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French and Indian War
Though previously Parliament's rules weren't strict and were largely ignored, King George III began to deal more firmly. New taxes were levied to help pay for the heavy costs the war cost. Since the war had been fought to protect colonies, Britain thought they should pay a portion of it. New taxes and restrictive trading acts were expanded and enforced. Many colonists had a problem with it because there were no representatives in Parliament. They called it "taxation without representation." -
Albany Plan
A plan suggested by Benjamin Franklin during the British Board of Trade meeting to unite the governments of the colonies. It was the first government idea that planned to unite all the colonies. The colonies should have used his government to fight, but they turned it down. -
Stamp Act
Harsh British tax that required a stamp on all legal documents, some business documents, playing cards, and newspapers. It was one of the acts that made the colonists feel used. They were mostly angry because they weren't represented in Parliament (taxation without representation). After the Stamp Act Congress -- the first meeting of multiple colonies -- protested, Britain repealed the act, but replaced it with even more laws and policies. -
American Revolution
The time when American colonists revolted against British rule and had a victory. After many battles and hard work, the colonists eventually won. This was the events that led up to writing the Declaration of Independence. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers shot and killed five American colonists after a mob continuously harassed them. Was able to be utilized as a tool to propagate seceding from Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of men dressed as Native Americans boarded three tea ships in Boston Harbor and broke and dumped chests of tea to protest the British control of the tea trade. It was a huge protest, and it led to the Intolerable Acts, which further angered the colonists. -
Intolerable Acts
Laws placed to punish Boston and other places. Closed the port of Boston until colonists paid for the tea dumped during the Boston Tea Party, restricted town meetings in Massachusetts, and allowed British soldiers to be housed in private homes. Led the colonists to have a widespread call for a meeting of the colonies. -
First Continental Congress
Every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia. Roger Sherman, John Jay, George Washington, John Adams, and James Wilson were there. Most delegates didn't want independence. They sent a Declaration of Rights to protest the policies. Urged colonies to refuse all trade with England until taxes and trade regulations were repealed. All colonies gave their support. It took the first steps toward having a united government between the colonies. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first military conflict that sparked the American Revolutionary War. Known as the "shot heard 'round the world." With the bloodshed, many delegates believed compromise with Great Britain was no longer possible. -
Second Continental Congress
Colonies met again. Washington was chief of the new continental army. Congress wrote and sent the Olive Branch petition to seek peace, but they were rejected. Became America's first national government for five years, but didn't have a constitutional base. They fought a war, raised armies and a navy, borrowed funds, bought supplies, created a money system, and made treaties with foreign powers. A unicameral with both legislative and executive powers and one vote per state. -
Declaration of Independence
Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson. Inspired by John Locke who believed that everyone had natural rights and the social contract theory. Delegates debated on whether independence was right before agreeing. Made the colonies free and independent. No other political system was about people should rule instead of being ruled.
