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Salutary Neglect
English officials lightly enforced new measuress as they settled into an overall colonial policy that became known as salutary neglect. Salutary neglect meant that England relaxed its enforcement of most regulations in return for the continued economic loyalty of the colonies. As long as raw materials continued flowing into the homelandand the colonists continued to buy English produced goods, Parliament did not supervisethe colonies closely. -
Mercantilism Theory
A country's ultimate goal was self-sufficiency, and all countries were in a competition to acquire the most gold and silver. The British interest in establishing colonies was influenced by this idea. Nations concentrated on the balance of trade, which was inspired by mercantilsim. -
French and Indian War
Also known as the seven years war. The French and Indian took place in the 18th century between France and England. Both countries conteseted land in the New World and war broke out in 1754. The Iroquois sided with the French when it was profitable to them, they were primarily French Allies, but would also side with the British. When the war broke out, the French moved troops into the Ohio River valley and claimed it. -
Proclamation of 1763
To prevent further conflict with the French King George III issued this royal proclamation. The proclamation forbid anyone from settling West of the Appalachin mountains. The colonist believe that they had fought the French and Indian war to earn the land, so they ignored the proclamation. The colonists were no longer blindly obeying the rule of England. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act was a tax placed on all paper goods. In order to get paper, you had to buy it with the stamp or logo already on it to show that the tax had been paid. Everything in the 18th century was done on paper, so it afected everyone and people were furious. The Stamp Act was the first of the acts that affected all levels of colonial society, rich and poor. -
Stamp Act Congress of 1765
October 1765, delegates from nine colonies met in New York City. This Stamp Act Congress issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which stated that Parliament lacked the power to impose taxes on the colonies because the colonies were not represented in Parliament. -
The Declaratory Act of 1766
Parliament repelled the Stamp Act; and to make its power clear, issued the Declaratory Act the same day. This act asserted Parliament's full right to make laws "to bind the colonies and people of America... in all cases whatsoever." -
The Townshend Acts
After the Stamp Act was repealed Charles Townshend, leading govt minister of the time, decided on a new method of gained revenue from the American colonies, these proposed laws passed by parliament in 1767, became known as the Townshend Acts. These were indirect taxes unlike the Stamp Act taxes. They were duties levied on imported materials as they came into the colonies from Britain. These acts also imposed a three-penny tax on tea. -
The Boston Massacre
An incident that led to the deaths of 5 civilians at the hands of British troops. A heavy British miliary presence in Boston lead to a tense situtation that boiled over into brawls between soldiers and civilians and eventually led to troops discharging their muskets. -
Tea Act
In 1772, the British East Indian Company was in serious financial trouble. In order to get out of this trouble, the company wanted the British government to give them an exclusive monopoly on the sale of tea in the colonies. This angered the colonists. It wasnt the price of the tea, rather the issue was that parilament was giving a monopoly to the company and putting colonial tea merchants out of business. This led to a boycott of all company tea by the colonists. -
Boston Tea Party
Large group of Boston rebels disguised themselves as Native Americans and proceeded to take action against three British tea ships anchored in the harbor. John Andrews later described what had happened. The Indians dumped 18,000 pounds of the East India Company's tea into the Boston Harbor. -
The Quartering Act
Apart of a series of measures parlaiment passed, known by the colonists as, the Intolerable Acts. Authorized British commanders to house soldiers in vacant private homes and other buildings. -
The Intolerable Acts
King George III was infurated by the organized destruction of British property from the Boston Tea Party, and he pressed Parliament to act. In 1774, Parliament responded by passing a series of measures known by the colonists as the intolerable acts. In addition to these measures, General Thomas Gage was appointed the new governor of Massachussetts. -
First Continental Congress
56 delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up a declaration of colonial rights. They defended the colonies to run their own affairs. They supported protests in Massachusetts and stated that if the British used force against the colonies, the colonies should fight back. They also agreed to reconvene if the demands were not met. -
Second Continental Congress
Colonial leaders convened a second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to debate their next move. Approved The Declaration of Independence and served as the only agency fo national government during the Revolutonary War. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
About 700 British army regulars were given secret orders to capture and destroy military supplies reportedly stoed by the Massachusetts militia at concord. The first shots were fired in Lexington where the minute men were outnumbered and fell back and the British proceeded to Concord. About 500 minure men fought and defeated 3 companies fo the Kings troops. The ournumbered regulars fell back -
Declaration of Independence
Announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britian were now independent states, no longer apart of the British Empire. Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson, it is a foraml explanation on why congress voted to decalre independence more than a year after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. -
Thomas Paine Writes Common Sense
In Common Sense, a 50 page pamplet, Thomas Paine atttacked King George III. Paine declared that it was time for colonisrts to proclaim an independent public. He argue that independence the american "destiny" would allow America to trade freely with other nations for guns and ammunition and win foreign aid from British enemies. Stated independence would help create a better society, free form tyranny. -
American Revolution Ends
The revolution came to an end when the Treaty of Paris was signed. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty that ended the Revolutionary War, confirming the independence of the United States and settling the boundaries of the new nation.
