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Jamestown
The very first permanent English colony was established to provide profit for the mother country. It was only after tabacco, an important cash crop was established that Jamestown became a success. Jamestown served as the capital of the colony for 83 years, from 1616 until 1699. -
Home of Burgesses
This colonial governing body allowed the colonists their first taste of self-government. Representatives from each burgess or district would meet and establish taxes and laws for their area. This had to meet with the royal governor's approval, but colonists still felt that they had power. Also many leaders move toward independece made their names in the House of Burgesses. -
Mayflower Compact
The Puritans from the Plymouth colony (Mass) decided to create their own laws, which established the important self-governing principle of majority rule.he "Mayflower Compact" was signed on 11 November 1620 onboard the Mayflower shortly after she came to anchor off Provincetown Harbor. The Pilgrims had obtained permission from English authorities to settle in Virginia, whose northern border at the time extended up to what is now New York. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
First written constitution by a colony; limited the power of government; majority rule, consent of the governed (the people), protected minority rights. The political development of the colony began with the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1638), a civil covenant by the settlers establishing the system by which the river towns of Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield agreed to govern themselves. The orders created an annual assembly of legislators and provided for the election of a governor. -
Triangular Trade
New England merchants traded basic supplies with the West Indies in return for sugar ad molasses,(Which could be made into rum). Later afruca was added to the route and leg that transported slaves from the West Coast of Africa to the New England colonies became known as the "Middle Passage". This trade was often done without the involvement of the English government. Most of the slaves who were bought with New England rum were from Central and Western African. -
Maryland Toleration Act
Law granting religious freedon to all Christians (Protestant and catholic) living in the Maryland colony ( did not include Jewish religion). The Catholics in originally Catholic Maryland had become a minority of the population although still power1ul politically. They were in great danger of being ill-treated by the Protestant majority. -
Navigation Act
England felt that the American colonies were gaining great profit through overseas trade and wanted a greater share of profit.n 1651, however, while Cromwell was master of England, the first of the famous Navigation Acts was passed. The chief provisions were, that no goods grown or manufactured in Asia, Africa, or America should be transported to England except in English vessels, and that the goods of any European country imported into England must be brought in British vessels. -
John Peter Zenger
Zenger was accused of sedition and libel by a royal official who took offense to the newspaper men's criticism of limits on free expression.No democracy has existed in the modern world without the existence of a FREE PRESS. Newspapers and pamphlets allow for the exchange of ideas and for the voicing of dissent. When a corrupt government holds power, the press becomes a critical weapon. It organizes opposition and can help revolutionary ideas spread. -
Great Awakening
Many colonists began expressing their religious ideas through new churches other than the Church of England or Angelican Church. In the 1730s, a religious revival swept through the British American colonies. JONATHAN EDWARDS, the Yale minister who refused to convert to the Church of England, became concerned that New Englanders were becoming far too concerned with worldly matters. -
French and Indian War
Enland and France have been warring on and off for over one hundred years. This time around, the American colonists want to expand into the Ohio. The French and Indian War, as it was referred to in the colonies, was the beginning of open hostilities between the colonies and Gr. Britain. England and France had been building toward a conflict in America since 1689. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin's attempt to unite volunteers from all colonies to establish a common defense. The plan didn't work but it was the first time colonists planned to unite to defend themselves without the help of England.The British government in London had ordered the colonial governments to meet in 1754, initially because of a breakdown in negotiations between the colony of New York and the Mohawk nation, part of the Iroquois Confederation. More generally, wanted to sign a treaty with iroquois. -
Proclamation of 1763
In an attempt to settle the Natives along the frontier, England banned all colonial settlement past the Appalachian Mountains. This policy enraged te colonists who only fought the French and Indian war for more land.The proclamation, in effect, closed off the frontier to colonial expansion. The King and his council presented the proclamation as a measure to calm the fears of the Indians, who felt that the colonists would drive them from their lands as they expanded westward. -
Stamp Act
England's latest attempt to get money from the colonies comes in the form of a direct tax on a variety of goods. Things ranging from legal documents to decks of cards. The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first internal tax levied directly on American colonists by the British government. The act, which imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies, came at a time when the British Empire was deep in debt from the Seven Years’ War and looking to its North American colonies as a revenue source. -
Boston Massacre
Tension between colonists and the standing army left over from the French and Indian War has been high. Many citizens feel that the soldiers were spying on them, others resend the competiton they present for local jobs.The Boston Massacre was a signal event leading to the Revolutionary War. It led directly to the Royal Governor evacuating the occupying army from the town of Boston. It would soon bring the revolution to armed rebellion throughout the colonies. -
Tea Act
In an effort to case tensions with their American colonists and save their lagging East Indian Company, the Bristish government passes this act which ives all colonial tea business to the Indian company but at a much lower price to the consumer.he act was not intended to raise revenue in the American colonies, and in fact imposed no new taxes. It was designed to prop up the East India Company which was floundering financially and burdened with eighteen million pounds of unsold tea. -
Intolerable Act
In an effort to punish the members of the Boston community for the Boston Tea Party, the British goverment vows reveng until the damaged tea is completely paid for. Boston is hurt the worst by the closing of local harbor, but other punishments such as a curfew and Marshall law are put into place which outrage the citizens.Only food and firewood were permitted into the port. Town meetings were banned, and the authority of the royal governor was increased. -
Quartering Act
This part of the Intolerable Acts was especially infuriating to the colonists who felt that they should not have to shoulder the responsibility of housing the British Army when they don't wnat them around in the first place.Many colonies had supplied the troops with provisions during wartime, but this issue was now being debated during peacetime. The Province of New York assembly passed an act to provide for the quartering of British regulars, which expired on January 1, 1764. -
Lexington and Concord
Fighting between colonial militias (minutemen) and British soldiers occur when Gren. Gage finds out that colonists are stockpiling weapons.When he tries to confiscate the arms he is met with armed resistance. The first shot between the tow sides was fired in a crowd and no one is sure who shot first. By the time the Redcoats got to Concord, the Americans were waiting for them in force. The weapons depot was saved, and the British were forced to retreat, harassed by militiamen along the way. -
Olive Branch Petition
A committee of colonists draft a letter to the king of England asking for an end to fighting and vow obedience if certain demands are met. King George III refuses to even read the letter.He believed the Americans to be in rebellion, and believed he could quickly end it with his military force. -
Common Sense
A popular pamphlet written by Thomas Paine states that it is obvious that England and her American coloies should not remain unfair. The two are so vastly different that they can't have common goals ad the rule of the monarchy is so oppressive that the colonies will never prosper under British rule. The only "common sense" is to declare indepedence. In 1776, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. -
Declaration of Independece
Thomas Jefferson drafts a document that is a list of complaints against Britain,This list was designed to serve two purposes:One, to notify England and the rest of the world of America's intent and reasons for it.Second,it was to rally the colonists behind a great cause by inspiring them to throw off the shackles of oppression.The truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,these are Life, Liberty and happiness.
