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French and Indian War, also known as "Seven Years War"
Between the French and the British, the French and Indian war lasted from 1754 to 1763 for nine years in North America. Two Native American tribes helped the two countries, the Huron with the French and the Iroquois and colonists with the British. They fought because they both wanted control of the fur trade and the fish in North America. The British ended up winning the war, but it caused great debt for them and King George, and the French to lost a lot of land. -
Proclamation of 1763
Provided by King George III, the Proclamation of 1763 said that all lands west of the Appalachians in the Thriteen Colonies belonged to the Native Americans, and the lands were forbidden to the colonists. King George did this because of the French and Indian War. This act was mostly to keep the British soldiers safe from Native American attacks. This caused the colonists to get very angry with King George. This was one of the many events that got colonists to rebel against King George's laws. -
Sugar Act
This act was passed on by King George and Parliament, and it was the first act to pass taxes. This act put taxes on sugar and molasses in the Thirteen Colonies, and smuggling was prevented by the British navy. Those arrested had unfair trials. King George did this because he was still in debt from the French and Indian War. The Sugar Act was another of King George's acts that caused the colonists angry. Also, these taxes on sugar and molasses caused a following event called the Stamp Act. -
Stamp Act
A new way o tax colonists in the Thirteen Colonies, the Stamp Act was passed on by King George and British Parliament. The Stamp Act said that everyone had to pay for special stamps to put on all paper products. This once again was another way to get King George out of his debt. A new group of colonists called the Sons of Liberty rebelled against this, Sam Adams leading them through it. The other colonists were angry too, starting the "No taxation without Representation!" rebellion. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend acts, yet another way to tax colonists, was once again provided by King George. He put taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. Colonists were especially angry for the tea taxes, because they all loved to drink tea. King George still needed money to pay his soldiers for the war at that moment, but the colonists still did not want this to happen. King George let down the taxes a little later after that, but he kept the taxes on tea during the Tea Act... -
Boston Massacre
It all started with a patriot and a British soldier in the streets of Boston. First a debate, then a pelting of snowballs, which then lead to a fight. The Boston Massacre was a violent event, and cause five colonists to die when a shot was fired into the fighting croud. Paul Revere had made an engraving of the massacre, and it made it look like the British were shooting the colonists, though they were not. This event was not pleasant for the colonists, causing pain for them. -
Tea Act
Taxes were kept on tea, and later caused the Boston Tea Party. The Tea Act was prodvided again by King George an Parliament, to the Thriteen Colonies. Colonists finally rebelled against this by throwing tea out of the Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party. King George did this just to show the colonists that he still could tax them, no matter what they did. But the colonists still rebelled... -
Boston Tea Party
Dumping of tea of the Boston Harbor into Griffon's Warf. A group of colonists called the Sons of Liberty were responsible for this event. They all dressed up as Mohawk Indians and threw 342 crates of tea into the sea. This was known as the Boston Tea Party. The Sons of Liberty did this because they and the other colonists did not want to pay the taxes on tea for King George anymore. -
Ride of Paul Revere
Paul Revere, alone on his midnight ride, rode from Charlestown to Lexington. He went out on this ride to warn everyone that the British were coming, shouting "The British are coming out!" to each door he came by. This action succeeded, and everyone was warned and were prepared for the British to come by sea. British soldiers did come out to attack them, but they were ready for them and were not defeated. This was a great vile for Paul Revere, and he will surely be remembered for this. -
Declaration of Independence
Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independednce was a letter to King George to tell him that they were going to make their own country, being free from his laws and having their own rights. The most delegate of the Second Continental congress signed the declaration, and the act passed August 1, 1776, even though they all signed it July 4,1776. We now celebrate July 4 as the national Independence Day, because it was the day the Declaration was signed.
