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Mercantilism
Mercantilism is the idea that control of trade can increase a nation's wealth. Britain used the colonies to benefit their own economic wealth until they gained their independence. Colonies provided raw materials and goods that would lead to trade for British benefit. -
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French and Indian War
Conflict between England and France over the Ohio River Valley for settlement starts the war. Both groups claimed the territory as their own. The area had valuable resources and a strong trade environment with the Native Americans. The French and Indian war ended with the Treaty of Paris. Large amounts of land were granted to the English settlements in North America. Dispute over the final war expenses created tension between the colonies and England. -
Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation prohibited the English colonies from expanding beyond the Appalachian Mountains. This was in order to prevent further collision with Native American groups. -
Sugar Act
Britain passes an act (based off of the sugar and molasses act of 1733) that immediately raised the tax of molasses. -
Stamp Act
The act required colonists to pay taxes on every piece of printed paper used. The money collected was supposed to be used to help pay for defending the American border near the Appalachian Mountains. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress was the first representative gathering of American colonies to plan a unified protest against the British taxation. -
Sons of Liberty
An organization that was created to advance colonist rights and fight British taxation. They played a major role in the Boston Tea Party and battling the Stamp Act. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act forced colonists to house the British solders in either barracks or other buildings provided by the colonies. It also required them to provide food, drink, and transportation. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was made when the Stamp Act was repealed. It stated that the British taxing authority was the same in the colonies. It was also a way for Parliament to assert its authority to make laws that could bind the colonies (including right to tax). -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts (named after Charles Townshend) were a series of laws passed by the British on the colonies that placed new taxes and took away some freedom. These laws would use revenue collected by the duties to pay salaries of colonial power holders in order to ensure loyalty to British government. The colonists began to protest goods in response. -
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Non Importation Agreement
The non importation agreement was a boycott beginning in Boston that restricted importation of goods. This agreement was signed by more than sixty merchants and traders. Within two weeks, majority had joined and eventually it was adopted by other cities. It lasted until British Parliament repealed the acts that were being boycotted. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a riot that took place on King Street in Boston. It began as a street fight between colonists and a British solider, but eventually escalated (five dead, six injured). This conflict began a rouse in colonists to fight for their independence. -
Committees of Correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were Patriot "emergency governments" made responding to British policy. They also served as a form of communication through the colonies between leaders. They worked together with the Sons of Liberty. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act's purpose was to save the East India Company, who was a key aspect in Britain economy. Part of the sale and importation of tea to the colonies were granted to the company. This act regenerated the colonists' opposition to the taxes on tea. -
Boston Tea Party
In response to the Tea Act, colonists boarded East India Company ships and dumped loads of tea overboard. Britain responded by putting harsh measures, especially against Boston, into place that they believed would crush colonial resistance. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was comprised of delegates from the colonies. They first met in reaction to the Coercive Acts, which were put into place by British government to stop resistance in the colonies. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were five laws put in place by the British government with the intention of gaining authority back in the colonies. The first four Acts were passed as result of the Boston Tea Party. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress created a Continental Army in order to fight Britain with George Washington commissioned to lead. At this time, Congress also authorized money printing and organized a committee for foreign relations. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Although the Americans were defeated at the Battle of Bunker Hill, they inflicted significant damage on the enemy. The British retreated twice during this battle, but the Americans were the final ones to retreat after hand to hand combat with the British army. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military interactions of the war, marking armed conflict between the American colonies and Britain. Hundreds of British soldiers marched from Boston to Concord in order to capture weapons and supplies. They were confronted in Lexington by the militiamen and eventually retreated. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress of July 4, 1776. It stated the reasons that the colonies were seeking independence from the British government. After declaring themselves as a newly independent nation, they were able to form an alliance with France, therefore receiving their help in the war against Britain.
