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End of the French and Indian War
At the end of the French and Indian War in 1763 (fought between the British colonists and the French with their Indian allies over the Ohio River Valley), the British were victorious, driving the French out of North America with the Treaty of Paris. However, the mother country was deeply in debt and began depending on the colonists for renvenue to pay for the war, which caused major tensions between the two groups. -
Proclamation of 1763
Passed by the British Crown, the Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonial settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. After fighting for the British during the French and Indian War, many colonists took offense to this and saw it as an attack against their loyalty. -
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Sugar Act and Currency Act Passed
On the 5th of April, 1764, Parliament passed the Sugar Act without any consent from the colonies. This was a tax on imported sugar and molasses in hopes that the additional revenue could help pay for England's war debt. Additionally, the Currency Act was passed, which banned the issuing of paper bills or bills of credit. Again, this angered the colonists and caused tensions to grow even further. -
The Committee of Correspondence is Formed
On the 29th of November, the Committee of Correspondence was formed, with Samuel Adams at the head. The Committee helped spread propaganda and information throughout the colonies. This strengthed the colonists' wishes for independence and helped depict the British as cruel, harmful people. -
Quartering Act and Stamp Act Passed
Again, Parliament passed two more acts on the colonists without their consent in 1765. The Quartering Acts ordered that the colonists must house British soldiers when needed. The Stamp Act placed a tax on all printed items, including newspapers, playing cards, and court documents. This, of course, angered the colonists even more and caused a great longing for independence. -
Townshend Acts
Named after James Townshend, who imposed the idea, these taxes were passed to help make the colonial officials independent from the colonists. Included in this law were taxes on glass, paper, and tea. The entire idea of these acts were to increase currency traveling back to Britain. -
Boston Massacre
Angry colonists approach British soldiers, and continue to agitate the soldiers, and go as far as to throw a club at one of them. The soldiers fire their guns in response, and ultimately kill 5 colonists. This scene was depicted in a John Revere engraving, and used as propoganda to rebel against the British. -
Tea Act
The British Parliament passed this law to help the East India Tea company gain money by making their tea brand a monopoly in the colonies. The colonists refused to buy the tea, since it was still taxed. -
Boston Tea Party
In response to the Tea Act, colonists, lead by Sam Adams, demand that British ships leave the Boston harbor. When the ships refuse, the colonists dress up as Indians, board the ship and dump the tea into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts (Coercive)
These acts were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party. These laws closed Boston's ports to all imports, export food and fuel. They also did not allow the colonists to have town meetings any more than once a year, and the colonists had to house and feed any British soldiers that were in need. -
The First Continetal Congress
On September 5, 1774, twelve out of thirteen colonies sent delegates to meet in the first Continetal Congress. This meeting lasted into October. They met in Philadelphia to discuss what moves to make in regards of the intolerable acts. One of the main things that came from this meeting, was the Association that formed to boycott imported British goods. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
April 19, 1775 British troops were ordered to travel to Lexington and Concord to seize the colonists' gunpowder and to also capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock, both very important patriots in rebelling against the British rules. At Lexington, conflict occurred and eight Americans were killed due to British violence. At Concord, the British troops were forced to retreat with the loss of 70 men, due in part of American rebellion. This marks the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
