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Stamp Act
The first direct tax on American Colonies. They taxed items such as newspapers, playing cards, dice, etc. Every legal document had to be written on stamped paper to prove it had been paid for. -
Protest of Stamp Act
"No taxation without representation!"
The Americans came together to form the Stamp Act Congress in order to deal with the taxation. They began boycotting British goods and harass anyone who was against the protest. The Stamp Act was removed the following year. -
Gaspee Affair
A group called the Sons of Libery burnt down a ship, the HMS Gaspe, belonging to the Britsh empire. This was in response to the Britsh wanting to collect taxes from the colonies to help pay for the debts they accumulated during the Seven Years War. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston teap Party was when a group of American colonists tossed English imported tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the taxation imposed on them.The Britsh saw this as an unforgivable act and closed the Boston Habor port. -
Qubec Act
The Qubec Act was issued by Britsh Parliment to set a new rule to Qubec. The British feared the americans would rub off on the Candians and this act was imposeed to keep them in check. MAnyof the regulations of this act did not favor the American Colonists. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting held in Phillidelphia. There the 13 colonies discussed what to do about the new limitations and taxes Britain had begun to imposeon them. The colonies decided that the British King and Parliament must know about there complaints. -
Coercive Acts
After the Boston Tea Party occured, the British were furious. Someone was going to pay for what happened and the steps they took in response to the Tea Party were known as the Coercive Acts. In the eyes of the Americans, these acts were known as the Intolerable acts becuase they simply wouldn't be tolerated. -
Paul Revere's Ride
Paul Revere was your everyday colonist but he had a very strong opinion when it came to the British. His famous midnight ride warned Adams and Hancock that the British troops were advancing to Lexington. Revere's ride was only once example of his revolutionary acts. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Gage, the British General had plans to send troops to Lexington and capture colonial leaders (Adams, Hancock) and then to travel to Concord to gain gunpowder. Americans found out about the plan and when the British soldiers arrived, they were met by American Minutemen. The same thing happened in Concord and both battles resulted in the British and Americans drifting further and further apart. -
Second Continental Congress
Since the Redcoats invaded boston again, the Second Continental Congress formed in Philadelphia. They agreed that a continental army had to be created in order to match the military threat of the British. They appointed George Washington to head to army. The Congress even made a committee to deal with foreign governments. The congress was now a governing body that dealt with all types of issues. -
George Washington appointed general
The congress decided to appoint George Washington to be the general of the newly formed Continental Army. He agreed to the position and chose to do so without getting paid. George Washignton had all the qualities of a great leader and the best was yet to come. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Bunker Hill was first occupied by the Americans. After burning down Charlestown, the Birtish decide to invade Bunker Hill. Having the height advantage Americans took the Britsh down one by one. When they had run out of amunition, the Americans fleed. This left Britsh with Bunker Hill, along with a huge lose in troop numbers. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was approved by Congress in July and it was a direct appeal to the king. It was one try for a peaceful resolution. The king ended up refusing the petition and declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion. -
Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition
A document written by King George III, ruler of England, that expressed his unhappiness toward the rebellious acts being made by the colonies. The proclamation stated if anyone was to be openly rebellious to his authority, or if any Brit knew of any conspiracies and did not report them, they would face harsh punishments. -
Committees of Correspondence Est.
Committees of Corespondence were formed as a way for the colonies to communicate with one another. The committees were responsible for a particular issue, then had to committe it to a written form to be sent off to the other groups.The first committe of corespondence was formed in Boston and was written to encourge the colonies to unite together aganist Britain's newest regulations. -
British evacuate Boston
The British troops sailed out of Boston to Nova Scotia after the Boston Massacre occured, It was one of the bloodiest battles between the British and Americans and it led to the evacuation of the Redcoats. -
Common Sense Published
Written by Thomas Paine The Commen Sense was a book that encouraged everyday people to take part in goverment. It stressed the opportunity to value the rights of all men. The Commen Sense became a best seller and was published in newspapers, as well as read at town meetings. The Commen Sense made people imagine what a new goverment would take the form of. -
Writting of Declaration of Independence
A group of men that included Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were responsible for writing the Declaration. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to actually write the declaration, and his main ideas revolved around the fact that all men were created equal. Once congress read over and approved the declaration, it was signed by John Hancock, the president of the congress. -
Declaration of Independence
Colonist began to feel that their civil liberties were being taken away and they needed to do something about it. It started as an idea that would declare the thirteen colonies independent and free. A group of five men were selected to write the declaration. The document focused on unalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. -
British Pulled out of Virginia
Revolutionist troops attacked and defeated Virginian governor Dunmore's troops near Norfolk, Virginia. British then pulled their soldiers out of Virginia leaving the revolutionists in control.
