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American Revolution
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Treaty of Paris (French and Indian War)
Britain, Spain, and France wanted the Ohio River Valley. The French and Americans with their allies fought. France lost all claims to North America, British gave Louisiana to Spain, and Spain got Spanish Florida.
Here is a video of the French and Indian War -
The Proclamation Line of 1763
The British issued a law that the colonists could not leave the colonies. Lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were prohibited to the them. This was to prevent arguments between colonists and Native Americans.
Here is a video of the Proclamation Line of 1763 -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act attempted to curb the smuggling of sugar and molasses by reducing the tax rate.The British wanted to take control of the colonial trade with other countries. They wanted to fill Parliament's empty Treasury because of the French and Indian War.
Here is a video of the Sugar Act -
Stamp Act
The British taxed all sorts of paper shipped to the colonists to help them with debt from the Seven Years War. Angered colonists resorted to mob violence to intimidate stamp collectors to resign. Colonists did not buy paper until tax had been paid and paper had received an official government stamp.
Here is a video of the Stamp Act -
Townshend Acts
The British taxed the colonists on lead, glass, paint, and tea. It was named after Charles Townshend because he proposed the act. The colonists boycotted goods until the act was repealed. It allowed the East India company to ship tea directly to the colonies.
Here is a video of the Townshend Acts -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between British soldiers and a crowd of colonists. British soldiers came and were told not to shoot, but when a soldier thought he heard that word he shot at the crowd and killed five innocent men. Some Patriots were angry and it urged them for freedom against the British because of this tragedy.
Here is a video of the Boston Massacre -
Committees of Correspondence
Patriot leaders got together to discuss their opposition and angers against the British. Cities kept forming their own committees after they saw what the Patriots had done. They did this to make Britain's laws weaken on paper.
Here is a video of the Committees of Correspondence -
Tea Act
The British wanted the colonists to pay for taxed tea so they could help get them out of debt.The colonists resisted because they did not like this act.The British wanted to expand East India's (company) ownership on tea. This was the cause of the Boston Tea Party.
Here is a video of the Tea Act -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty, led by Sam Adams, dressed as Native Americans. On the three British ships, that contained chests of tea, they dropped 342 chests of it into the harbor. This made the British very angry. The reason the colonists did this was to protest,yet another British tax on the Colonists.
Here is a video of the Boston Tea Party -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts punished the Colonists for dumping tea into the Boston Harbor. In Britain they are called the Coercive Acts. The Boston Port Act was one of the 5 acts which closed the port of Boston until the damages from the tea party were paid. In America, the Colonists named these the Intolerable acts because of the British's harsh laws.
View a Video of the Intolerable Acts Here -
Quartering Act
British allowed Redcoats to stay in colonial houses when they wanted to.They did not get along so, New York's colonial Assembly refused to go along with the law. The British made the act both in 1765 and 1774. It has become a matter of an urban legend.
Here is a video of the Quartering Act -
1st Continental Congress
At the first Continental Congress, leaders of every colony except Georgia, met in Philadelphia. They agreed to battle Great Britain against the acts they gave. This was the response to the Intolerable Acts.
Here is a video of The 1st Continental Congress -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
British soldiers were sent from Boston to steal colonial weapons. And when Paul Revere found out he warned and told the colonies. The towns where fighting was involved were Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln. This officially kicked off the American Revolution.
Here is a video of the Battle of Lexington and Concord -
2nd Contenetial Congress
The Second Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia and 13 delegates attended. The colonists talked about what they needed to do before the declare their independence. It was made to organize the colonies before war against the British.
Here is a video of the 2nd Continental Congress -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was caused because of unfair taxes. The Continental Army lost many soldiers because of the British. They also barely killed them. The Americans were low on ammo and had no choice but to retreat. Although they lost, it gave the colonies a confidence boost.
Here is a video of the Battle of Bunker Hill -
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"
This book Thomas Paine wrote inspired the colonies to fight the British. Paine changed the tenor of the colonist's argument. His book challenged the British government and royal monarchy. It transformed the American Revolution.
Here is a video of Thomas Paine's Common Sense -
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson was requested by Ben Franklin and John Adams to write a draft of the Declaration of Independence.. The two men made changes and submit it to Congress. They voted to separate the 13 colonies from Great Britain. This showed Britain that the colonies were done with being apart of them and were ready to forming their own country.
Here is a video of the Declaration of Independence -
Washington's Crossing of the Delaware River (Battle of Trenton)
Washington crosses the Delaware River with over 5400 troops on Christmas Day. On a half frozen river they split up accidentally. Washington's group defeated the Hessians in Trenton, New Jersey. It raised the spirits of the colonists that the Continental Army could never lose.
Here is a video of Washington crossing the Delaware -
Battle of Saratoga
During the Battle of Saratoga, Ben Franklin was sent to France to find soldiers. Once he found them, they helped the Continental Army defeat the British. Three British generals tried to trick the Americans by coming from three ways and attacking all at once. Benedict Arnold stopped the British by capturing strong points of the British. The British surrendered and gave America victory thanks to Arnold.
[Here is a video of the Battle of Saratoga](https://youtu.be/cZNpbSP6G0 -
Battle of Yorktown
The Continental Army and the British were fighting with all their might. George Washington and about 17,000 Continental troops began the Battle of Yorktown. Washington decided it was time to act. He commanded Marquis de Lafayette and 5,000 French soldiers , they cornered Cornwallis and his troops. General
Charles Cornwallis surrendered on October 17 later that year. This prompted negotiations between the British and the 13 Colonies. -
Treaty of Paris (American Revolution)
Sign in Paris, France, representatives from Britain and America came together to sign the Treaty of Paris. Ben Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams were some of the members from America were picked to help sign it. It set boundaries between America and Britain. The American colonies won political independence and went on to form the United States of America. America and Britain negotiated to end the American Revolution.
Here is a video of the American Revolution
