-
Writs of Assistance
Originally enacted by the British to enforce the Navigation Acts, and to aid the British officials in America. Customs officers began to enforce the Writs of Assistance after the close of the French and Indian War and the Seven Years War. British officials were given the right to search property and possessions without a search warrant through the acts. Colonists were outraged, and began to revolt as an after effect. The Writs of Assistance would later come to influence the 4th Amendment. -
Proclamation of 1763
A peace settlement in response to Pontiac’s rebellion. This proclamation was established in an effort to keep colonists and natives separate, and to avoid conflict as much as possible. The Proclamation stated that colonists could not settle west of the Appalachian mountains, and that natives could not settle eastward. Though the Proclamation was a legal document, there was little enforcement, leading colonists to break the Proclamation. This would lead to the ending of salutary neglect. -
Sugar Act of 1764
First law passed by Parliament that raised tax revenues in the colonies to help Great Britain. The duty on foreign sugar, from the West Indies, was increased, angering colonists. Prices of imports went up, but prices of molasses and sugar from within the colonies were lowered. The enactment of this act would lead to a famous phrase “No Taxation Without Representation!” -
Stamp Act of 1765
Tax put on paper products and paper printing/production in the colonies. Colonists were extremely angered, and the enactment would lead to many revolts. In addition, new groups were forming as an attempt to act against and determine the legality of the Stamp Act. These groups included the Stamp Act Congress, the Sons of Liberty, and the Daughters of Liberty. -
Quartering Act of 1765
The act was a law imposed upon the colonists, saying that colonists must provide a proper shelter for British soldiers without having a choice. This would not have been an issue for the colonists, except for the fact that it became against the law to refuse to shelter and provide for a soldier. This act, once again, led to serious revolts. -
Stamp Act Congress
A group of colonial representatives who met after the enactment of the Stamp Act. The congress was called together by the Massachusetts circular letter, and met in New Jersey. The primary purpose of the group was to discuss and assess the legality of the Stamp Act itself. -
Declaratory Act of 1766
The Declaratory Act of 1766, was in response to the repealed Stamp Act that created a lot of controversy with Parliament and the colonists. With the passing of the Declaratory Act, Parliament reestablished authority over the colonies. However, the colonists were too busy celebrating the repeal of the Stamp Act to realize Parliament’s slow overtake of power. -
Townshend Acts 1767
The Townshend Acts were an effort made by Charles Townshend, the “Leader” during Pitt’s incapacity. These acts were enacted by Britain imposing several different taxes on the colonists to increase imporation of different British goods such as lead, paint, paper and tea. Though Townshend believed the acts would not upset the colonists because he considered them to be “external”, the colonists were upset by the taxes and began rallies to oppose Parliament, later leading to the Boston Massacre. -
End of Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were an effort made by Charles Townshend, the “Leader” during Pitt’s incapacity. These acts were enacted by Britain imposing several different taxes on the colonists to increase imporation of different British goods such as lead, paint, paper and tea. Though Townshend believed the acts would not upset the colonists because he considered them to be “external”, the colonists were upset by the taxes and began rallies to oppose Parliament, later leading to the Boston Massacre. -
The Boston Massacre
The Townshend Acts were eventually repealed because of the angry rallies. News of the repeal didn’t reach MA until after The Boston Massacre, where dockworkers taunted and threw snowballs at redcoats.The taunts led into a larger skirmish, resulting in British firing at the crowd, killing 5. The outcome of the “massacre” was more tension between colonists and the British and led to the rising of Samuel Adams as an important figure in leading colonial protests and publication of American opinions. -
Tea Act 1773
In an effort the save the East India Company from bankruptcy, Britain passed the Tea Act of 1773, giving the company the ability to undersell American merchants and make a huge profit off of it, and removing the merchants who were the “middlemen” of the trade. This upset the colonists for many reasons. The middlemen merchants didn’t want to be replaced by the big company. The act also went against American ideals of “no taxation without representation.” Eventually led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
In response to the Tea Act, and an effort to keep tea from leaving the company’s ships, men dressed up like Mohawk Indians, dumped crates of tea into the Boston harbor. As a direct result of the Boston Tea Party, and the refusal of the Bostonians to pay for the damage caused, Parliament passed the Coercive or Intolerable Acts. -
