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French-Indian War (1756-1763)
The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a conflict between Britain and France in North America, with both sides supported by various Native American tribes. The war was mainly fought over control of land and resources in the Ohio River Valley. Britain won the war, but the victory came at a high cost, leading to heavy taxes on the American colonies, which eventually contributed to the American Revolution. -
Navigation Acts (1763)
The Navigation Acts were a series of laws passed by the British government in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the 1763 version tightening control over colonial trade. These laws required that goods shipped to and from the American colonies had to be carried on British ships and pass through British ports. The Acts were intended to ensure that England benefited from the colonies' wealth, but they angered colonists. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was a law that required American colonists to provide housing and supplies to British soldiers stationed in the colonies. Colonists were angered, seeing it as another form of unfair control and invasion of their privacy. -
Stamp Act
This was a tax on paper products including newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, and even a deck of cards. Colonists strongly protested the tax, arguing that they shouldn't be taxed without representation in Parliament, which eventually led to the law being repealed in 1766. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws passed by the British government that placed taxes on imported goods like tea, glass, paper, and paint in the American colonies. The revenue was used to pay British officials in the colonies, which reduced the colonies' power over local governance. The acts led to widespread protests and boycotts. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred in 1770 when British soldiers killed five colonists during a confrontation in Boston. Tensions had been rising due to British taxes and troops stationed in the city. The event fueled anti-British sentiment and helped start the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party in 1773 was when colonists protested the Tea Act by dumping tea into Boston Harbor. This act increased tensions between the colonies and Britain, leading to harsher British laws.