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Jamestown
The very first permenant English colony was established to provide profit fot the mother country. It was only after tobacco, and important cash crop was established that Jamestown became a sucess -
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house of burgeases
this colonial governing body allowed the colonists their first state of selg goveernment. Representatives from each burgess or district would meet and establish taxes and laws for their area. This had to meet with royal governor's approval, but colonists still felt that they had power -
Mayflower compactt
The puritans from the plymouth colony decided to create their own laws, whic established the self-governing principle of majority rule. -
fundamental orders of connecticut
First written constitution by a colony limited the power of government majority rule, consent of the governed, and protected minority rights. -
triangular trade
New England merchants traded basic supplies with the west Indies in retrurn for sugar and molasses. Later Africa was added to the route and the leg that transported slaves form the West Coast of Africa to the New England colonies became known as the middle passage. this trade was often done without the engllish government. -
maryland toleration act
Law granting religious freedom to all christians living in the maryland colony. -
navigation acts
England felt that the American Colonies were gaining great profit through overseas trade and wanted a greater share of profit. These acts strictly enforced policies that established britain as the middleman in colonial trade period. Any ships had to pass through english ports and have a majority english or colonial crew on board.English authorities also had approval over which countries could trade with the colonies, this provision seriously lessened colonial prophets. -
john peter zenger
was accused of sedition and libel by a royal official who took offence to the newspaper mans criticism on limits on free expression periods zanger was put on trial in front of a colonial jury who found him innocent because what he printed was the truth. The decision is the bases for the fundamental american freedom of press. -
great awakening
Many colonist began expressing their religious ideas through new churches other than the church of new england or anglican church. The direct break was the official religious authority in england, showed that colonies began thinking for themselves, and choosing to differ from the mother county. -
tea act
In an effort to ease tension with their american colonist and save there lagging east indian company the british government passes this act that gives all colonial tea business to the india company but at a much lower price to the consumer. Rather than be grateful being cut out of there own businesses outrages the colonist. -
intolerable acts
In an effort to punish the members of the boston community for the boston tea party, the british government vows in revenge until the damaged tea is completely paid for boston is hut the worst by the closing of the local harbor but other punishment such as a curfew is martial law are put into place which outrages the citizens, colonists from other areas are incensed by the behavior and these actions serve to distance more than just new englanders from the crown. -
french and indian war
England and france have been warring off for over 100 years , this time around the american colonist want to expand into the ohio valley in canada. The skirmish gets its name because england and her colonies were fighting against a combined forces of france and her native american allies. -
albany plan of union
Benjamin franklin's attempt to unite volunteers from all colonies to establish a common difference. The plan did not work. -
proclamation of 1763
In an attempt to settle the Natives along the frontier, England banned all colonial settlement past the Appalachian Mountains. This policy enraged the colonists who only fought the French and indian war for more land. -
merchantilism
Economic system that was beneficial to the mother country because of favorable trade balance accumulation of wealth. -
stamp act
England's latest attempt to get money from the colonies, comes in the form of a direct tax on a variety of goods, ranging from legal documents to decks of cards, the colonies protested by going after custom agents, later organized a boycott of english goods. -
boston massacre
tension between colonists and the standing army left over from the french and indian war has been high. MAny citizens feel that the soldiers were spying on them others resent the competition they present for local jobs. when soldiers begin fughting colonists for jobs, someone shoots into the crowd . when the violence eds , five colonists are dead. to drum up support, samuel adams and other patriots dub the massacre. -
quartering Act
This part of the intolerable act was especially infuriating to the colonist who felt that they should not have to shoulder the responsibility of housing the british army when they don't want them around in the first place. This only happened to a few colonist. -
lexinton and concord
Fighting between colonial melishas and british soldiers occur when general gage find out that the colonists are stockpiling weapons, when he tries to confiscate the arms he is met with arms resistance. The first shot between the two sides was first fired in a crowd and no one is sure who shot first. Colonists officially became the enemy of the british and colonists are now held captive by the british army. -
olive branch petttion
a committee of colonist draft a letter to the king of england asking for a end to fighting and vow obedience if certain demands are met. King george the III refuses to even read the letter. -
declaration of independnce
Thomas jefferson drafts a document, that is a list of complaints against britain this list was designed to serve two purposes, one too notify england and h=the rest of the world of americas intent in reasons for it, and secondly it was to rally the colonists behind a great cause by inspiring them to throw off the shackles of oppression. -
common sence
a popular pamphlet written by thomas pain states that it is obviois that england and her american colonies should not remain united. The two are so vastly different that they can not have common goals and the rule of the monarchy is so oppressive that the colonists will never prosper under british rule, the only common sense is to declare independance.
