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Jamestown
The first permanent English colony that was astablished to provide profit for England. Jamestown struggled a great deal before John Rolfe introduced tobacco, which soon became an important cash crop that helped Jamestown become a success. -
House of Burgesses
The first legislative assembly in the American colonies. They first met at a church in Jamestown. 22 burgesses were elected and each representative would meet and establish taxes and laws for their area. Even though this had to meet with the royal governors approval, the colonists still felt they had power. -
Mayflower Compact
The Puritans from the Plymouth colony decided to create their own laws, which stated the importance of self-governing. 41 colonists signed this compact which is the original framework of government established in what is now the United States. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
This document was the first written constitution in North America. It limited the power of the government, majority rule, and protected minority rights. -
Triangular Trade
A trade route for New England, West Indies, and Africa. They would export demanding items to trade. This trade was often done without the involvment of the English government. -
Maryland Toleration Act
This law mandated religios toleration or freedom of religion to Christians living in Maryland colonies but did not include Jewish religion. -
Navigation Acts
A series of laws that restricted the use of foriegn ships for trade between Britain and its colonies. England felt the American colonies were gaining profit through overseas trade and wanted a greater share in that profit. Any ship had to pass through Englands ports and have a majority English or colonial crew on board. -
John Peter Zenger
Zenger was an American printer, publisher, editor, and journalist. He was accused of sedition and libel by a royal officer because he took offense to the newspaper mans criticism of limits on free expression. Zenger was put on trial but was found inoccent becuse he was just printing the truth. -
Great Awakening
Colonists began expressing themselves religiously through churches other than the Church of England. This "rebelion" of religious freddom tested the official religious authority in England. It also showed that colonists are staring to think for themselves and choosing to differ from England. -
Mercantilism
An economic system that generates wealth but because of favorable trade the mother country gets the most profit. -
French and Indian War
England and France have always been enemys but now colonists want to expand into Ohio and Canada which is French territory. A small problem turns into a big one when England and its colonies combine forces to fight off France and their Native American allies. The Native Americans chose to fight with the French because the French were not heavily settled and were good trading partners. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was a plan to place the colonies under a more centralized government. Benjamin Franklin took this opportunity to try and unit volunters from all of the colonies to establish a defense against England. Although it failed, it was the first time the colonists planned to unite themselves without the help of England. -
Proclamation of 1763
England banned all colonial settlement past the Appalachian Mountains. This enraged many colonists, especially the ones who fought for mare land in the French and Indian War. -
Stamp Act
England imposed a direct tax on items ranging from legal documents to a deck of cards in order to get more money from the colonists. The colonists didn't respond well to this and started protesting. -
Boston Massacre
The relationship between the colonists and the british soldiers in the colonies were not very good. Colonists felt the soldiers were spying on them and taking their jobs. A fight eventually broke out between a group of colonists and some british soldiers resulting in the death of five colnists. -
Intolerable Acts
This act was meant to punish the Boston community for the Boston Tea Party. England closed the local harbor, set a curfew, marshall laws were put in place. -
Tea Act
The tea act was passed to save their East India Company which was failing financially and burdened with eighteen million pounds of unsold tea. The british government then passed this act which states all colonial tea buisnesses will be given to the India company which outraged the colonists. The colonists took action and carried out what is known as the Boston Tea Party. -
Quartering Act
Parliament ordered all colonies to provide the British soldiers with any needed accommodations or housing. The colonists were extremely angry with this Act feeling that they should not have to take care of the British army when they dont want them here in the first place. -
Lexington and Concord
A war breaks out between the colonists and the British army after they find out the colonists are stockpiling weapons. A shot is fired that officially starts the war and the colonists become the enemy of the British. -
Olive Branch Petition
The colonies wrote a letter to the King of England asking for peace. They were even willing to meet certain demands and vow obedience but King George III refused to even read the letter. -
Declaration of Independence
A list of complaints against Britain drafted by Thomas Jefferson. This was to tell England the goals of America and how the colonists feel and that they need change. -
Common Sense
Written by Thomas Paine and states the the colonies should be independent from England from now on as they are so different and have set new goals that differ from eachother. This article helps persuade colonists to declare independence.
