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Proclamation of 1763
A proclamation from Parliament which disallowed British colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. While the Proclamation of 1763 did improve England's relations with the Ohio Country natives, it also upset the colonists. The reason the colonists had supported the French and Indian War was to gain land in the Ohio Country. Many colonists became convinced that England did not care about or understood their needs. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act replaced the Molasses Act of 1733 and lowered the tax on sugar and molasses from 6 cents to 3 cents a barrel, but for the first time made sure that the Acts would be strictly enforced. It also created the vice-admiralty courts and made it illegal for the colonists to buy goods from non-British Caribbean colonies. The British were in enormous debt due to the 7 Year's War. The Sugar Act cost the colonists extra money and it went against their local liberties. -
Currency Act
The Currency Act was one of the many Acts that Parliament passed that regulated paper money issued by the colonies. The Acts were established to protect British merchants from being paid in colonial currency. This caused resentment in the colonies as resources were drained by mercantilism. The Currency Act also limited gold and silver and made the colonial currency valueless. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act required that all legal/official documents used in the colonies to be written on special, stamped British paper. This caused anger in the 13 colonies and it caused riots and most of the stamped paper sent to the colonies from Britain were burnt.
The colonists began to petition, boycott, and committed acts of violence. The Stamp Act was an act that violated no taxation without representation. -
Quartering Act
Parliament passed the Quartering Act to address the concerns of troop deployment during this period. Under the
terms of this legislation, each colonial assembly was directed to provide for the needs of soldiers in the thirteen colonies. Items included bedding, cooking utensils, firewood, beer or cider and candles. This law was expanded in 1766 and required the assemblies to temporarily house soldiers in taverns and unoccupied houses. Repealed in 1770. -
Repeal of the Stamp Act and Passage of Declaratory Act
After months of protest from the colonists, and an appeal from Benjamin Franklin before the British House of Commons, Parliament voted to repeal the Stamp Act. However, Parliament passed the Declaratory Acts which stated that the British government had free and absolute legislative power over the colonies. The colonists rejoiced over the repeal of the Stamp Act while ignoring the Declaratory Act. -
Townshend Acts (Start)
The Townshend Acts were a multitude of Acts passed by Parliament in 1767, that taxed goods imported to the American colonies. American colonists, who had no representation in Parliament, saw the Acts as an abuse of power. The British also sent troops to America to enforce the new acts, furthering tensions between Britain and the American colonies in the events leading up to the American Revolutionary War. The colonists responded by starting boycotts, petitions, and attacks. -
Townshend Acts (End)
The Townshend Acts were a multitude of Acts passed by Parliament in 1767, that taxed goods imported to the American colonies. American colonists, who had no representation in Parliament, saw the Acts as an abuse of power. The British also sent troops to America to enforce the new acts, furthering tensions between Britain and the American colonies in the events leading up to the American Revolutionary War. The colonists responded by starting boycotts, petitions, and attacks. -
Tea Act
In an effort to save the troubled East India Company, Parliament passed the Tea Act. The act granted the East India Company the right to ship its tea directly to the colonies without going through Britain and to gave the right to the merchants to undersell the tea to the colonists. The British tried to hide taxes on transport costs and lower prices on the tea. The colonists revolted and this Act eventually lead to the Boston Tea Party. -
Coercive or "Intolerable" Acts
Passed in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, which
included the Boston Port Act, which shut down Boston Harbor; the Massachusetts Government Act, which disbanded the Boston Assembly; the Quartering Act, which required the colony to provide housing for British soldiers; and the Administration of Justice Act, which removed the power of colonial courts to arrest royal officers. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first battles of the Revolution were fought within the towns of Lexington and Concord. The battles marked the battke of open armed conflict between Britain and the 13 colonies. The first shots were fired just as the sun was rising at Lexington. The militia was outnumbered and fell back. The outnumbered soldiers of the British Army retreated from the Minutemen but more Minutemen soon arrived and inflicted damage on the British as they were walking back to Boston. The Americans won the battle. -
Second Continental Congress (Established)
The Second Continental Congress was the governing body of the American colonies. Was founded when the British failed to address the problems of the First Continental Congress and to organize a Continental Army to fight. They appointed ambassadors, signed treaties, print money, and requested money from the states because they had no power to tax. Meeting of delegates for the 13 colonies which united them during the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Though the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts, the Americans would continue on to fight. Despite their loss, the colonists caused significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. The Battle of Bunker Hill was important because it was used as a base for what was to come by the inexperienced American troops against the experienced British Army. The British won this battle. Fought in Charlestown, MA. -
Declaration of Independence
An act of the Second Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence was passed on July 4, 1776 which declared that the Thirteen Colonies were "Free and Independent States" and that "all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain” was dissolved. The document, explained the terms for separation from the British crown. They also justified their actions by listing out what the British did wrong. -
Battle of Saratoga (Start)
British General John Burgoyne surrendered his entire army after being surrounded by many more American forces. The capture of an entire British army secured the northern American states from further attacks out of Canada and prevented New England from being isolated. A major win for the Americans was that France entered the conflict on behalf of the Americans which dramatically improved the Americans' chances during the war. The British won the battle. Took place in Saratoga County, New York. -
Battle of Saratoga (End)
British General John Burgoyne surrendered his entire army after being surrounded by many more American forces. The capture of an entire British army secured the northern American states from further attacks out of Canada and prevented New England from being isolated. A major win for the Americans was that France entered the conflict on behalf of the Americans which dramatically improved the Americans' chances during the war. The British won the battle. Took place in Saratoga County, New York. -
Second Continental Congress (Disbanded)
The Second Continental Congress was the governing body of the American colonies. Was founded when the British failed to address the problems of the First Continental Congress and to organize a Continental Army to fight. They appointed ambassadors, signed treaties, print money, and requested money from the states because they had no power to tax. Meeting of delegates for the 13 colonies which united them during the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Yorktown (Start)
Was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by General Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by General Lord Cornwallis. It proved to be the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War, as the surrender of Cornwallis’s forced the British government to negotiate an end to the the war. The Americans won the battle and eventually the war. The battle took place in Yorktown, VA. -
Battle of Yorktown (End)
Was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by General Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by General Lord Cornwallis. It proved to be the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War, as the surrender of Cornwallis’s forced the British government to negotiate an end to the the war. The Americans won the battle and eventually the war. The battle took place in Yorktown, VA. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris, which was signed in Paris by representatives of King George III and representatives of the United States of America on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War. The terms of the Treaty of Paris recognized the United States of America as an independent country and gave the U.S. significant western territory. The Treaty of Paris also established peace between the British and the allied nations of France, Spain, and Netherlands.
