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Road to Revolution
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French and Indian War 1756-1763
A war, also known as the Seven Year's War, that was seven years long between the colonies of British Americans and New France. It started as a struggle between the French and British over lands ( is now western Pennsylvannia and Ohio). Many Native Americans tribes sided with the French and fought with them against the British troops. The war was costly and Britain was left with a big debt. -
Sugar Act
There was taxes put on sugar and molasses that were imported from the French and Spanish West Indies. The Northern Merchants did not like it. In order to stop it, they raised money which led to the Stamp Act. -
Stamp Act
An act of British Parliament that exacted revenue from the American colonies by imposing a stamp duty on newspaper and legal and commerical documents. The purpose of taxing was to help to pay for troops in American after the British won the Seven Year's War and French and Indian War. The help encouraged the revolutionary movemennt against the Birtish Crown. -
Quartering Act
A law that was passed which stated that colonists must find quarters, or living space, for the British soldiers stationed in America. Colonists also had to give food to any Britush soldiers around. The colonists saw this as another attack on their rights. This lead to the Townshed Act. -
Boston Massacre
A street fight that was between a "partiot" mob throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers. Due to this, several colonists were killed. This led to a campaign by speech-writers to rouse the ire of the citizenry. -
Tea Act
Parliament passed at law which was designed to help a struggling British Company and reduce smuggling. Colonists were drinking smuggled Dutch tea and making "liberty tea". The East India Company was allowed to sell tea directly to the colonists so the tea was cheaper than smuggled tea. Colonsits did not like it and would not allow the ships to unload when they docked at the Boston Harbor. -
Boston Tea Party
A large and angry crowd gathered in downtown Boston and demanded tea ships to be sent back to London. They broke open chests of tea and dumped it into the harbor. The loss of valuable cargo infuritated the British officials and brought mor repressive laws. Tensions had been rising between Great Britian and its colonies. -
Intolerable Acts
In response to colonial protests, Britain passed a series of laws designed to punish the colonies, especially Massachusetts. The laws essentially took away the power of self-government on Massachusetts. The First Continetal Congress covened in Philadelphia and sent a list of grievances to Great Britain. -
First Continental Congress
A meeting of 12 colonial delegates in Philadelphia to decide how to respond to the absurd of authority by the British government. Georgia did not send delegates because they wanted Birtish help with the Native American conflicts and did not want to upset the British. It brought colonists together as Americans. -
"Give me liberty or give me death" speech
A speech given by Patrick Henry at the Virginia Convention. It convinced the convention to create a plan sending the Virgina troops for the Revolutuionary War. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were at the convention. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
A battle when 700 British troops advanced toward Concord to seize the colonists' military supplies. In Lexington, about 70 minutemen fight the British troops to withdraw. It is the beginning of the Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
A meeting that took place in Phildephia with the thirteen colonies. They met after the Revolutionary War and wanted to talk about independece which led to the United States Declaration of Independence. They also took care of the colonial war effort. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
A battle between the British and Americans in Massachusetts. The Americans went the Breed's hill accidentally and hid there to get closer to the British troops. The British were stunned the Americans threatened them and then demanded they attack the Americans. The British started to attack and when they were close to the Americans, the Americans decided to attack and soon many British died. -
Declaration of Independence
A document from the Continental Congress that states all people are equal and free, and have rights. It also states that the thirteen colonies are not with Great Britian anymore. We celebrate this act every Fourth of July to declare our independence. -
U.S. Constitution
A document that is a legal system for the country. It helps protect the citizens' rights and provided for increased federal authority. The first ten amendments in the consititution are known as the Bill of Rights.
