-
Albany Congress
The British decided that the colonist leaders had to meet in case of a war with France. Iroquois tribes were invited to this meeting by the British in hopes of forming an alliance. The Iroquois tribes refused. During this meeting Ben Franklin proclaimed that the colonies should come together in what he called the Albany Plan of Union. The plan was approved by the Albany Congress, but was rejected by the colonial assemblies. -
Period: to
The French and Indian War
The French and the Native Americans fought together against the British, the colonists, and the Iroquois. They both claimed the Ohio River Valley and each fought to keep it. Eventually the British won the war and the French lost almost all their North American territory. -
The Treaty of Paris
Great Britain and France signed the Treaty of Paris after France lost The French and Indian War. France surrendered French Canada and all territory east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain. -
Period: to
Pontiac's War
The Native American leader started a war with the British colonists. They fought over the land Britain had claimed. Britain won but passed a law that said no colonists could settle on Native America lands for fear of another war. -
The Proclamation of 1763
After Pontiac's war the British were worried of an attack by the Native Americans. As a result they decided that the colonists could not settle along an invisible line along the Appalachian Mountains. This angered many colonists and they settled anyway. -
The Sugar Act
Parliament needed money so they passed a law on sugar products, including molasses. The colonists were very upset and boycotted these products. Eventually Parliament removed the taxes. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed by Parliament in 1765. It said that any paper document had to have a special tax stamp. This angered many colonists who led protest against it and in 1766 it was revoked. -
The Quartering Act
Parliament passed a law called the Quartering act. It was inacted to help Great Britain save money. This law stated that colonists had to provide food clothing and shelter to the British soldiers. -
Boston Massacre
A group of colonists gathered around a small group of British soldiers and threw rocks and snowballs. The soldiers, acting out in fear, fired and killed 5 people. This is how the Boston Massacre occurred. -
Tea Act
Parliament passed a law that helped the East India Company by shipping tea directly to the colonies. This angered many colonists because it them a monopoly of selling British tea. The colonists didn't react very well and fought back. -
Boston Tea Party
As a result of the Tea Act a group called the Sons of Liberty decided that they would make sure the tea wasn't unloaded. But in Boston harbor, the governor wouldn't let the tea ship leave until it was. So a group of people dressed up as Native Americans dumped the millions of dollars worth of tea into the harbor. As a result Boston harbor was closed. -
Intolerable Acts
After the Boston Tea Party Parliament passed four laws the colonists called the Intolerable acts. These laws closed the Boston port, strengthened the Quartering Act, got rid of the upper house of the Massachusetts legislature, and finally, town meetings no longer had any powers. -
First Continental Congress
In Philadelphia a group of delegates from each of the colonies, excluding Georgia, had a meeting. At this meeting they demanded the end of the Intolerable acts. They also stated that the training of militias should begin, and a new boycott of British goods. -
Battles of Lexington an Concord
General Thomas Gage organized to march to seize arms in Concord. On the way 77 minutemen blocked their path in Lexington. They held them of in time for the arms to be hidden in Concord. -
The Second Continental Congress
The colonists got together and decided to take action. They decided to from an army with George Washington as the new commander. To pay for its army they decide to start printing paper money. -
Battle for Fort Ticonderoga
Ethan Allen led troops to capture fort Ticonderoga. This fort was important because it controlled the route between the Hudson River Valley and Canada. It also had powerful weapons that the Americans needed. They ambushed the fort in early morning and the British surrendered almost instantly. -
Battles of Bunker and Breeds Hill
The British attacked the Americans right up Breeds Hill. About 1000 British troops were killed or wounded in this battle. Only 400 American troops were killed or wounded. The British won when the Americans retreated after they ran out of ammunition. -
Olive Branch Petition
The colonists ,hoping to solve things peacefully, sent a petition to the king asking for Britain to stop fighting. King George did not read the petition but instead replied by declaring the colonies were in open rebellion. -
Invasion of Quebec
Two armies led by Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold worked there way north to try and invade Canada. Benedict and his troops barely survived trekking through the Maine woods. When they finally made it they lost the battle and Richard Montgomery died. -
The British withdrawal from Boston
The British leave Boston on March 17, 1776. After Washington placed cannons over-looking Boston, the British had to retreat knowing they couldn't protect it.