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Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited any colonial settlement west of the Appalachian mountains. They did this in order to prevent further conflicts between settlers and Native Americans. The colonists reacted to this very furiously. Many ignored the proclamation and decided to move west, regardless of the law. -
Sugar act
The sugar act had already been around since the 1730's, yet it wasn't enforced until now. The law implied that all wealthy merchants had to pay taxes on sugar and molasses. This was the first tax on the American colonies imposed by the British Parliament, which made the colonists very upset because they had to pay. They were mostly upset because the King and parliament had taxed them without their consent. -
Stamp Act
This new tax didn't target only a certain group of people. It was imposed on all American colonists. Everybody was required to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. All of the colonists were mad because they thought the British Parliament shouldn't have the right to tax them. -
Repeal of Stamp Act
After months of protests from the colonists, Parliament finally repealed the stamp act. The colonists celebrated their victory. Even though they repealed the act, they passed another law that same day that stated that Parliament had the right to tax the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a colonial propaganda to turn something small into something big. The British Army soldiers shot and killed five people while under attack by a mob from the colonists. The colonists had had enough of being bossed around. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea party was caused by the Tea act. Boston patriots, dressed as Mohawk Indians, raided three British ships in Boston harbor. The colonist were mad that they had to pay taxes for the tea as well so they tossed 343 chests of tea at a cost of $18,000. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable acts are also referred to as the Coercive Acts. The British passed this law after the Boston Tea party. They were punitive laws to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their defiance in the Tea Party protest. The colonists were mad that they still couldn't win their protest. -
2nd Continental Congress/Declaration of Independence
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies. They met to figure out how would the colonist meet the military threat of the British. It was agreed that a Continental Army would be created. They later created the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, which stated that all have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.The colonies were happy that they were one step closer to Independence. -
Lexington and concord
Lexington and Concord was the first battle and is most famously known as the "The shot heard around the world." What lead to this battle was that the British troops were sent to confiscate colonial weapons. They then ran into militias who used guerrilla tactics on them and made the British retreat back to Boston. The Americans ended up winning that battle. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga is mostly known as the turning point of the war. Ben Franklin helped in getting French aid to help the Americans during the war. This gave the Patriots a crucial victory. -
Valley Forge
Valley Forge was a low point of the war for the Americans. The harsh winter was a great trial for the American army, and of the 11,000 soldiers stationed at Valley Forge, hundreds died from disease. The troops were held together because of loyalty to the Patriot cause and to General Washington, who stayed with his men. General Washington was able to get in touch with Frederick Von Steuben so that he could help and train them -
Battle of Yorktown
The battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the war. The Americans and the French forces defeat the British army. Although the war would last for another year, this British defeat at Yorktown effectively ended the war. The colonist will soon become Independent after the British gives up the fight.
