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Jamestown
The very first permanent English colony wwas established to provide profit for the mother country. It was only after tobacco, an important cash crop was established that Jamestown became a sucess. -
House of Burgesses
The colonial governing body allowed the colonists thier 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 governors' approval, but colonists still felt they had power. -
Mayflower Compact
The puritans from the plymouth colony decided to create their own laws, which established the important self-governing principle of majority rule. -
Fudamental Orders of Connecticut
First written constitution by a colony, limited the power of government, majority rule, consent the governed, protected minority rights. -
Triangular Trade
New England merchants traded basic supplies witht the west indies in return for sugar and molasses. Later Africa was added to the route and the leg that transported slaves from the West Coast of Africa to the New England colonies became known as the middle passage. -
Maryland Toleration Act
Law granting religious freedom to all christians living in the Maryland colony. -
Navigation Act
England felt that the american colonies were gaining great profit trough overseas trade and wanted a greater share of profit -
John Peter Zenger
Zenger was accused of sedition and libel by a royal official who took offense to the newspaper man's criticism of limits on free expression. Zenger was put trial inf ront of a colonial jury who found him innocent. -
Great Awakening
Many colonists began expressing their religious ideas through new churches other than the church or england and the angilican church. -
French and Indian War
England and france have been warning on and off for over 100 years. This time around, the america colonists want to expand into the ohio river valley and canada. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklins attempt tp unite volunteers from all colonies to establish a common defense. The plan didnt work but it was the first time colonists planned to unite to defend themselves without the help of england -
Proclomation of 1763
In an attempt to settle the natives along the frontier, England banned all colonial settlement past the appalachian mountains. This policy enraged the colonists who only fought the french and indian war for more land. -
Stamp Act
Englands last attempt to get money from the colonies comes in the form of a direct tax on a variety of goods. -
Boston Massacre
Tension between colonists and the standing army left over from the french and indian war has been high. Many citizens feel that soldiers were spying on them, others resent the competition they present for local jobs. -
Tea Act
In an effort to ease tensions with their american colonists and save their lagging east india company, the governent passes this act which givas all colonial tea business to the india company but at a much lower price to the consumer. -
Intolerable Acts
In an effort to punish the members of the boston community for the boston tea party; the bristish government vows revenge until the dmaged tea is completley paid for. Boston is hurt the worst by the closing of the local harbor, but the other punishments such as curfew and marshall law are put into place which outrage the citizens. -
Quartering Act
This part of the intolerable acts was especially infuriating to the colonists who felt that they should not have to shoulder the responisbility of housing the british army when they dont want them around in the first place. -
Lexington and Concord
Fighting between colonial militias and bristish soldiers occur when gen. Gage finds out that colonists are stockpiling weapons. When he tries to confiscate the arms he is met with armed resistance. -
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. -
Common Sense
A popular pamphlet written by Thomas Paine states that it is obvious that England and her American colonies should not remain united. The two are so vastly different thay they cant have common goals and the rule of the monarchy is so opposive that the colonies will never prospoer under british rule. -
Decleration of Independence
thomas jefferson drafts a document that is a list of compliants against britain. This list was designed to serve two purposes. To notify england amd rest of the worlds americas intent and to rally colonists behind a great cause.
