-
French-Indian War
The French and Indian War was a conflict between France and Britain in North America, with Native American tribes allied on both sides. It was fought over control of the Ohio River Valley. The war ended with a British victory and the Treaty of Paris , in which France ceded Canada and territories east of the Mississippi River to Britain. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were British laws that restricted colonial trade to benefit England. They required goods to be shipped on British ships and limited trade with other nations. This fueled colonial resentment, contributing to the American Revolution. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act (1765) was a British law taxing printed materials like newspapers and legal documents in the American colonies. It was the first direct tax on colonists, causing widespread protests, the Stamp Act Congress, and the slogan "No taxation without representation." Strong opposition led to its repeal in 1766 but increased tensions that fueled the American Revolution. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required American colonists to provide housing, food, and supplies for British soldiers stationed in the colonies. Many saw it as an abuse of power, increasing colonial resentment and fueling opposition to British rule, contributing to the American Revolution. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of British laws that taxed imported goods like paper, glass, paint, lead, and tea in the American colonies. The funds raised were used to pay British officials in the colonies, weakening local control. This led to widespread protests, boycotts, and growing resentment. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre (1770) occurred when British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of colonists, killing five people. Tensions had been rising due to British troops enforcing unpopular laws. The incident was widely publicized and used as propaganda to rally colonists against British rule, increasing animosity and contributing to the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest by American colonists against the British Tea Act. Colonists, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, protesting the monopoly on tea and taxation without representation. -
Intolerable Acts (aka Coercive Acts)
The Intolerable Acts , also known as the Coercive Acts, were punitive laws passed by Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party. They closed Boston's port, limited self-government in Massachusetts, and allowed British officials to be tried in Britain, angering colonists and leading to increased resistance. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first military conflict of the American Revolution. British troops attempted to seize colonial weapons in Concord, but were met with armed resistance in Lexington and Concord, sparking open fighting. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a final attempt by the American colonies to avoid war with Britain. It appealed to King George III for peace and asked him to protect colonial rights, but it was rejected, leading to the start of the Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress (1775-1781) was a meeting of colonial leaders who managed the colonies' war effort during the American Revolution. It established the Continental Army, appointed George Washington as its commander, and later signed the Declaration of Independence. -
Common Sense
Common Sense by Thomas Paine was a pamphlet that criticized British rule and strongly advocated for American independence. It argued that it was unnatural for a small, distant island like Britain to rule a large continent and inspired widespread support for the Revolutionary War -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence (1776) was a document written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the American colonies' independence from Britain. It outlined grievances against King George III and affirmed the colonies' right to self-govern. It marked the formal beginning of the American Revolution. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, establishing a weak central government with limited powers. It gave most authority to the states, leading to economic and political challenges, and was replaced by the U.S. Constitution. -
Daniel Shays’ Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787) was an armed uprising led by Daniel Shays, a former Revolutionary War soldier, in Massachusetts. It was fueled by economic hardships and tax burdens on farmers. The rebellion highlighted weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and pushed for a stronger central government. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. Delegates, including George Washington and James Madison, ultimately decided to draft a new constitution, creating a stronger federal government with an executive, legislative, and judicial branch, and a system of checks and balances. The resulting U.S. The Constitution was signed in September 1787 and ratified in 1788.