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Navigation Acts
A series of British laws aimed at controlling colonial trade to benefit the British economy, restricting certain goods to be shipped only to England or other British colonies. -
French-Indian War
Fought between British and French forces in North America, with Native American allies. The British victory expanded their territory, but they were left with significant debt, which led to increased taxes on the American colonies -
Stamp Act
A law imposing a direct tax on the American colonies, requiring them to purchase a stamp for official documents, newspapers, and playing cards. This was highly unpopular and led to widespread protests. -
Quartering Act
Required colonial assemblies to house and provide supplies for British soldiers stationed in the colonies. This act was seen as an infringement on colonial rights. -
Townshend Acts
A series of laws that taxed goods imported to the colonies (such as glass, paper, tea). The funds raised were used to pay British officials in the colonies, making them less dependent on colonial governments. -
Boston Massacre
A confrontation in which British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of colonists, killing five people. This event was heavily publicized and used as propaganda against British rule. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. British troops marched to Concord to seize colonial weapons, but colonial militias confronted them in Lexington and Concord. The first shot fired was the "shot heard 'round the world," marking the start of the conflict between the colonies and Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
A key act of resistance against British taxation. American colonists, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water to protest the Tea Act, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of punitive laws passed by the British government in response to the Boston Tea Party. They included the closure of Boston Harbor until the destroyed tea was paid for, the restriction of colonial self-government in Massachusetts, and the quartering of British soldiers in colonial homes. These acts were seen as draconian and were a catalyst for further resistance, leading to the convening of the First Continental Congress. -
Olive Branch Petition
A final attempt by the Continental Congress to avoid full-scale war with Britain. The petition, sent to King George III, expressed loyalty to the crown but also urged the king to end the hostilities. The king rejected it, and this pushed the colonies closer to declaring independence. -
Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that argued for American independence from Britain in clear, straightforward language. It was highly influential in swaying public opinion and was a key factor in encouraging the colonies to break away from British rule. -
. Declaration of Independence
Adopted on July 4, 1776, this document, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, formally declared the American colonies' independence from Britain. It outlined the philosophical justification for the colonies' decision, including the belief in natural rights and the social contract, and listed grievances against King George III. -
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States, which created a loose confederation of states with a weak central government. It lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws, leading to significant weaknesses in governance. It was eventually replaced by the U.S. Constitution in 1789 after it became clear that a stronger national government was necessary. -
Second Continental Congress
Convened shortly after the Battle of Lexington and Concord, it served as the de facto government of the thirteen American colonies during the Revolutionary War. It managed the war effort, raised armies (including appointing George Washington as commander-in-chief), and eventually moved toward declaring independence. -
Daniel Shays' Rebellion
A post-Revolutionary War uprising led by former soldiers and farmers in Massachusetts, protesting economic injustices, particularly high taxes and debt. The rebellion exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, as the federal government was unable to quell the rebellion. This contributed to the call for a new constitution. -
Constitutional Convention
A meeting convened in Philadelphia to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Delegates from the states, including George Washington and James Madison, drafted the U.S. Constitution, which created a stronger federal government with a system of checks and balances. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified in 1789.