York
A rebellion of enslaved people erupted, killing 9 white colonists. 26 slaves died as retribution, either by execution or suicide. -
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The first Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a revival of sorts that spread throughout America. It advocated a return to a more pious lifestyle. -
The Stono Rebellion
The Stono Rebellion consisted of a group of around 80 enslaved people marching to Spanish Florida seeking freedom. They killed at least 20 white settlers along their route, and burned multiple plantations. They were captured by the local militia and either were killed or sent to the West Indies. -
Law is passed that allows the killing of a rebellious enslaved person
A law is passed that removes repercussions for killing rebellious enslaved people, and treats the murder of an enslaved person as a minor misdemeanor. -
Slavery was legalized in every North American colony
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Currency Act of 1751 was passed
The first of the currency acts that were passed by the Board of Trade with the purpose of restricting the use of paper money in the colonies. -
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The Seven Years' War
This war was originally sourced with a feud between colonial England and colonial France over borders. A French diplomat was killed, turning the feud into a full on war. This war spread overseas when British-allied Frederick II of Prussia invaded the neutral state of Saxony. This resulted in a battle between Prussia and its allies, including Britain, and a coalition of countries, including France. -
Fort William Henry is burnt
Forst William Henry, a British outpost, is burnt by the French during the Seven Years' War. -
Quakers disowned slave traders
By 1758, Quakers disowned people engaged in the slave trade. -
Currency Act of 1763 is passed
The second of the currency acts that were passed by the Board of Trade with the purpose of restricting the use of paper money in the colonies. -
The Royal Proclamation of 1763
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 forbade settlement West of the Appalachian mountains in an attempt to avoid wars with Native Americans. -
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Pontiac's War
Pontiac's War was an altercation that involved numerous different Native American peoples, along with colonists. It was initialized by the Ottawa leader, Pontiac. His actions were influenced by the words of Neolin, a Native American prophet, who preached that the only way to enter heaven would be to drive the colonists out. Pontiac attacked Fort Detroit. This sparked a several year conflict involving many parties, ending with Pontiac and the British colonists settling for peace. -
The Sugar Act was passed
Passed by the British Parliament, the Sugar Act was a tax on sugar that was imported into the American colonies. -
The Stamp Act was passed
The Stamp Act was another attempt to tax the colonists, this time the target being paper. This tax was different from the previous act due to it being direct rather than taking the form of a duty. This caused controversy among the colonists, who viewed this act as infringing upon their rights. -
The Townshend Acts are passed
The Townshend Acts created customs duties on common items, as opposed to direct taxes. -
The Boston Massacre
A major event in the lead up to the American Revolution, the Boston Massacre happened on March 5th, 1770. A group of Bostonians were harassing a young sentry outside the Custom House. Backup came, and tensions rose until the soldiers fired, killing 5 Bostonians. This event spread quickly, garnering sympathy for Boston. -
Quakers expelled enslavers from their meetings
By 1772, Quakers could be expelled from meetings if they disowned slaves. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an act of resistance by the Boston Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The Sons of Liberty boarded docked East India Company ships, dumped their loads of tea overboard, and left. They did this in defiance of Britain on principle, who was aiding the East India Tea Company through the Tea Act, which allowed the company to sell its tea to the colonists without having to pay the usual tax. Buying the tea would have been acceptance of taxation. -
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The American Revolution
The American Revolution is one of the most important battles in U.S. history. It brought us our independence, and formed the nation that we know today. -
The battle of Lexington
The battle of Lexington marked the beginning of the American Revolution. This battle was a result of resistance against British regiments that came to Lexington to seize arms and ammunition. -
Robert Bell issues hundreds of thousands of copies of Common Sense
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The Declaration of Independence was approved