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French-Indian War
A conflict between the French and English occurred on American territory concerning control of the Ohio River Valley, culminating in the English victory in 1763. Its historical importance lies in establishing England as the leading global power and gradually shifting the colonists' perceptions of England negatively. -
Navigation Acts
A set of regulations that limited the use of foreign shipping exclusively for trade between England and its colonies. -
Stamp Act
On March 22, 1765, the British Parliament enacted the Stamp Act, a tax that affected all American colonists. This new law mandated that they pay a tax on each piece of printed paper they utilized, which included ship's documents, legal papers, licenses, newspapers, other forms of publication, and even playing cards. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was enacted by Parliament in 1765, requiring colonists to provide housing and food for British soldiers. If the colonists were unable to accommodate the soldiers due to lack of space or food, the soldiers were directed to stay at alternative locations such as a winery, public inn, another residence, or any public facility. -
Townshend Acts
In 1767, the British government enacted a series of laws that imposed regulations on the American colonies. -
Boston Massacre
The incident known as the Boston Massacre took place on March 5, 1770, when British soldiers stationed in Boston fired upon a gathering of American colonists, resulting in the deaths of five indviduals. -
Boston Tea Party
The political protest initiated by the Sons of Liberty was a demonstration of opposition to a particular issue. -
Intolerable Acts (aka Coercive Acts)
The Intolerable Acts were enacted in the 1770s as a reaction to the Boston Tea Party, during which colonists disposed of $10,000 worth of tea in the harbor. These laws targeted Massachusetts until the city compensated for the lost tea. Enacted by the British Parliament, the acts resulted in the closure of Boston's port, the prohibition of town meetings, and the appointment of General Thomas Gage as the new governor of the colony. -
Olive Branch Petition
In the 1770's, the Second Continental Congress tried to make peace with King George III by sending the Olive Branch Petition. But King George III was not having it - he straight up rejected the petition. He said the colonies were rebelling and if they kept it up, they'd be treated as traitors and face the death penalty. This was a big deal because it marked the moment when the colonies realized they were headed for war with England. -
Second Continental Congress
In 1775, they convented to establish the Continental Army, urged the colonies to provide soldiers, chose George Washington as its leader, and formed a committee to create the Declaration of Independence. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord (aka “The Shot Heard Around the World”)
In Lexington, Captain John Parker led 70 Minutemen to attack the red coats. Suddenly, a shot was fired out of nowhere, known as "the shot heard around the world." It sparked a battle between both sides, resulting in 18 Minutemen losing their lives. The British troops then marched towards Concord, Massachusetts, spreading word to the colonists that they were on their way. -
Common Sense
In 1776, Thomas Paine authored a pamphlet asserting that the colonies had the right to become an independent nation, contending that it was "common sense" to no longer submit to the "royal brute" King George III. -
Declaration of Independence
A document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress asserting the Independence of the colonies from Great Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
America's original constitution was the Articles of Confederation. The government of the thirteen-state union was formally created by this agreement. -
Daniel Shays’ Rebellion
In an attempt to stop foreclosing on the farms of people who were unable to pay their taxes, Daniel Shays led an uprising in Massachusetts that led many to denounce the Articles of Confederation and acknowledge the ineffectiveness of the weak central authority. -
Constitutional Convention (aka Philadelphia Convention)
Prominent American delegates, or politicians, gathered in Philadelphia to amend (fix) the Articles of Confederation, resulting in the US Constitution being written.