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The Molasses Act
The Molasses Act of 1733, was the taxation of molasses on American Colonists. This also effected the tax of rum and sugar. This came along with many other taxation's of British Parliament in order to pay off debts. Colonists did not like these taxation's and protested against them. -
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Seven Years War
The Seven Years War, also known as the French and Indian war, is a war that began between the French and Great Britain with Indians on both sides. As France grew into the Ohio River, Britain began to get angry, starting the war. The Treaty of Paris ended the war. This impacted people because many lands were traded among countries. -
The Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by King George III, that followed the Seven Years War. This Proclamation prohibited colonists to travel west over the Appalachian Mountains. At the time, colonists had already began to travel over the mountains, and continued without agreement. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was the replacement of the 1733 Molasses Act. This sugar act taxed American colonies to raise revenue. The goal was for the British to get more money to pay off debts for the wars. This was important because it led the colonists to breaking off from Great Britain through the Declaration of Independence. This tax made colonists angry because more money was going to Britain when the colonists came to America to get away from Britain. -
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty began the Revolutionary War. People were collected from the thirteen states to secretly protest and fight against Parliament and taxation on the colonists. This was lead by Samuel Adams and many other people. The Sons of Liberty were in charge of the Boston Tea Party. This group began with the Loyal Nine, created from shopkeepers and artisans, that grew into the Sons of Liberty. This helped the colonists stand up to Britain and fight against them. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was another act placed by Parliament in Great Britain to collect taxes for debt on wars. This act enforced that all newspapers, letters, and official documents needed to have a stamp on them. The catch was that the stamps costed money. This made colonists very angry, along with the other acts and taxes that Parliament was placing on them. This lead to the repeal in 1766 by the colonists. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was put in place from the British. This act was to enforce colonists to house soldiers in their homes or property. Colonists did not enjoy this because it was disturbing the Bill of Rights from 1689. This Quartering Act was very important because the colonists realized this was unacceptable and fought back. In the future, the colonists fought against all of the acts that were being placed on the colonists and many wars broke out. -
The Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was the repeal of the Stamp Act that was placed in 1765. Parliament, of Great Britain, ended this act because people were protesting against it. The British also wanted more control over the new founded America. -
Townshed Acts
The Townshed Acts were multiple acts placed on America from Parliament. These were named after Charles Townshed. These were designed to make money and p;ace debts on the colonies. The colonists did not enjoy these acts and fought against them. -
The Louisiana Rebellion
The purpose of the Louisiana Rebellion was to send the Spanish governor out of New Orleans and stop them. This attempt did not work. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a fight including colonists throwing things, such as snowballs and rocks, at British Soldiers. The colonists provoked rage against the soldiers due to the Townshed Acts and five colonists were killed. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party, created by the Sons of Liberty, poured tea overboard off British ships due to the taxation of tea and other taxes. This impacted the colonists in many ways. The colonists began Independence and also got punished with more taxes soon after. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were five laws placed by Britain to American colonists. These laws were to punish colonists for the Boston Tea Party. The name was given from patriotic colonists who did not believe these laws were fair. -
Patrick Henry's Big Speech
The "Give me liberty, or give me death" speech is a very well known speech due to the words that were spoken by Patrick Henry. This speech was said right before the Revolutionary war. He wanted to tell people in Richmond, Virginia to fight against the British rule. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord, were the first fights against a true american military against Britain. As the Revolutionary War began, America created this military to fight. The majority of these beginning fights started in Massachusetts. -
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Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War was a big part of history. This lead to independence for the colonists. This war was between colonists and Britain. Britain was putting taxes/acts on the colonists, the colonists got fed up, leading to the Revolutionary War. The war began with the Sons of Liberty fighting and protesting. When the British lost the Yorktown battle, American colonists won the war. King George III finally gave up and the colonists got their Independence through the Constitution. -
Decoration of Independence
The Decoration of Independence was the article that was written by 5 delegates that were appointed through colonists. This stated that the colonists/ America was no loner under control of Parliament. This document states that all men are equal and Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. This lead to governments being created through the new country, starting with the constitution. -
First State to Abolish Slavery
It is known that Vermont was the first state to abolish slavery in United States. They began this due to the Constitution, many other states did not end slavery until the 1800's -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first draft of the Constitution. This was created for a basis of the new country. Although, this was directed towards the states rights and not the countries government, so it was difficult to control the states. In the future, this would be changed and collected to the Constitution. -
The Treaty of Paris/Great Britain
The Treaty of Paris/ Great Britain, signed in Paris by King George III and US representatives, ended the Revolutionary War. Great Britain had finally understood the independence of the colonists and US boundaries were concluded. -
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Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion, was an outbreak of soldiers lead by Daniel Shays. These people protested for civil rights and economic rights that were not being met. This was one of the major factors in creating the Constitution just two years later. -
Annapolis Convention
The Annapolis Convention was held at Mann's Tavern. James Madison had called the delegates from each state to talk about interstate trade and the issues of the Articles of Confederation. Though, only twelve delegates showed up. This was important because it notified people of the issues of the Articles of Confederation leading to the Constitution. This did not impact colonists other than the delegates that were involved. -
Rhode Island Boycotting Constitutional Convention
Rhode Island, was the only state/colony to not bring representatives to the Constitutional Convention lead by George Washington. Rhode Island was afraid of too much power given to the government of America, which ended up happening. -
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The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Conventions, collected two appointed members from each state to talk about the Articles of Confederation and edit it. Many people that were able to go, either could not attend or did not accept it. Because the states could not agree, the Constitutional Convention continued for months. -
Constitution
The Constitution, is a document that was created as a set of new rules and laws for the new country of America. This Constitution started many things such as branches of government and the President of the United States. It is a document that is still used today. The father of the constitution is James Madison, who wrote and was at the Constitutional Conventions fighting for this to be enforced. This began as seven articles and was improved over years.