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French and Indian War
This was a seven year long war between the French, that had Indian allies on their side, and the British. The first phase of the war ended in disaster for Britain. But the turning point in the war was when William Pitt took over the war operations; he committed more troops and juggles the command, replacing old war heroes with vigorous young ones. The British captured Louis burg, then stuck in Quebec, then soon after Montreal. It lasted 7 years and ended in 1763. -
Proclamation of 1763
After the Treaty of Paris, which marked the end of the French and Indian War, Britain now had a great deal of land west of the colonies. To avoid conflict Britain passed the Proclamation of 1763, which prevented colonist from settling there. The colonists saw this as a way for Britain to have better control over the colonies and disregarded it considering they already had plans to explore the land. -
The Stamp Act
The Seven Years’ War had been costly and they wanted to tax the colonists for the money, in a way so they would pay for their defense. The Stamp Act was one of the acts passed to tax the colonists, it made it so every legal document had to be written on specially stamped paper to show proof of payment; this included deeds, wills, marriage licenses, and contracts of any sort. The colonists in return boycotted British goods to protest the Stamp Act -
Boston Tea Party
Townspeople disguised as Native Americans stormed a ship waiting in the Boston Harbor and tossed 342 chests of tea into the water. -
The Tea Act
The tea act granted the British East India Company Tea a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies. This meant that the British East Tea Company could sell tea to the colonies at a low price so the tax on tea could stay without the colonists realizing. They also hoped the would stop smuggling as well. But the colonists were suspicious and though it was a a plot to challenge their opposition to tax payments and they started boycotting British goods again. -
The Intolerable Acts
Parliament was fed up with the colonists and decided they needed to be punished and measured needed to be taken to control them, so they Intolerable Acts were passed. These acts made it so the Boston Harbor was closed until he tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party was payed for, the government of Massachusetts was changed, and British troops and officials were given much greater freedom. -
Signing of Declaration of Independence
The document was approved and signed on July 4, 1776. It stated that the thirteen colonies were free and independent states. The document it self is made of three parts: the first outlined the basic principles of the enlightened leader, the next is a list of grievances, and the last was dissolving ties with Britain.
