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Proclamation Act of 1763
This act was issued by the UK in the name of King Charles III to prohibit settlement by British colonists beyond the Appalachian Mountains in land gained by Britain from France During the French and Indians war. The purpose was to avoid expenses if Indians revolted. It was ignored by American colonist and caused resentment toward the British government by the colonists(especially Virginia) and was one contributing factor to the American Revolutionary War. -
Sugar Act of 1764
These acts were passed by the British government on the American colonist placing laws that put new taxes on paper, paint, lead, glass, tea, and gave British officials the right to the colonists businesses and homes. The money placed on these goods would pay for the governors and officials. Colonists believed it was unconstitutional for the Parliament to place taxes and laws on them without representation for them. Eventually the colonists did receive some rights back. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act was a law passed by the British government in 1765. It meant that all legal documents/printed papers used in the American colonies had to have an official stamp. England passed the it without the permission of colonists. They were taxed by a government )did not allow them to take part in political decisions). Because it didn't benefit the colonist but the British government, they thought the Stamp Act was considered unjust. This was the first time the British taxed the colonists. -
Townshend Acts
This was a series of laws passed by British government in American colonies against the colonists. They established an American Customs Board in Boston to collect taxes, places new taxes on imports of paper, paint, lead, glass, and tea, and gave British officials the right to search colonists homes, cargo and businesses and they thought it was an invasion of privacy to do this. Basically, the Townshend acts took away freedoms/ rights and made new taxes toward American colonists. -
Boston Massacre
This was an event after the Townshend Acts that lead to the American Revolution. A mob of colonists with weapons and snow approached British officials. Paul Revere made a illustration of the setting but was trying to turn people away from the governments ways. It made the colonists seem like the victims but the officers only fired after colonists approached/threatened them. A man by the name of Crispus Attucks is the only victim widely known but five colonists total were killed. -
Tea Act of 1773
This act forced American colonists to buy tea from East India Company. They had millions pounds of unsold tea and the shipped cargo directly to colonies and at a bargain. But there was already, in this point of time, tax on tea exportation(Townshend Acts) and this company was a big actor in British Economy. It sold access tea at a low price. Like all the other acts, the British parliament Passed the act without notifying colonists or even remotely thinking about them or the effects. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest by American Colonists against the British government. The colonist boarded trade ships in the Boston Harbor and threw the ships cargo overboard.They were disguised as Mohawk Indians but it didn't fool the British. Total of 342 chests were destroyed. This all happened as a reaction to the Tea Act and how the British government forced them to only purchase tea from East India Trading company. Colonist thought not having a say in the British Parliament was unfair. -
Paul Revere's Ride
During his rides, his job was to notify John Hancock and Samuel Adams and tell them if the British were coming. He would alert the other riders and colonists to prepare for battle. Just in case the message didn't transfer, Robert Newman was to set lanterns in the steeple of the Old North Church to alert the colonists in Charleston. He would put one lantern if the British were coming by land and two if they were coming by sea. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
British general wanted to prevent violence and ordering a seizure of weapons stored in Concord, MA. John Parker and his militiamen were bared with arms. After the first shot, 7 militiamen were killed and minutemen, perching behind trees, rocks and buildings, forced British to retreat. After the fighting had finally ceased, British had 73 men killed and more wounded, compared to the Patriots loss of 49 men. Till this day, nobody knows who took the first shot. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
After the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the victorious colonial militiamen followed Britain army into Boston. Under command of William Prescott, the colonists occupied Bunker Hill on the north and Breed's Hill closer to Boston. William Prescott, allegedly encouraged his men “not fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” The British attacked colonial forces in uniform/ perfect battle formations. This was a victory for the British but proved colonial militia could stand up to British Army. -
Siege of Boston
The British and American militia were gathering numbers. Soon, the British were out numbered.The militiamen surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army who were garrisoned there. The Siege of Boston began with the Battle of Chelsea Creek. In the end, the Colonies had control of Boston which include the port of Boston so they could cut of food supplies to Great Britain. 419 militiamen were killed and 1,170 British soldiers. -
Battle of Monmouth
This was between the troops of the colonist militia men and Britain near Monmouth Court House. The Americans stoped the British, coming from New Jersey, on their way to expand. But in the end nobody really won except Americans were able to bother Clinton’s force and the British were able to escape to New York with most of their supplies with them. But the militia were able to keep up with one of the strongest army troops during this time period. -
The Declaration of Independence
This document, created by Thomas Jefferson, was made to gain Independence of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain. The colonist believed that it was outrageous that they had to pay taxes to the government but have no say in making political decisions. The final draft of the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, but the actual signing of the final document was on August 2, 1776. John Hancock was the first to sign along with 55 others -
Battle of Long Island
Battle of Long Island was fought at western edge of Long Island in the present-day borough of Brooklyn, New York. The battle was part of British campaign to seize control of New York and isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. British troops attacked early in the morning. After nearly surrounding the colonists, they halted the attack to prevent a repeat of Bunker Hill. Eventually, colonists were forced to retreat and was a victory for Great Britain. -
Battle of Trenton
Because of weather, American troops only had 2,400 men and 18 cannons made it across then broken up into two groups. One group went west, the other took the cannon to the north end of town. George Washington pulled through with the small but well planned and strategic win. 2 American soldiers froze to death, 5 wounded; Hessian, some 22 dead, 90 wounded, 918 captured. -
Battle of Bennington
John Burgoyne divided his army and sent German, British, Loyalist, and Indian forces toward Bennington with leadership of Friedrich Baum. Not long after the long journeys for both sides, Patriot forces had Baum(wounded) and his men surrounded. Many Indian/ Loyalist allies fled during battle. More than 200 dead/ wounded for the British army; more than 700 were taken prisoner/ missing. American casualties were around 70. Indian help lost faith in Burgoyne's army after the defeat/ left army. -
Battle of Germantown
This took place at Germantown, Pennsylvania just outside Philadelphia. Washington wanted to surprise British by attacking in the early morning. All of his columns were ordered to attack at 5am. But the fog caused troops to move slower. But also 120 British soldiers were in something called the chew house. As columns came together, they started firing at each other. When laid out in writing it seemed like a good idea but when trying to execute it wasn't working as planned. -
Battle of Saratoga
British general John Burgoyne tried to divided his men into three columns. Opposing Burgoyne was the Northern Department of the Continental Army, commanded by General Horatio Gates. His army had 8,500 men, including 500 elite Virginian riflemen under Daniel Morgan. On October 7, receiving intelligence that Burgoyne’s men were on the move, Americans attacked the British position, forcing the enemy back. Burgoyne’s army attempted to escape north, two days later they were surrounded. -
Battle of Cowpens
Under command of Brigadier General Daniel Morgan and British under Lieutenant Colonel Sir Banastre Tarleton, the Battle of Cowpens begun. Morgan positioned his men into three columns, riflemen(150 in 1st, )were told to retreat after job. Then the others take over. Riflemen took out several British officers. After losing many battles in South, the Continental Army defeated the British in a decisive victory. They obtained minimal casualties. The British suffered 110 dead, over 200 wounded. -
Siege of Yorktown
The battle pitted General George Washington, aided by French General de Rochambeau against British General Lord Cornwallis. In the beginning of the American Revolution because of numbers and precision, it seemed almost impossible to beat the British troops. The British official casualty return for the siege listed 156 killed, 326 wounded and 70 missing. Cornwallis surrendered 7,087 officers. This was the last battle for independence and the colonist won.
