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Colonies established
The start of the colonies is what started it all. The colonies were established in 1607, the exact date was lost. The colonies were a new land where people could start a new life style. For the brand new colonists this meant that they could start a whole new lifestyle away from Brittan. For us today this was the start of everything we have today. -
Mayflower Compact
Puritans who went aboard the Mayflower decided to make a pact to obey the rules in the colonies. For the colonists this was a key part and a first piece of government in the colonies. For us now this was a part of making our representative government how it is today. -
School in the colonies
School is a very important part in our society today. It is important to have an education so we could be well informed to pick a good government. The first school in the colonies was Boston Latin school, in Massachusetts. Boston Latin school is a very well established school, even today. For the colonists this was the first way they could get an education in the colonies, and for us this is what started school for us in the USA. -
The Molasses Act
The Molasses Act was used to protect British exports to the colonies from the French and the Spanish islands of Martinique and Santo Domingo. It was used as a trade barrier, not to raise revenue. In 1764 it was replaced by the Sugar Act. This meant that the colonies could not sell what they were getting from England for more money. I feel for us now we can appreciate the fact that we are able to make our rules instead of relying on a country who has very strict rules about their goods. -
The Sugar Act
Parliament passed a new Molasses Act because it was about to expire. This new act was The Sugar Act. In this new act the English product would be cheaper then the French West Indies. The French hurt the British market in molasses and sugar and rum.The Sugar Act reduced the rate of tax on molasses. The act also put taxes on more goods. What this meant for the colonists is they wouldn't get as much money for there goods because of the new taxes. Now, we don't get taxed without representation. -
The Currency Act
The colonies experienced a shortage of money. Their currency could only be obtained from Britain. Since the colonies were broke they started to print money. As a response, Parliament passed the Currency Act. This made the Parliament in control of the colonies new currency. This made it so the colonies could no longer use, create, or distribute their new bills. For them this means they're back to where they started. Now we realize the importance of being able to control our currency. -
The Stamp Act
The new tax required that colonists payed a tax on every single printed piece of paper that they used, including publications. Even playing cards had a tax. The cost of the Stamp Act was not too bad. What made the colonists angry was the standards it set. In the past taxes didn't seem like they were raising money for the British, and suddenly they were. This was a very insulting law that the colonists had to live with. What came out of this for us is we can't be taxed without representation. -
The Quartering Act
This act made it so that the colonists were required to provide their barracks to British soldiers. If the barracks were too small, then there should be another source of housing provided. If there is still no space after all of the colonists houses were filled, then the colonies will be required to use any other shelters they could find. This meant that the colonists needed to make the British soldiers their priority. Now we have property rights, so we don't need to worry. -
The Declaratory Act
This act was passed at the same time as the repeal of the Stamp Act. The act was used for the repeal of the Stamp Act and to help the Parliament look better. The Declaratory Act stated that the colonies are dependent on the Parliament of Britain and that laws were to be passed by the Parliament. This was a reinforcement of the fact that the colonies were not independent, but are dependent. Now, we have a representative government and don't live by the parliaments rules. -
The Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts were laws passed by the British government on the colonies. They placed new taxes and took away some freedoms from the colonists. The British created these laws because they were sick of paying for the colonies. The colonists were angry because they couldn't make tax decisions for themselves. What this meant for them is that taxes just kept on coming and they needed to find a way to fight it. Now, we don't get taxed without representation. -
Boston Massacre
In the Boston Massacre, British soldiers came to Boston to protect soldiers and guards who were being pressured by heckling, a snowballing crowd, and a discharge of bullets and projectiles. For them this was a key event in helping galvanize the colonial public to patriotic cause. For us this gave us a different perspective about war in our government. -
The Tea Acts
The Tea act’s main purpose was to bail out East India, a key part in the British economy. Its main purpose wasn't to get money from the colonies, though this was a part of it. This gave the East India company the ability to give colonists taxed tea. For the colonists this ended in the Boston Tea Party, and for us we no longer get taxed without representation. -
Boston Tea Party
The Colonists held the Boston Tea Party, where they fought the tax on British tea. They carried the taxed tea onto different ships. The colonists dumped a ton of tea over the ships into the Boston Harbor in Massachusetts. This is a key part in the colonists recognizing that they were treated unfairly by the British. Now, we are not taxed without representation. -
Intolerable Acts
After the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts to make sure what happened in Massachusetts will never happen again. They were a series of rules meant to punish Massachusetts. Now, we can't have taxation without representation. -
First Continental Congress
A convention with representatives from 12 out of the 13 American-British colonies. They all met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia. This conference was important to the colonists because this is one of the main points when they decided they wanted to stand up to King George III's unfair treatment. This was a beginning part of America becoming the independent state that it is now. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
This event is what kicked off the American Revolutionary war. Hundreds of British soldiers went from Boston to Concord to seize an armed cache. Meanwhile, an argument on the Lexington town green area turned into a fight. This fight led British soldiers to retreat under fire. What this meant for them is that the American Revolution was soon to come. What this means to us is that a big piece of our history was soon to happen. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The colonists headed for a place called Bunker Hill so they could bombard the town and British ships. They went to the wrong place and instead went to Breeds Hill which put the colonists at a disadvantage. After fighting the colonists lost. Breed’s Hill and the Charlestown Peninsula now was British property. The British realized that the battles with the Colonists would not be as easy as they thought. What this meant and means now is that we have learned different strategy's from this fight. -
Olive Branch Petition
This was a Petition to meet with King George III to appeal him directly and also to work out a compromise so that there would be no war. King George refused and declared that the Colonies would be in a state rebellion in August. For the colonists this means they would need to rise up and fight for what is right to them, they fought for their rights. For us now this means that our ancestors fought for us and since they rebelled for us, we are now free from England -
Common Sense
Tomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called "Common Sense." This pamphlet provided some unsettling information about British government and the monarchy. This was the first work of a colonist openly talking about the colonies' independence. For the colonists and us, this was a step in them gaining and for us having independence. -
Second Continental Congress
After the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Redcoats stormed into Boston again, and so the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to figure everything out. In this meeting it was decided that a continental army was to be formed. It was also decided that George Washington would be the supreme commander and that the congress was allowed to print money. What this meant for the colonists is that they would start to follow their own rules. For us today we follow the rules they put in place -
The Declaration of Independence
This document written by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and, Robert R. Livingston talked about how the colonies have the right to be independent. This document was sent to King George III in hope that King George would give them their Independence, but King George did not. For the colonists this meant they had more work to do to become independent. For us this is a foundation of the rules that we live by today. -
Treaty of Alliance
A Treaty of Alliance was signed, creating an alliance between the Colonies and France against Britain. The Treaty of Alliance said that France and the Colonies agree not to create a separate peace with Britain. What this meant to the colonists is that they just created an ally that would help them gain independence. What this means to us now is that we still have an alliance with France. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Colonists and the French combined forces to cut off British resources in Yorktown. The fight was led by George Washington and French General Comte de Rochambeau.They captured two British defenses which led to the surrender. Yorktown was the final battle of the American Revolution, and the British began peace agreements after the Colonists victory. This secured our revolution and allowed for our independence today. -
Independence
After a long time, Britain finally recognized that the United States were Independent. Back then and right now this means that we have our freedom. -
Treaty of Paris
Britain agreed to get rid of all of the troops from the USA. The treaty also gave new land to the United States. The United States agreed to everything, and agreed to pay all existing debts owed to Great Britain. This is the document that made us independent. For them this means that they had a lot of work ahead to make the USA a functioning country, and today we are independent.