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The 1st navigation act
This act stated that the colonies were only allowed to export its raw materials to England and that only Brittish ships were permitted to import goods. This enforced the concept of mercantilism, which was when all Brittish colonies in North America were only allowed to trade with England and no other European nations. This limited the growth of the colonial economy as trade deals with the French and Dutch were very often better than those between the brittish and the colonies. -
The Albany congress
This was a meeting of representatives from 7 of the 13 colonies in Albany, New York during the French and Indian war. It was here that Ben Franklin revealed his "Join, or die" poster, which encouraged colonists that unity was necessary to defeat the French. -
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Vice admirality courts
Admirality courts were courts in the colonies that served to solve conflicts between seamen and merchants soley, until aften the stamp and sugar acts were passed, to which they were used to try violaters of these acts. The main problem with these courts was that they didnt't have juries and the defendants were considered guilty until proven innocent. Cases were ruled by one judge only and colonists complained that it violated their rights as Englishmen to not have a trial by jury. -
End of the French and Indian war
The French and Indian war was fought between the Brittish and its colonies vs the French and it's indian allies. This war was fought over control of land in North America and is signifigant to the revolutionary war because it put Brittain into debt which was to be paid off in part by the colonies through heavy taxation. -
Proclimation of 1763
After the French and Indian war, brittain passed this proclimation which prohibited the colonists from settling west of the appalachian mountains. This was done by the Brittish to stop the colonists from invading indian lands. Many colonists lived west of the mountains and were forced to leave their farms and homes while others had invested large amounts of money in land companies. These companies failed as the Brittish government refused to give them a title to the land. -
Sugar act- 1764
This act was passed due to colonists defying the molasses act which had been passed 3 decades previously. This new act added taxes on sugar, coffee and conrolled the export of raw materials such as lumber more strictly. -
Currency act- 1764
Before Brittain imposed this act on the colonies, there was no standard of currency to conduct trade in the colonies. Colonies often would print money, but since no standard was established, there was no real form of currency. On September 1, 1764 Brittain assumed control of the colonial economy and prohibited the printing of any form of currency -
The quartering act
In 1765 parliment passed this act which was intended to provide housing and food for brittish soldiers in the colonies. Any buildings availible were used as barracks and often many colonists had accomodate soliders into their own home. This angered colonists as this act required colonists to house soldiers anywhere which inevitably lead to houses being confiscated to house soliders that werent even wanted in the colonies. -
The stamp act
This direct taxation act on the colonies was the first intended to raise money to pay off debt from the French and Indian war. All stamps, newspapers, playing cards, and legal documnets were items that were taxed. Brittish parliment recieved angry protests and boycotts in response to the "taxation without representation." -
The declaratory act
After the repeal of the stamp act, this act was put into place by binding the colonies to Brittain. This meant that parliment had the right to pass any further laws to bind the colonies, "by any means neccessary." This also meant that Brittain reserved the right to tax the colonists just as if they were Brittish citizens for any reason neccessary. -
The towsend act
this taxation act was named after Charles Townshend who persuaded parliment to pass yet another series of taxes against the colonists. Taxed items included glass, paper, tea and lead. -
The Boston Massacre
In the late winter of 1770 a riot broke out in Boston which was not uncommon, but this time brittish redcoats fired shots into an angry mob of protestors and ended up killing 5 and wounding 6 others. One of the casualties was a man of mixed race named Crispus Attuckus and was known as the first person killed in the American Revolution. -
The Tea Act
This act was not made to tax the colonies to raise money for the crown, but to revive the east india tea company. Lots of tea was left unsold and Brittain was losing lots and lots of money. Under this tea act, tea was now shipped directly to the colonies. Eventually the colonists still didnt buy enough of the tea and Brittain tried forcing them to buy it which then in turn resulted in the Boston tea party. -
The Boston Tea Party
A large shipment of Brittish tea was shipped to the Boston harbor on this December night and the govenor of Massachusetts ordered the colonists pay the tarrif on the tea, as it was not going back to England. This angered colonists and they met up on the docks on the Boston harbor, dressed as indians, and threw the tea into the water, which was a huge ecconomic loss to England. This was signifigant to the revolution because it was the first major outward act of defiance to Brittain and the king. -
1st Continental Congress
This was the first of two meetings in Carpenters Hall in Philidelphia. Representatives from 12 of the 13 colonies were sent here to discuss how to express their many grievances and complaints to the king of England and the rest of the colonies. This event was signifigant because for the first time, the colonies saw the need to unite in order to reason with England. -
Patrick Henry's speech
This was a speech given by Patick Henry in Richmond, Virginia at St. Johns Church. This speech was famous because Henry notable ended his patriotic rally cry with the quotable ending, "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" This speech inspired many virginias and southerners that what they were fighting for as the right cause and to continue the fight. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
This was the very first battle of the Revolutionary war. General Gage, a Brittish military general stationed in Boston, had heard about patriots storing weapons and gunpowder in a town called lexington 20 miles north of Boston. Gage and a small army arrived in lexington early in the morning to confiscate the weapons. The redcoats were welcomed by a larger army of militiamen and the exchange of gunfire resuluted in a colonial victory. -
Paul Reveres ride
As soon as Brittish General Gage heard that there were weapons being stored in lexington, he readied his troops to depart boston for lexington. Paul Revere got word and quickly rode horseback to lexington during the night to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock that the redcoats were coming. This gave the patriots a heads up and were able to prepare for the battle of Lexington and Concord. -
The 2nd Continental congress
During the second continental congress, a few big things were decided. George Washington, a very qualified General having fought alongside the Brittish in the French and Indian war, was chosen to be commander in chief of the new Continental army. Also during this meeting, it was decided that they needed to print money to cover supply costs. Congress also chose a group of leaders to strengthen foreign relations in case they needed the aid of another country. -
"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine
This was a book written by Thomas Paine which challenged the athority of the king and parliment
