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Albany Plan
A plan to place the British North American colonies under a more centralized government. On July 10, 1754, representatives from 7 of the British North American colonies adopted the plan.
Importance to DOI: Plan was sent back to the British and to the individual American colonies. British Government thought it was unnecessary and rejected it. Individual American colonies rejected it too. -
American Revolution
In 1775, there was an colonial revolt that the American Patriots, won independence from Great Britain, becoming United States of America.
Importance to DOI: These acts caused the AMerican Revolution because they were written and passed to give England complete control over the 13 colonies. -
Stamp Act
In 1765, this was an act by the parliament of Great Britain that imposed a direct tax on the British colonies and plantations that they would have to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they use.
Importance to DOI: A tax that hurt British merchants and businesses, but the stamp act sent an important message from parliament to the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
Incident on King Street by the British. Confrontation in which British Army soldiers shot and killed several people while under harassment by a mob.
Importance to DOI: This event helped to unite the colonies against Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
Political Protest in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists were frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing "taxation without representation." Dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor. They would not pay taxes on tea.
Importance to DOI: Events lead to the breakout of the Revolutionary War 2 years after the Boston Tea Party. The 2nd Continental Congress was during the Revolutionary War. That's where Congress met and wrote and signed the DOI. -
1st Continental Congress
Comprised of delegates from the colonies. It was a reaction of the Coercive Act. Measures imposed by the British Government on colonies in response to their resistance to new taxes.
Importance to DOI: because it passed and signed the Continental Association in its Declaration and Resolves. This also caused a boycott in British goods. -
Intolerable Acts
Five laws passed by the British Parliament against the American colonies. "Intolerable Acts" came from the American Patriots who felt they simply could not "tolerate" the unfair laws. British passed laws for punishment for the Boston Tea Party.
Importance to DOI: Important factor in the American Revolution. Colonists felt that this legislation violated their rights as Englishmen and their natural right as human beings. -
2nd Continental Congress
Convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that formed in Philadelphia 1775, that managed colonial war effort, borrowed funds with support of taxes for men, supplies, and funds.
Importance to DOI: severed ties with Great Britain, and moved incrementally toward independence. -
Battle of Lexington/ Concord
In 1775, these battles kicked off the Revolutionary War, as tensions between the 13 American colonies and British authorities prticularlly in Massachusetts.
Importance to DOI: Lead to the militia of the Continental Army that lead to the DOI from the mother country, Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
In 1776, it asserted the colonies' intentions to be fully independent of mother country, Great Britain, adopted by the Second Continental Congress Pennsylvania state house meeting in Philadelphia.
Importance to DOI: Important part of American democracy because it contains ideas/ goals of our nation, and complaints of the king.
