-
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War began on May 28th, 1754 after the French built Fort Duquesne on British soil. The French, allied with Native Americans, won most battles, until William Pitt led Britain to victory. With help from the Iroquois, the British defeated the French on the Plains of Abraham, as shown in the picture from emaze.com, and began to win the war. In 1763, The Treaty of Paris was signed, which gave Britain North America and ended the French and Indian War. (U.S History textbook) -
The Stamp Act
In March 1765, the Stamp Act was passed, and it placed taxes on paper goods. Depicted is one stamp, from landofthebrave.info, that was used by Britain in the first ever act to tax goods and services. Colonists despised taxation without representation in Parliament, so they protested and formed groups like the Sons of Liberty. When colonists began boycotting British goods, Britain ended the Stamp Act in March of 1766. (U.S History textbook) -
The Townshend Act
Parliament passed the Townshend Act in 1767 to tax goods, including tea, imported to the colonies after the Stamp Act was repealed. Samuel Adams led the colonists in the boycott against British goods. The drawing included, from history.com, depicts a colonist looking at a poster describing the Townshend Act and what it applies to. (U.S History textbook) -
The Boston Massacre
On March 5th, 1770 after a mob outside the Boston Customs House, 5 colonists were killed by British soldiers in an event that was labeled the Boston Massacre. The picture from law2.umkc.edu shows what occurred in Boston on that day. (U.S History textbook) -
The Tea Act
In 1773, Lord North created the Tea Act, which allowed for tax-free tea trade for the East India Company, in order to increase trade and profit. He expected the colonists to buy the cheaper tea, but, instead, the colonists protested because it would make their tea too expensive. The drawing included depicts the Boston Harbor before the Tea Act, courtesy of bostonteapartyship.com. (U.S History textbook) -
The Boston Tea Party
On December 16th, 1773 a group of colonists from Boston dumped 18,000 pounds of British Tea into the Boston Harbor disguised as Native Americans to protest the Tea Act. The event that occurred is called the Boston Tea Party and is shown in an iconic depiction from cr-cath.pvt.k12.ia.us. (U.S History textbook) -
The Intolerable Acts
In response to the Boston Tea Party, King George III forced Parliament to pass the Intolerable Acts, which shut down the Boston Harbor, forced the quartering of British soldiers, and placed Boston under martial law. The picture shown from theintolerableacts.weebly.com was used as a symbol of unity for the colonists during the time the Intolerable Acts were passed. (U.S History textbook) -
The 1st and 2nd Continental Congress
In September 1774, the 1st Continental Congress, made up of 56 delegates, met and agreed that they have the right to be self-governing and fight back against Britain if needed. The 2nd Continental Congress convened in May of 1775 to recognize the Continental Army and make George Washington its leader, as shown in the picture by sonofthesouth.net. (U.S History textbook) -
Lexington and Concord
After minutemen, armed themselves against the British, General Thomas Gage ordered a seizure of illegal weapons. On April 18th, 1775 Paul Revere rode to Lexington and Concord to warn them. In Concord the 70 minutemen who fought the 700 British redcoats were killed. When the 700 redcoats moved to Lexington and it was empty, they returned to Concord and found nearly 4,000 minutemen waiting. The British, in the picture from britishbattles.com, were killed by the colonists. (U.S History textbook) -
Publishing of Common Sense
In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote a 50 page pamphlet called Common Sense, which attacked the monarchy by proving how independence would benefit society. He believed that it would allow for better trade and a prosperous social and economic society. By 1776, he had sold almost 500,000 copies, like the one pictured from research.history.com, and inspired many important American figures, including George Washington. (U.S History textbook)
