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Navigation Acts
England's enforcement of the Navigation Acts in the North American colonies helped mobilize the colonial population into developing into a broader and more unified movement directed toward independence. The American colonists perceived the Navigation Acts, which prohibited trade with countries other than England, as a direct threat to their economy. -
French and Indian War
This war was between the French/Indian and the British/colonists. The war was fought over the Ohio River Valley. British told the colonists that if the war was won, then colonists would be able to settle more west. This war however put Britain in great debt and led to future taxations on the colonists. -
Albany Plan
The Albany Plan would allow all colonists to function as one. It would dictate the taxes, colonial forces, and certain laws. The Albany Plan was important because it was a step cloer to a government that would lead the quickly unifying colonies. -
Proclamation of 1763
The proclamation prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. This area was what England was trying so hard to fight for in the Seven Years War. After having been taxed for the war, colonists were furious that what they were paying for was not going to be usable by them. -
Sugar Act
The British began to tax colonists on a very important resource of theirs, sugar. The ta was enacted in order to help Britian pay its war debt from the 7 Years War. Although the tax was very miniscule, colonists were angered due to "taxation without representation". -
Repeal of Stamp Act/Declatory Act
Both happened the same day. The wealthier colonists were angered by the Stamp Act because they were taxed for using stamps for important documents; the repeal of course made them high. The Declatory Act however, served as a reminder that the mother country had supreme control over the colonies, and that all aspects of commerce were under the control of Britain. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act taxed colonists on the sale of stamps for documents and letters. Although it did not really affect the common man, it did however anger the wealthier colonists who had businesses. They felt wronged for being taxed without representation. -
Townshend Acts
The taxes that were imposed by the Townshend Acts of 1767 helped to reignite anger in the colonies against England. Just the year before, Parliament had repealed the Stamp Tax after heated protests from the colonies. The taxing of many items angered many colonists, as they were being taxed more than initially. -
Boston Massacre
Protests were being held by the colonists against the British. Colonists were throwing rocks and glass at the soldiers, until hostilities climaxed and led the British to open fire on the protesters. Although it was the fault of the protesters, colonial propagandists warped the events to show that the British were extremely cruel and violent. -
Boston Tea Party
This was the first major act of defiance against the British. Taxes were being imposed on tea, a commodity loved by all of the colonists due to its affordability and convenience. The colonists were angered that they were again being taxed for their goods. The Boston Tea Party was the dumping of tea on British ships, making Britain lose much revenue. This act led to the shutting down of Boston Harbor, which angered many of the colonists that depended on the harbor for trade and food. -
Coercive Acts
This was the response from the British after the Boston Tea Party. It was also known as the Intolerable Acts. Some of these included the shutting down of Boston Harbor (extremely useful), and allowed British soldiers to break into homes and live there. This led to the eventual creation of the First Continental Congress. -
First/Second Continental Congress
The Continental Congress met in order to plan what to do against the British who were oppressing them. This is important because all of the colonies were slowly beginning to unite under a common cause, and wanted representatives from each colony to help decide a plan of action. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Altthough the colonists had lost this battle, they had become renewed with great confidence. They were aware that they had a great chance of defeating Britain if they strategized more, and if they had more supplies. -
"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine is Published
This book stated that it was "common sense" that if Britain is not listening to the demands of the colonists and is continually being a tyrant, then the colonists should break off and make their own country. This rallied many colonists to bear arms and unite against the British. -
Declaration of Independence
The writing of this announced that the colonies were formally separating from England. They listed all of their problems to the "mother country", and declared that they were going to fight for their freedom. Not only was this pivotal for America, but it encouraged many peoples around the world to revolt against their oppression and become their own nation. -
Battle of Saratoga
General Burgoyne of the British forces was forced to surrender the battle. The win of this battle was a turning point because it caused colonial reinvigoration. This proved to the French that the colonists were a force to be reckoned with, and lent their help to them because of their mutual hatred of the British. -said by England- -
Battle of Yorktown
The French forces assisted the colonists in the defeat of the British. The French lent their entire naval fleet and defeated the British ships. The British were outnumbered, and surrendered, giving the Americans the win in the Revolutionary War.
