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The Sugar Act of 1764
George Greenville was the British Prime Minister and was in charge of increasing revenue for Great Britain after the French and Indian War. The first act that was passed after the war was the Sugar Act of 1764. Greenville hoped that by lowering the sugar tax, people would have stopped smuggling. However, even though the tax was the same price as what you would pay to smuggle it in, people did not pay it, for they feared that by paying the tax, they were keeping British troops in their quarters. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act said that every legal document required a stamp. The Country needed more money for the US army and decided that a good way to get the cash would be to earn it through the stamps required for documents. This mostly affected the wealthy class because they did the most business. -
The Quartering Act of 1765 (lasted through the revolution)
The New York Province passed an act to support the quartering of British soldiers, which would expire in January 1764. If the soldiers resided with you, you must feed, house, and comfort the soldier. It was disputed that this act was not legal because it violated the Bill of Rights of 1689. -
Boston Massacre (1770)
On March 5th of 1770, the Boston Massacre was a confrontation between not only British soldiers but also the American colonists who resided in Boston. Tention was increasing due to British taxation in the colonies. Due to the incident, a crowd of colonists who had gathered began to throw snowballs at soldiers which led to the soldiers firing into the crowd. This killed five colonists including Crispus Atticus who is remembered for his significance for American independence. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party took place in December of 1773 as a protest against the British Tea Act. The Act allowed the British East India Company to sell tea at a lower price which undermined local merchants. A group of colonists, known as the Sons of Liberty, disguised themselves as Indians and boarded British ships in the Boston Harbor where they dumped 342 chests of tea into the water. This event led to the American Revolution and escalated tensions between the colonists and Great Britain. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was created on May 10th 1775 and Philadelphia Pennsylvania just shortly after the American Revolutionary War had begun. This group of delegates from each of the 13 colonies was to manage the war effort that had responded to British aggression. Eventually, the Congress declared independence from Britain on July 4th of 1776 which played a crucial role in forming the United States and developing its government. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Sarasota was fought in September and October of 1777 and was considered a turning point in the American Revolutionary War. The American Army had successfully defeated the British army under General John. The war of Saragoda boosted morale and persuaded France to enter the war as an ally of the United States. This defeat also contributed to a major setback of the British Army's strategy in the northern colonies which led to greater support for the American cause. -
The siege of Yorktown
The siege of Yorktown took place from September 28th to October 19th in the year 1781. This was a battle in which the American and French forces which were led by General George Washington surrounded the British army in Yorktown Virginia. The Siege cut off British supplies and reinforcements which led to Cornwallis's surrender of approximately 8,000 troops. This was the last major military advancement of the war and influenced the negotiations for peace which led to the Treaty of Paris in 1783. -
Treaty of Paris in 1783
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3rd, 1883 which officially ended the American Revolutionary War. Disagreement represented the independence of the United States and established boundaries that extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from the Canadian border to the Florida peninsula. The document also addressed the repayment of debts that were owed by the Americans and the British. This officially recognized the United States as a sovereign nation -
Shay's Rebelliation
Shays' Rebellion was an uprising in 1786-1787 led by Daniel Shays and farmers in Massachusetts. They protested against high taxes and unfair treatment after the Revolutionary War. The rebellion showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and helped lead to the creation of a stronger federal government. -
The 3/5 Compromise
The 3/5 Compromise was a deal made in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention. It counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation in Congress. This helped balance power between slaveholding and non-slaveholding states. -
The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance, passed in 1787, set rules for governing the Northwest Territory. It described how new states could join the Union as equals. It also promoted education, civil rights, and banned slavery in the territory. -
The Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers is a group of essays written by Madison, Jay, and Hamilton stating the importance of the U.S. Constitution. They argue for a strong central government to maintain order. Alexander, Madison, and Jay also announced the need for equality among the branches to prevent any branch from gaining too much power. -
The French Revolution
The French Revolution started in 1789 because people were unhappy with the monarchy and the gap between the rich and the poor. It led to the downfall of King Louis XVI and the rise of new political groups, eventually creating a republic. This revolution changed a lot in France, like introducing the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and it inspired other countries to fight for democracy and equality too. -
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is made up of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, added in 1791. These amendments protect basic rights like freedom of speech, religion, and the press, and they allow people to gather and speak out against the government. They also stop the government from abusing its power, ensure fair trials, and protect against illegal searches. Overall, the Bill of Rights limits government power and keeps individual freedoms safe. -
Hamilton's Financial Plan
Hamilton's Financial Plan was designed to fix the economy after the Revolutionary War. First, he wanted the federal government to take over state debts so that the country could build trust could handle money. Second, he proposed creating a national bank to help manage the country's finances and give out loans. Lastly, he suggested adding tariffs to bring in money for the government and help American businesses. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion happened in the 1790s when farmers got really upset about a tax on whiskey that they thought was unfair. This rebellion mostly took place in Pennsylvania, where farmers protested because they felt the tax was targeting their income. In 1794, President George Washington sent in federal troops to put down the rebellion, showing that the government was serious about enforcing its laws and keeping order.