Declaration of independence

Chapter 4

  • Molasses Act

    Parliament passed the Molasses Act which taxed colonists on Tea, Coffee, Sugar, etc. to help compensate for the money lost in the war.
  • French and Indian War

    War between the French and the British over the land of the Ohio Valley. The British defeated the French and ultimately won the land, but then were told that they couldn't settle there because thre King didn't want any further conflicts with the existing Indians.
  • Sugar Act

    Created taxes on sugar, which was bad for colonists because tea and sugar was a major factor in their everday lives. However, the Sugar Act did reduce the duties on Molasses. This Act gave British the rights to use Writs of Assistance.
  • Currency Act

    Prohibited colonists from using paper money, forcing them to use gold or silver coins to pay for their debt.
  • Stamp Act

    Created a tax on a variety of legal documents and printed papers. Caused many colonists to boycott.
  • Quartering Act

    Forced colonists to provide shelter and food/supplies for British soliders. When feeding soliders, colonists had to serve the soliders first before serving their own family.
  • Declaratory Act

    Made it so that Parliament had the right to legislate or govern the colonists.
  • Townshend Act

    Salaries of governors/judges are to be paid for by the British government instead of colonial assemblies. Gave British the right to use Writs of Assisitance.
  • Battle of Lexington and Concord

    Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Smith led 900 British soliders to Lexington and Concord to seize military supplies. The British were successfull at Lexington, but faced defeat at Concord to the colonists.
  • Battle at Bunker Hill

    Colonists had control of the hill and therefore had the advantage because the British were forced to climb straight up the hill right into the hands of the colonists were they met their demise. However, due to a loss of supplies, the colonists had to retreat from the battle and essentially accept defeat due to surrender.
  • The Declaration of Independence

    The colonists, as an assembly represented by each colony, agreed to write, sign, and ultimately propose/demand independence from their mothering country: England and the King. In the Declaration, the colonists state their reasons for independence and why they deserve it along with all the wrongs that the King has done or failed to do.