Coercive Acts 1774
The Coercive Acts of 1774 were put in place because of the “radical” actions taken by Bostonians, who threw tea into the harbor. Parliament passed for laws which closed the port of Boston, reduced the power of self government in Boston, allowed for royal officers to be legally tried in other colonies or in England if accused of crimes, and Bostonian people had to open up their homes to house troops. These laws increased tension even more and may have contributed to the start of the Revolution. -
Quebec Act 1774
Enacted to provide a civil government for the French-speaking Roman Catholics in Canada and Illinois. It extended the boundaries of Quebec to French communities between the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The Act also granted political rights to Roman Catholics and gave the Catholic church legality in the newly formed area. Though it was tolerant, colonists saw it as a threat because they saw ties between Roman Catholicism and the Anglican church, and feared Anglicanism would be forced on them. -
1st Continental Congress
Issued after the Coercive Acts, the meeting discussed the unfairness of the British oppressiveness. Delegates from all 13 colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia to make five major decisions. The first rejected a plan for colonial union under British authority. The second endorsed a statement of grievances to England; the third approved a series of resolutions and said colonists should make military preparations. The fourth stopped trade with England and the fifth agreed to meet next spring. -
End of 1st Continental Congress
Issued after the Coercive Acts, the meeting discussed the unfairness of the British oppressiveness. Delegates from all 13 colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia to make five major decisions. The first rejected a plan for colonial union under British authority. The second endorsed a statement of grievances to England; the third approved a series of resolutions and said colonists should make military preparations. The fourth stopped trade with England and the fifth agreed to meet next spring. -
Battles of Lexington/ Concord
British Gen. Thomas Gage was ordered to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock in Lexington, MA for making military plans. Though he was wary of their power, 1,000 soldiers were sent to fight once hearing colonists had lots of gunpowder in Concord. Gage wanted a surprise seizure without blood, but Paul Revere and William Dawes warned colonists, allowing for preparation. Most of the gunpowder was removed, and the Brits had more casualties than colonists. The “shot heard round the world” was fired. -
2nd Continental Congress
This was held three weeks after the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The delegates came from all 13 colonies except Georgia to discuss war with their mother country. Members unanimously agreed to support the war, but disagreed on its end results. Some such as John and Sam Adams wanted total separation from England, while some like John Dickinson favored mending the relationship with England to result in reconciliation. -
Olive Branch Petition
During the Second Continental Congress, the Olive Branch Petition was approved as a conciliatory appeal to King George. It was formed when most of the delegates were attempting to make a compromise between the two different positions that some supported about the war’s purpose. It tried to assert rights of the colonists but still maintain loyalty to the throne. John Dickinson drafted this document and submitted it to the king. -
End of Writs of Assistance
Originally enacted by the British to enforce the Navigation Acts, and to aid the British officials in America. Customs officers began to enforce the Writs of Assistance after the close of the French and Indian War and the Seven Years War. British officials were given the right to search property and possessions without a search warrant through the acts. Colonists were outraged, and began to revolt as an after effect. The Writs of Assistance would later come to influence the 4th Amendment. -
The Declaration of Independence
Congress appointed a committee to write a draft of this document in 1776 after support for independence grew. Thomas Jefferson wrote the majority of the Declaration, and did not include material that was new or unheard of in the colonies. It was mainly a formal way of reiterating the ideas and actions taken by colonists to establish independence from Britain. It includes “self-evident truths” and a list of grievances against the mother country to justify their actions. -
End of 2nd Continental Congress
This was held three weeks after the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The delegates came from all 13 colonies except Georgia to discuss war with their mother country. Members unanimously agreed to support the war, but disagreed on its end results. Some such as John and Sam Adams wanted total separation from England, while some like John Dickinson favored mending the relationship with England to result in reconciliation.
