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The Mayflower lands at Plymouth Rock
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Pennsylvania Becomes a Colony
On March 4th, 1681 William Penn went to Charles || in order to settle a debt of £16,000. This debt was owed to William Penn’s father. In order to settle the debt, he granted the province of Pennsylvania to William Penn. The king later named the colony after William Penn’s father. The land was not proclaimed until April 2, 1681. -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian war was a war between Britain and the French. The war had started due to the British being afraid that the French would take over their land and trades, which made the British a lot of money. They sent George Washington to fight the French and deliver a message but lost. They soon handed the war duties over to William Penn, who turned the war around and defeated the French in Quebec. This caused many effects after. -
The Sugar Act
The sugar act, also known as the Plantation Act/Revenue act, was meant to stop the smuggling of sugar and molasses. It taxed more items including molasses and sugar when they were imported to the Colonies. Although, the sugar act reduced taxes for sugar from 6 pence a gallon to 3. -
The Currency Act
The currency act was also called the Paper Bills of Credit act. This act allowed Britain to regulate paper bills in America and their currencies. The act was also meant to protect the British merchants and creditors from getting deprecated paper bills. It also abolished the colonists paper bill for the colonists and replaced it with the pound sterling. -
The Stamp Act
England wanted to pay their troops in the colonies, so they passed the Stamp Act. It put a tax on papers, documents, and other stuff. If the colonists didn’t pay, they were punished unfairly without a jury. The colonists hated this act. For them, it was an example of “taxation without representation." -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering act allowed soldiers to sleep in anyone’s house. If the soldiers knocked on your door, you had to let them in for the night. It was their job to provide them with shelter and food. Although this act did upset the colonists, there was no resistance to this act -
The Townshend Revenue Act
The Townshend Acts were passed throughout 1767-1768. This allowed for goods like glass, paper, lead, and tea to be taxed. The trade went down and many merchants were worried they would be ruined due to this act. The colonists wanted a free-enterprise system instead of having the government be in control of business and trade. -
The Boston Massacre
British soldiers shot anyone who they thought was in a mob. This mob had been throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks at these soldiers. The Boston Massacre had been heavily publicized by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams. This event was another reason that the American Revolution happened. -
The Boston Tea Party
A political protest at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston. The colonists dumped around 342 chests of tea that had been imported by the British into the sea. This was a protest about “Taxation without representation” as they were upset that they got no voice in what happened and still got taxed. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting in Philadelphia at Carpenters Hall to discuss how they would handle the British restraints on trade and their government. They discussed boycotting British goods and establishing the rights of Americans. They also planned out a second Continental Congress. -
Patrick Henry’s “Give me Liberty or give me Death” speech
“Give me Liberty or give me Death” was a speech by Patrick Henry to the Second Virginia Convention at St. John’s Church. The Virginia Conventions were meant to establish constitutions and laws for Virginia. He told them that he would rather die than to live without freedom or liberty, as he thought that the British were taking that away from him. Patrick Henry told them that they must be prepared to fight. This speech became the wary cry for the American Revolution. -
The Ride of Paul Revere
Dr. Joseph Warren in Boston had asked Paul Revere to warn the people in Lexington that British troops were marching into Boston. He also warned Samuel Adams and John Hancock about this. This allowed the colonists and militia to prepare and fight off the British. Paul Revere also had a system for one lantern to be lit if the British were coming by land, and two if they were coming by sea. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress happened at the same place, but at this time the American Revolution had already begun. They continued to work on the steps to making the Declaration of Independence. On July 4th, 1776 they established the declaration of Independence, which declared them a separate country from Britain. -
George Washington named Commander in Chief
George Washington was running against others like John Hancock. He was selected due to his previous military experiences and that a leader from Virginia might help unite the colonies. He was commissioned by the Continental Congress as the Chief of the Continental Army. George Washington was the chief during the American Revolution.