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French And Indian War
The French and Indian War was apart of a larger global conflict called the Seven Years War. Both countries wanted access to the profitable fur trade business and the cheap fertile land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Although the British lost majority of the initial battles they ultimately won the war. The war caused relations to worsen between the British and the Colonists. The colonists were angry with the Proclamation Line of 1763 and the taxes they were forced to pay. -
The Sugar Act
The British Parliament passed the Sugar Act in 1764 in order to help pay for their debt from the French and Indian War as well as to pay for the troops guarding the Proclamation Line of 1763. It forced the colonists to pay a 3 cent tax on goods like sugar, coffee, indigo and certain kinds of alcohol. The colonists were not happy with this law because they had no say in parliament. The slogan “No Taxation without Representation” became popular in the colonies. -
Sons of Liberty
A well-organized political organization shrouded in secrecy that was established to undermine British rule in colonial America. This group spang up in port cities like Boston and NYC. Group member were men from all walks of life, and they were known to be hot headed and violent. -
The Stamp Act
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 165 in order to support the British soldiers protecting the Proclamation Line. The Stamp Act required that a stamp purchased by the British government had to be placed on all important documents like court papers, newspapers and even playing cards. The colonists were outraged because they were paying for troops that were keeping them out of there land and had no representation in Parliament. This led to an increase in colonial protests. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts taxed imported items such as paper, glass, paint and tea. The English Parliament passed this act to cover costs of the French and Indian War, as well as to show that they still had power over the colonies. The colonists were outraged with this act so they held public demonstrations, boycotted products and smuggled in goods. Parliament eventually decided to repeal this act because of colonial protests. -
Boston Massacre
On this day there was a violent confrontation between a handful of British soldiers and a large amount of colonists on King Street in Boston. These soldiers were provoked and accidentally shot into the crowd of colonists. This event killed a few and injured many more. It was one of the indirect causes of the American Revolution. The colonists are to blame for this event, not the British. -
The Tea Act
This new tax law passed by British Parliament was not designed to raise taxes in the colonies. The Tea Act was created to help the East India Company sell their 18 million pounds of unsold tea. But, what angered the colonists was the fact that England gave the East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies. This infuriated the colonists. This new tax lead to lead to the resistance of the tea and the taxes and ultimately The Boston Tea Party. -
The Boston Tea Part
The Boston Tea Party was an act of resistance by the Sons of Liberty towards the newly passed Tea Act. Men dressed as Indians and boarded the docked ships in the harbor at night and tossed 342 crates of ea into the sea. This was a very secretive act of resistance at the time until a crowd gathered and watched the men. This stunt infuriated the British and caused the Intolerable Acts to be passed. -
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
These acts were a series of laws created by British Parliament. The British closed down the Boston Harbor which caused many people to lose their jobs and many stores to close. They made it so British soldiers on trial for a capital offense would be sent back to England for a “Fair trial”. The Quartering Act made it so the colonists were forced to house and feed any British soldiers. So the colonists not only didn’t have a say in Parliament and they lost the right to govern themselves. -
The First Continental Congress
Representatives from 12 of the colonies were present, Some of the men present were: George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, John Jay, and Samuel Adams.These men discussed the many issues with England and told of their outrage with the Intolerable Acts. Then created a letter and sent it to King George Ill, stated they were still loyal to the King and England but did say that taxing the colonies without representation was unfair. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord.
Paul Revere heard of this news and went around town secretly warning people that the British were coming. Captain Parker, leader of the colonists, told his men to stand their ground and to not fire unless that shot is now called fired upon. “The shot heard around the world”. At the end of the battle of Lexington, 8 colonists were dead 10 were wounded, The British retreated back to Boston. The militiamen shadowed and shot at the British. They succeeded in their actions.
