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proclamation of 1763
british action: ordered all colonists to stay east of the appalachian mountains
rationale: it was best to avoid another conflict with the native americans, especially in the wake of the french and indian war
colonial reaction: resentment and failure to comply
rationale: many of the losses of the french and indian war were theirs, and without territorial expansion across the appalachians, they basically had nothing to show for it. -
sugar act
british action: reduce tax on sugar, but enforce it more effectively
rationale: the molasses act, which had been the previous tax on sugar, was a failure because it wasn't enforced, so this tax would be better enforced and a little bit smaller so it wouldn't be ignored as much
colonial reaction: boycotts
rationale: this tax angered the colonists, who were used to not having a tax on sugar, since everyone ignored the molasses act. -
currency act
british action: banned payment to british merchants in the form of colonial currency, which was unstable
rationale: the currency was so unstable that the merchants shouldn't have to accept it
colonial reaction: resentment
rationale: now colonial money was basically useless because british merchants refused to accept it. also, there was a very limited supply of gold and silver in the colonies. -
stamp act
british action: taxes printed paper goods
rationale: the british needed money in the aftermath of the french and indian war, and this tax couldn't really be avoided by a boycott.
colonial reaction: boycott, violence, petitions
rationale: this act was clearly just trying to tax the colonists, unlike the sugar act, which helped curb the illegal sugar trade. -
quartering act
british action: the colonists now had to supply soldiers with cetain items and lodging
rationale: the soldiers were there to protect the colonists, so they should supply them
colonial reaction: protest
rationale: the soldiers just drained resources, since this act was passed in peacetime -
repeal of stamp act and passage of declaratory act
british action: repeal the widely unpopular stamp act, but pass the declaratory act, which says that britain can tax without colonial authority
rationale: the stamp act wasn't working, but britain needed to impose its authority on the colonies
colonial reaction: rejoicing over the repeal of the stamp act, ignoring the declaratory act
rationale: the stamp act was widely unpopular, so it was greatly noticed that the tax was repealed, however, the declaratory act was ignored because it had no conse -
townshend duties
british action: taxed semi-luxury goods like paint, tea, lead, and glass
rationale: something had to be taxed, so these goods were ideal because they weren't as ubiquitous, and they were already expensive
colonial reaction: boycotts, newspaper attacks, petitions
rationale: the colonies were unrepresented in the decision to pass this tax, which was yet another obvious cash grab. -
tea act
british action: didn't tax the east india company's exports of tea so they could get rid of their massive surpluses
rationale: the east india company was very important to the british government, so it was considered a good idea to bail them out with this act
colonial reaction: protest, boycott, boston tea party
rationale: this meant that the east india company could undercut colonial merchants, so its obvious favoritism of british companies angered the colonists. -
intolerable acts
british action: punitive actions such as closing boston harbor
rationale: the people of boston had to be punished for the boston tea party, which was in obvious defiance of the law
colonial reaction: boycotts, convening of first continental congress
rationale: these clearly unjust acts had to be protested, so the first continental congress was convened to organize the protest -
lexington and concord
british action: the british came to get rid of a cache of weapons the americans had access to as well as arrest several revolutionary leaders
rationale: getting rid of their weapons and arresting their leaders would discourage the colonists from revolt
colonial reaction: armed conflict, paine's common sense
rationale: paine's common sense inflamed revolutionary passions by describing an ideal government, then comparing it to the british government. this brought support for independence. -
Second continental congress
Location: philadelphia, pennsylvania
Significance: served as political leadership during the war, creating a continental army, sending brtitain the olive branch petition, and eventually declaring independence.
Result: creation of a continental army under george washington, olive branch petition, declaration of independence.
Effect on war: creation of the continental army coordinated and united colonial soldiers into 1 army, rather than many militias. they signed the declaration of independence. -
Battle of bunker hill
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Significance: one of the first major battles of the revolution. inflicted heavy losses on the british, although losing control of boston.
Result: the colonists lost boston, but they did well in fighting the british and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.
Effect on war: the colonists got a major infusion of confidence upon hearing that their army had dealt so much damage to the british. However, boston was lost. -
declaration of independence
Location: philadelphia, pennsylvania
Significance: it declared the colonies independent from britain.
Result: the colonies were now declared independent from britain, resulting in a new wave of revolutionary fervor.
Effect on war: this meant that the soldiers now knew exactly what they were fighting for, bringing on a new wave of revolutionary fervor. this also polarized the moderates, so they were either on board or enemies. -
battle of saratoga
Location: stillwater, new york
Significance: this battle was a turning point in the war, resulting in aid from foreign countries.
Result: the victory here over the british forces in the north convinced france to help the americans in their cause for independence.
Effect on war: the french sent soldiers and more supplies to america to aid the revolution. -
battle of yorktown
Location: yorktown, virginia
Significance: this was essentially the last major battle of the revolutionary war. lord cornwallis surrendered his army, the last british army in america, at yorktown.
Result: the defeeat of conrwallis's army convinced the british to try for peace rather than send more men.
Effect on war: the war basically ended, since there were no more major british armies in america. -
treaty of paris
terms:
-the colonies were independent
-established the boundaries between british holdings and smerican lands
-the congress of the confederation would ask the states to return confiscated propety to loyalists
-america won't confiscate loyalist property again
-prisoners of war are released
-any of the british army's supplies in america belong to america now
-any american territory taken after the treaty will be returned
-both sides get access to the mississippi river
