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Writs of assistance
The Writs of Assistance let general search warrants to be taken place to assist the British government in enforcing trade and navigation laws. They allowed the British soldiers to search someone’s house and possessions for smuggled goods. The colonists could be searched without a any reason. James Otis and others spoke out against the writs. He said that they violated the theory of political and social rights that were found in English common law. His protests did not have any major effect. -
Proclamation of 1763
After the French and Indian War, George 3 declared that all the lands to the west of the Appalachian Mountains were cut off to colonists. They could not settle there because the land, according to the proclamation, belonged to the Native Americans. This was to control the relations and anger between the Native Americans and colonists. Licensed traders could only travel west or trade with the Native Americans. Everyone else was forbidden to cross the line. -
Sugar Act of 1764
When the Molasses Act of 1733 failed, Britain still had to fund the French and Indian War. They also wanted to end smuggling of sugar and molasses in the colonies. The act lowered the sugar and molasses tax. Protests still occurred in the colonies. Boycitting the British sugar but was ineffective. To stop smuggling, British commissioners stopped colonial ships and the cargo was taken if they violated terms or didn't pay their dues. A trial was held in Britain for the guilty. -
Quartering Act 1765
This required colonists to open their homes to British soldiers. If the barracks were too small to fit all the soldiers, accommodations had to be made. They stayed at inns, houses, and more. The colonists didn't like this. Often, the soldiers threw out the owners of the house in order to make room for themselves. The governor of New York convinced Parliament to quarter soldiers in public places, other than private homes. Tents were pitched in the Boston Common for soldiers to stay in. -
Stamp Act 1765
The colonies had to pay a direct tax to Britain for licenses, legal documents, newspapers, and other publications. The money collected was to be used to fund the protection of the colonies. At the Appalachian Mountain line, there were 10,000 troops to protect the colonies. The tax was small, but the colonists were outraged. It offensive because it was used to raise money, not regulate commerce. The colonial legislatures weren't consulted and people worried about more taxation. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress was held between October 7 and the 25th in 1765 in New York City. At first, the Congress was considered a failure because only 9 of the twelve colonies sent delegates. James Otis was the one who suggested an intercolonial conference to agree on the next plan of action after the Stamp Act was passed. The Stamp Act Congress favored boycott on all British goods. The delegates agreed to have the right of trial by jury. This Congress helped repeal the Stamp/Declaratory Act. -
Declaratory Act 1766
The Declaratory Act of 1766 was made by the British Parliament that repealed the Stamp Act. Britain believed the Stamp Act was an obstruction to business and trade between England and the colonies. Also, the Stamp Act hurt British companies. The Declaratory Act allowed Parliament to be able freely place laws on the American colonies. This included the right to tax. -
Townshend Acts 1767
It taxed goods imported to the colonies. Ben Franklin told Parliament that colonists had started to make their own goods. This meant china, glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. Britain chose these because they would be hard for the colonists to make their own. Charles Townshend thought this could remodel colonial governments. The colonists thought these acts were abuse of power. “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania” as well as other letters were written to protest. So did the Son's of Liberty. -
Boston Massacre Act 1770
In Boston, a group of angry colonists made their way to the Custom House and started insulting and threatening the soldier outside. They pelted him with snowballs full of ice, stones, and bricks. The bells started ringing and soon there were more soldiers and colonists. A soldier was hit and fell, his gun going off. This caused a small battle and ended with 5 colonists dead. The soldiers were tried, but with John Adams defending them, they got off on minor charges. -
Tea Act 1773
Parliament gave the British East India Company Tea a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies. The British tea being exported to America was taxed for the colonists. It wasn’t much, but the colonists were furious on principle. -
Boston Tea Party
On December 16th 1773 the Sons of Liberty dressed as Native Americans, boarded English ships, and threw 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. This would have cost $1,000,000 today. It occurred because many colonists were angry at the English's new laws like the Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act. Also because of how the British soldiers treated the colonists in the Boston Massacre. Before the Boston Tea Party, the Sons of Liberty held a meeting to discuss and protest the Tea Act. -
Quebec Act 1774
The Quebec Act of 1774 gave greater rights to the French living in Canada that came under British rule through the Treaty of Paris. This act provided that a new governor and council were appointed to govern affairs in Quebec. Also recognition was given to the Roman Catholic Church which allowed Catholics to now take a position in public office if they signed an oath of loyalty to Britain. Lastly, the Quebec boundaries were extended south to Ohio and west to the Mississippi Rivers. -
1st Continental Congress
This was a meeting of delegates from 12 out of the 13 colonies in Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia. It took place from September 5 to October 26, 1774. Georgia was the only colony to not send a delegate. They determined that King George 3 needed to understand the grievances of the colonies. The Declaration and Resolves (October 14) made known the main ideas of the congress, in a statement of principles that were the same for all the colonies. -
Coercive Acts 1774
Laws that were passed by the British Parliament, a.k.a. the Intolerable Acts. They were responses to the Boston Tea Party. 1. The Boston Port Bill: closed Boston Harbor. 2. Massachusetts Government Act: replaced elected officials with appointed ones and added to the power of the military governor. 3. Administration of Justice Act: British officials with capital offenses could be tried in a different colony or in England. 4.The Quartering Act: allowed British troops to stay at a colonist houses. -
Battles of Lexington/Concord
They were the first engagements of military in the Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775. The British army was coming to Concord to seize the arms cache. That was the night that Paul Revere rode through the town, warning people of the British. The militiamen went out to Lexington to meet the British and were able to drive them away. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was Congress’s last final attempt to avoid war with Britain. It was published in July of 1775 and the first draft was written by Thomas Jefferson but revised and edited by John Dickinson. In the petition the colonists pleaded with King George III for a peaceful resolution and loyalty to the crown. King George refused to read/receive the petition and declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion. He ordered hessian mercenaries to bring the colonists under control. -
2nd Continental Congress
In 1775, the 2nd Continental Congress met. The delegates decided that a continental army had to be created to meet the military threat of the British. They commissioned George Washington to be the supreme commander and he served without any pay. They also concluded that supplies would be paid for by printing their own money and appointing a committee to conduct relations with foreign governments. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. It was a statement of America’s freedom from Britain. The Continental Congress adopted it on July 4, 1776. The document summarized the reasons that the colonies no longer wanted to be a part of Great Britain and it severed all political ties with them.
