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Albany Plan
British Board of Trade called a meeting of 7 northern colonies at Albany Purpose was to discuss problems of trade and danger of attacks. Benjamin Franklin proposed the idea of the Albany Plan of Union. He proposed the creation of a congress of delegates from each colonies. It was agreed by colonist representatives but not by the colonies or by the Crown. -
Start of French and Indian War
Began due to a conflict between England and France over control of the Ohio River Valley. Great Britain taxed colonist to help pay for the cost of this war. Colonist were upset about the taxations and this resulted in just one of the many events leading to the American Revolution. -
End of French and Indian War
Also known as the "Seven Years' War" ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris signed by France, Great Britain and Spain. France lost all claims to Canada and gave up Louisiana, while Britain received Florida, upper Canada and various French holdings overseas. Treated ensured colonial supremacy of Britain and strengthened the 13 colonies by removing European rivals north and south. -
The Stamp Act
Britain's harsh tax and trade policies were perpetual. Stamp Act required the use of tax stamps on all legal documents, business agreements and on newspaper. 9 colonies sent delegates to a meeting in NY, the Stamp Act congress prepared the Declaration of Rights and Grievances against British policies and sent it to the king. Parliament appealed the act but new laws tied them closer to London. Colonist showed their anger by evading laws, violence and boycotts, also leading to the Boston Tea Party -
Boston Massacre
Deadly riot in Boston, began as a street brawl between colonist and a lone British soldier, but quickly escalated to a bloody uproar. This event helped rally the colonist around the Revolutionary. Massacre happened because of new taxes British instituted on items such as paper and tea. The Parliament was in furious after this act the colonist pulled and continued to make life hard for the colonist. -
Boston Tea Party
Massachusetts colonist disguised as Indians on 3 British tea ships in Boston Harbor and dumped massive amounts of chest filled with tea into the water. The midnight raid was a protest of the Tea Act and the monopoly of the East India company. Parliament responded by passing several laws that were used to prevent similar events from happening like prohibiting ships from being loaded and unloaded in Boston Harbors, affecting the local economy. -
First Continental Congress
Parliament passed set of laws to punish the colonist for the troubles in Boston and elsewhere, including the Intolerable Act. Delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia, discussing the worsening situations for 2 months. Urged colonist to refuse all trade with England until taxes and trade regulations were appealed, delegates disonentorced a boycott. -
Intolerable Act
This act was laws to punish the Massachusetts colonist for throwing large tea shipments into Boston Harbor, including closing Boston Harbor until colonist paid for destroyed tea, and allowed Britain house troops where ever it wanted. The colonist began boycotting British goods because of this. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
First military engagement of the American Revolutionary War. Battles were fought in towns of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts Bay. Tensions had been building for many years between the colonist and British authorities. Hundred of British troops marched from Boston to Concord to seize. British won Lexington but colonist surprised British troops in Concord forcing them to retreat back to Boston. -
Second Continental Congress
British government continued to refuse to compromise after the first congress. Declaration of Rights backfired and resulted in even stricter laws. Continental army was created, but they wanted to attempt peace without bloodshed so the Olive Branch petition was drafted, of course King George III rejected it. This congress fought a war, raised armies and a navy, borrows funds, bought supplies, created a money system and made treaties with foreign powers becoming the US first government. -
Declaration of Independence
Statement adopted by Second Continental Congress meeting in Pennsylvania. It was written to explain why colonist had a right to revolt against and become independent from England. This document expressed the ideals of colonist and was the basis for the U.S. constitution, which is still the law of the land today. Parliament still wanted to control the colonist even offer their pleads in their statement.
