-
Writ of Assistance
The Writ of Assistance was a general search warrant that allowed British customs officials to search any colonial ship or building that they believed to be smuggling goods. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian war was a conflict in North America between Great Britain and France. It's also known as the Seven Years' War. The war was over the Ohio River valley. Both France and Great Britain wanted it to expand their settlements. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was a treaty that was signed by the Kingdoms of Britain, France, Portugal, and Spain. This was an agreement showing that Britain won the war over Spain and France. Britain claimed Canada and took virtually all of North America East of the Mississippi River. Britain also took Florida from Spain, which allied itself with France. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 established a Proclamation Line along the Appalachians. This meant the colonists were not allowed to cross, however the colonists were eager to expand and ignored the Proclamation and streamed into Native lands. -
Sugar Act and colonists response
The Sugar act was a law enacted by Parliament which did 3 things. It halved the duty on foreign made molasses, placed duties on certain imports that weren't taxed before, and most importantly provided that colonists accused of violating the act would go to a vice-admiralty court rather than a colonial one. Colonial merchants complained that the sugar act would reduce their profit. -
Stamp Act and colonists response
Parliament passed the Stamp Act in March of 1765. This act imposed a tax on documents and printed items. A stamp would be placed on the item to prove the tax was paid. In May of 1765 the colonists united to defy the law. They formed a secret organization called the Sons of Liberty which protested against it. -
Sons of Liberty is formed and Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams is one of the founders of the Sons of Liberty. The colonists started boycotting British goods. -
Townshend Acts and colonists response(why they repealed)
The Townshend Act taxed goods that were imported into the colony that were imported from Britain. Samuel Adams who led the Sons of Liberty again started boycotting British goods. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston massacre was a confrontation on King Street where British soldiers open fired on civilians killing and injuring several of them. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act shut out colonial tea merchants and gave the East India Company special concessions to save the nearly bankrupt East India company. -
Boston Tea Party
A large group of Boston rebels disguised themselves as Indians and boarded British tea ships in the harbor and dumped 18,000 pounds of tea. -
First Continental Congress meets
In response to the intolerable acts the committees assembled the First Continental Congress. They drew up declaration of colonial rights and defended the colonies and stated that if the British used force against them they would fight back. -
Intolerable Acts
King George was infuriated and pressed Parliament to act due to the Boston Tea Party. Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts. One law shut down the Boston Harbor. Another, the
Quartering Act, authorized British commanders to house soldiers in vacant private homes and other buildings. In addition to these measures, General Thomas Gage, commander-in-chief of British forces in North America, was appointed the
new governor of Massachusetts. -
Minutemen
Minutemen—civilian soldiers who pledged to be ready to fight against the British on a minute’s notice—quietly
stockpiled firearms and gunpowder. -
Second Continental Congress meets
Colonial leaders called the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to debate their next move. The loyalties that divided colonists sparked endless debates at the Second Continental Congress. Some delegates called for independence, while others
argued for reconciliation with Great Britain. -
Olive Branch Petition
On July 8, Congress sent the king the so-called Olive Branch Petition, urging a return to “the former harmony” between Britain and the colonies. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament passed the Declaratory Act which "to blind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever".
