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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was apart of a larger global conflict called the Seven Years War. The French and British had the most territorial disputes within North America during this 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 colonists were angry with the Proclamation Line 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. -
The Stamp Act
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act 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. The colonists were outraged because they were paying for troops that were keeping them out of the land they had just fought for in the French and Indian War. This led to an increase in colonial protests. -
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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. -
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 March 5 1770 there was a violent confrontation between the British soldiers and the colonists in Boston and colonists. -
The Tea Act
This new tax law was not designed to raise taxes in the colonies. The Tea Act was created to help the East India Company. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an answer by colonists that were only there to destroy tea and nothing else. This was during a very cold winter. There were around 60 colonists who threw tea into the Boston Harbor, specifically 342 crates. The colonists did this because they didn't want the tea from England. The punishment if this was the Coercive Acts. -
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
A punishment on the colonists due to their actions following The Boston Tea Party. These punishments included: Boston Harbor closed, colonists lose jobs. Trials in Britain for British soldiers, soldiers are free to abuse colonists and capitalize on the abuse. Quartering Act, colonists are forced to let in British troops. Town meetings shut down, colonists could no longer govern themselves. The Coercive Acts were significant because these acts caused the colonists to unite against the British. -
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The First Continental Congress
Was a meeting held at the Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This meeting was held to discuss the crisis in England. The thirteen colonies sent delegates/representatives to represent themselves. Georgia was the only colony not present. This was significant because the colonists expressed their belief that it was unfair for them to be taxed by Parliament without them being represented in Parliament. They urged all colonists to boycott British goods. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
On April 19th, 1775 there were 900 redcoat troops heading to Lexington. Only 60 militiamen were about to fight 900 British soldiers that were highly experienced. After the first battle of Lexington went to Concord to raid their arm stash. Afterward, the British were headed back to Boston, over 1000 militiamen were shadowing the British back to Boston. They shot and killed ⅓ of the British army, the patriots win this battle. The colonists fought for their right against the British.
