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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment helped combat the excesses of the church, establish science as a source of knowledge, and defend human rights against tyranny. -
French & Indian War
The American Indians were fighting to maintain control of their land and their cultural future. The French claimed the Upper Ohio River Valley. -
Sons of Liberty
A well-organized Patriot paramilitary political organization shrouded in secrecy. -
Stamp Act of 1765
To help pay for British troops stationed in the colonies during the Seven Years War. -
Townshend Act of 1767
Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, which initiated taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. -
Boston Massacre
In Boston on March 5, 1770, in which a group of nine British soldiers shot five people of a crowd of three or four hundred who were harassing them verbally and throwing various projectiles. -
Boston Tea Party
American colonists were angry at Britain for taxation without representation so they dumped 342 chests of tea. -
First Continental Congress Meets
Delegates from twelve of Britain's thirteen American colonies met to discuss America's future under growing British aggression. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
New England soldiers and the British army got in a bloody battle which resulted in the British winning. -
Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in the field at Yorktown on October 17, 1781, effectively ending the War for Independence. -
Great Compromise
It was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 -
Bill of Rights Adopted
Three-fourths of the existing State legislatures ratified the first 10 Amendments of the Constitution.