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French-Indian War
The French and Indian War was a part of the Seven Years War, which put the North American colonies against the French, each side being supported by different Native American tribes. -
Navigation Acts
A series of laws passed by Britain that restricted the colonies' trade, ensuring that trade benefits would flow primarily to Britain. The acts required that certain goods could only be shipped to Britain or other British colonies, which limited the colonies ability to trade freely and led to colonial resentment. -
Stamp Act
One of the first direct taxes put on the American colonies by Britain. It required colonists to purchase a government-issued stamp for all printed materials, from newspapers to legal documents. This made the colonists very mad, which led to widespread protests and the formation of the Stamp Act Congress, which called for a boycott of British goods. -
Quartering Act
This law required colonists to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers stationed in North America. Colonists saw this as an violation of their rights, and the law added to the growing tension between the colonies and Britain. -
Townshend Acts
The British government passed these acts to raise revenue from the colonies by taxing goods imported from Britain, such as glass, lead, tea, and paper. The funds were used to pay British officials in the colonies, which made the colonists feel that their local governments were losing power. These acts led to protests and boycotts. -
Boston Massacre
Tensions between colonists and British soldiers finally burst on March 5, 1770, when British troops opened fire on a crowd in Boston, killing five colonists. The event was heavily propagandized by colonial leaders like Paul Revere and Samuel Adams to fuel anti-British sentiment. -
Boston Tea Party
In response to the Tea Act, a group of colonists known as the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water. This act of defiance prompted Britain to pass the Intolerable Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
In response to the colonists after the Boston Tea Party, Britain passed these harsh laws, which closed Boston Harbor until the dumped tea was paid for, placed Massachusetts under direct British control, and allowed British officials accused of crimes in the colonies to be tried in Britain. These acts united the colonies in opposition to Britain. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Continental Congress sent this petition to King George III, hoping to avoid full-scale war. It expressed loyalty to the king but also requested that he address the colonies' grievances. The king rejected it, declaring the colonies in open rebellion. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
This was the first military engagement of the American Revolutionary War. British troops were sent to seize colonial weapons stored in Concord, Massachusetts, but were met by colonial militias in Lexington. Shots were fired and the conflict spread, sparking the revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
Meeting in Philadelphia, this congress coordinated the colonial war effort, and in June 1775, they appointed George Washington as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. The Congress also managed the war, worked with foreign powers, and finally declared independence in 1776. -
Common Sense
This pamphlet, written by Thomas Paine, argued for American independence from Britain. It was widely read and helped shift the public's opinion toward supporting the break from Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson. It stated that the colonies were breaking away from Britain and listed the reasons for doing so, including the belief that all men have the natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. -
Articles of Confederation
This was the first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781. It created a weak central government with most powers held by the individual states. The government had little power to tax or control trade, which caused problems, especially after the war. -
Daniel Shays’ Rebellion
This was a revolt led by Daniel Shays, protesting economic inequality and the lack of government response to the debt crisis faced by farmers in Massachusetts. The rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government. -
Constitutional Convention
In response to the problems under the Articles of Confederation, a group of delegates from the states met in Philadelphia to draft up a new constitution. The result was the U.S. Constitution, which created a stronger central government with an new system of checks and balances between the three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.