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7 Years War (French and Indian War)
A war fought between the British Colonies and New France who were allied with many Native Americans over land in America. -
Pontiac's Rebellion
A war started by a unorganized band of Native American tribes who were unified by Ottawa chief Pontiac because they wre unsatisified with British postwar policies -
Proclaimation Act of 1763
Issued by King George. It stated that the colonist were not permitted to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. This led to the colonist becoming angry over the fact that they were not being rewarded for fighting in a war that they did not even want to participate in. -
Updated Sugar and Molasses Act
England placed renewed the previous Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733 which was soon to expire. This act put a tax on all foreign molasses imported into the colonies. -
Stamp Act
The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. Ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards were taxed. -
Quartering Act
An act which allowed British soldiers to comandeer a colonists access to shelter, food, and anything else that they found useful. -
Stamp Act Congress
Otherwise known as the First Congress, it consisted of representatives from the colonies. Known as the first gathering of elected representatives from several of the American colonies to devise a unified protest against new British taxation. -
The establishment of the Sons of Liberty
At first it was just a band of shopkeepers and artisans who formed the group known as the Loyal Nine. It later expanded into the Sons of Liberty which was a secrect society which protected the rights of the colonists. -
Declaratory Act
Was an act imposed by Parliment where the Stamp act was completely repealed and the sugar act was modified to accompany a smaller tax on molasses. -
Townshend Revenue Acts
A series of taxes forced to be paided for by the British colonies in order to increase the colonies' revenue. -
Writs of Assistance (James Otis)
The "Writs of Assistance" were general warrants allowing officials to search for smuggled material within any suspected premises. In a five-hour speech, Otis argued that the writs were unconstitutional. He based his case on the rights guaranteed in English common law. -
John Dickinson
Was a delegate to the continental congress. Wrote "Letters from a Farmer in Pennslyvania." It was a series of essays which addressed the issue of parliment having too much power. -
Boston Massacre
A "street fight" which occured between a small band of British soldiers and a patriot mob who attacked them with snowballs, sticks, and stones. A soldier discharged his weapon by acciedent and then other soldiers fired theirs. Several were killed. -
Tea Act
A final tax on tea issued by England before the Revolution began. This was the final straw and was the spark that really ignited the revolution. -
Committees of Correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were groups that were established by the Patriot leaders of the British colonies which contributed a lot both prior and during the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
Samuel Adams and the other members of the Sons of Liberty boared three British ships disguised as Native Americans and tossed all of the tea overboard. -
The Coercive Acts
Great Britians direct response to the Boston Tea Party (1773). Otherwise known as the Intolerable acts, it was a series of four acts which attack the colony of Massachutesetts directly. -
First Continenetal Congress
The meeting of representatives from twelve of the thirteen colonies, excluding Georgia, that met at Carpenters' Hall. They were preparing for the Revolution and discussing their response to Britain's Intolerable acts (coercive acts). -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
This marked the first battle of the American revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
This was the convention which held representatives from all thirteen colonies. It was at this meeting that it was declared the American Revolution had begun. -
George Washington
Appointed as Comander and chief of the Continental Army under the authority of the Continental Congress. Prior to this he was a loyal British officer who fought valiently in the French and Indian War. Later became first President of the United States -
Olive Branch Petition
Drafted by the Continental Congress to King George in order to seek one last chance at a peaceful secession from England -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine authored his 48 page pamphelt which inspired the colonies to fight against Great Britian. -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
Authored by Thomas Jefferson, it was the signed document present to the British crown claiming the independence of the colonies from England.
