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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a time when people started to think more and question things such as religion. These people were influenced by philosophers such as Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton. One of the outstanding Enlightenment figures was Benjamin Franklin. -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a war between the French and Indians against the British and their colonies. This war was started because France controlled a large portion of North America, and England wanted it. The French teamed up with the Natives with whom they were friendly with but were still vastly outnumbered by the British-Colony army. However, the Colonies were not united and did things seperately. During this war the Colonies realized that the no longer needed the English's help. -
The Proclomation of 1763
To avoid further conflict, the British Government established the Proclomation of 1763. This banned all stettlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
The Sugar Act
-Halved the duty on foreign-made molasses
-Added taxes on certain exports
-Strengthened the enforcement of the law allowing prosecutors to try smuggling in a vice-admiralty court rather than a more sympathetic colonial court -
The Stamp Act
Required colonist to buy special stamped papers for legal documents, liscenses, newspapers, pamphlets, and almanacs. -
The Townshend Acts
These were indirect taxes on materials such as glass, lead, paint, and paper- as they were imported by the Colonies. It also placed a three penny tax on tea. -
The Boston Massacre
A bunch of angry colonist who gathered in front of the Customs House in boston and taunted guards. The guards eventually fired into the mob and killed several, thus it was called the Boston Massacre. -
The Intolerable Acts
-Shut down Boston Harbor
-Authorized British Commanders to house soldiers in vacant private homes
-General Thomas Gage was appointed governor of Massachusetts and placed Boston under martial law. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
The colonist fought the British with their minutemen, or civilian soldiers. Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott go on their midnight ride to warn the colonist that the British Regulars were comming.
