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Coervice Acts
Britain passed these. Colonists called them the Intolerable Acts. One of these acts closed Boston Harbor. Another withdrew right of MA colony to gover itself. -
French and Indian War
A struggle between the French and British over land in western Pennsylvania and Ohio. By 1756 several other countries became involved, but in 1763 Great Britain won the war and gained complete control of the eastern third of the continent. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin proposed this plan for the 13 colonies to unite after French attacks on the frontier. At first colonists rejected plan because they thought it gave too much power to an assembly made up of representatives. But by the 1760's harsh British policies spurred an American sense of community. Thought themselves united by hostility toward Britain. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp act imposed the first direct tax on colonists. Required payment on legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers, and even dice and playing cards. Parliament also passed laws regulating colonial trade in ways that benefited Great Britain but not the colonies. -
Stamp Act Congress
Nine Colonies sent delegates to a meeting New York called Stamp Act Congress. First meeting organized by the colonies to protest King George's actions. The delegates sent a petition to the King, arguing that only colonial legislature could impose direct taxes . 1773 organizations called Committees of Correspondence were popping up all over the colonies. -
George III become King of Great Britain
King George III had different ideas of how the colonies should be governed. After Britian defeated the French in the French and Indian War, Britain had a huge debt that the British believed the colonists should pay for. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists dressed as Mohawk Indians and dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor. In protest of the tea tax. -
Committees of Correspondence
These committees urged resistence against Britain. Consisted of colonists who wante to keep in touch with one another as events unfolded.Samuel Adams est. first committee in Boston. Word spread quicklya and within a few months MA had more than 80. Two prominent members of the Virginia committee were Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from all colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia . Key colonial leaders such as Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee, and Geoge Washington attended. -
Lexington and Concord
This was the first blow by by British redcoats, that clashed with colonial minutemen. First battle of Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
After first Lexington and Concord delegates from all thirteen colonies met again for Second Continental Congress. Assumed central powers of central government, with John Hancock as President. -
Resolution of Independence
Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declared Independence. Introduced resolution, "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states." -
Decleration of Independence
A committe of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were to prepare a written decleration of independence. Congress approved this written document of Independence and broke from Great Britain. On July 4 congress approved final draft and all 56 delegates signed it.
