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The End of the French and Indian War
The French and Indian War officially started in 1756. On one side were the French, the Spanish, and a majority of Natives and on the other side were Great Britain, its colonies, and a few Native allies. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris (1763). Britain had accumulated a large amount of debt, so they taxed their colonies. -
The Proclamation of 1763
This was an order for the colonists from Great Britain. It stated that they needed to remain East of the Appalachian Mountains. This angered the colonists because that was the land that they fought for and they could not have it. -
Sons of Liberty Formation
The activist group was formed in response to British taxes. -
The Quartering Act
This was a British decree that forced colonists into housing British soldiers. They were demanded to feed and supply the soldiers. This was especially prominent during the French and Indian War. Many colonists were angry, but they eventually accepted it. -
The Stamp Act
This law taxed almost all printed products. These products included newspapers, books, and legal documents. The Stamp Act was the first time the colonists were directly taxed by the British. Many colonists protested because they believed that the tax was a threat to their liberty. Eventually, the phrase, "Taxation without representation", came to be. -
The Townshend Acts
This tax was placed on everyday goods that were imported. These goods included tea and paper. The money from the taxes would be used to pay the salaries or governors. Some colonists refused to pay the tax. -
The Boston Massacre
This massacre took place in Boston, Massachusetts. Colonists were protesting the taxes and were throwing things such as rocks at the British soldiers. The soldiers got nervous and shot 5 colonists. All 5 people died. A sense of unity came about after this due to the creation of the Committees of Correspondence. Great Britain dropped the Townshend Acts for the most part after this event. -
The Boston Tea Party
Colonists were boycotting tea due to the tax placed on it, so the British made it cheaper than the smuggled tea even with the tax. Colonists believed it was a trick, so they protested. Angered by the British, the Boston Patriots dumped the tea from the British ships into the harbor. As a result, Great Britain closed off Boston's ports, so they could not trade and sent warships to enforce the blockade. The governor also gained more power. -
The First Continental Congress
This meeting was held in Philadelphia. representatives from Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England gathered. As a whole, they decided to boycott British goods. AT this meeting, they essentially created a new government. Local committees were also established. -
The Intolerable Acts
These acts forced colonists to house British troops. Also, it allowed British officers who committed crimes in the colonies to be tried in Great Britain. Many colonists were horrified by this prospect, so they became violent. They started to tar and feather people, especially tax collectors, as well as forcing courts to close. -
Boston Blockade
After the Boston Tea Party, the English punished the colonists by restricting their trade. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
This was the start of the American Revolutionary War. This was the night the British marched to Concord to search for weapons. They were met with armed colonists. At Lexington, the British and colonial militiamen met and fought. It is still unknown to this day who fired the first shot. This battle showed that the colonists could fight the British on equal terms for the most part.
