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French and Indian War Ends
The war started in 1754 and it ended in 1763. The war started because England and France wanted control over the Ohio River Valley. -
Stamp Act Was Passed
It was a new tax that required a stamp for all printed items including newspapers and legal documents. Colonists were angry that the tax was being imposed without their consent of their colonial legislatures. -
Stamp Act Congress
The colonies decided to organize and sent representatives to a meeting in New York City. They met to discuss the colonists rights as British subjects, declaring that only their colonial legislatures had the power to tax them. -
Declaratory Act Passed
Parliament passed this act stating that it had all power to make laws that were strong enough to keep the people in the colonies under Great Britain's control. It also stated that any laws the colonies made that denied or called into question the right of Britain to control the colonies would be null and void. -
Stamp Act Repealed
It was repealed because British merchants and manufacturers pressured Parliament because their exports to the colonies were threatened by boycotts. Parliament affirmed its power to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever". -
Townshend Acts Passed
This act enacted, taxing British imports, products shipped from other countries such as glass, tea, lead, paint, and paper. These things the colonists couldn't get or easily make for themselves. -
Townshend Acts Repealed
Parliament repealed the Townshend duties on all but tea. The British government, led by Prime Minister Lord North, maintained the taxes on tea, in order to underscore the supremacy of parliament. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers were guarding the Boston customs house, where taxes were collected, when an angry mob began throwing rocks and snowballs at them. After that shots rang out, killing five colonists, the event was named the Boston Massacre. -
Tea Act Passed
The act allowed only British East India Company to sell tea in the colonies. But it lowered the price of tea because the act allowed the East India Company to ship its tea to the colonies directly. -
Boston Tea Party
In this event the Sons of liberty dressed as Mohawk Indians, boarded British ships in Boston, and dumped the cargo of tea into the harbor. The Boston Harbor was closed until the destroyed tea would be paid for. -
Coercive Acts Passed
This act was passed because Parliament punished the Boston rebels in 1774. This act was also known as the intolerable acts. -
First Continental Congress
Each colony, except for Georgia, sent delegates to meet in Philadelphia in 1774. But most colonists still saw themselves as British Subjects. -
Second Continental Congress
It was a convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that formed in Philadelphia in May 1775, soon after the launch of the American Revolutionary War. It was founded when the British failed to address the grievances of the First Continental Congress and to organize a Continental Army to fight. -
Revolutionary War Begins
The war began with the confrontation between British troops and local militia at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.It was described as "the shot heard round the world," and led to the creation of a new nation. -
Declaration of Independence
This document officially stated that the 13 colonies were cutting ties with Great Britain and the King. One by one, they listed every single grievance they had with their mothers country's most recent rule.
