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Proclamation of 1763
Law issued by King George III of Great Britain at the end of the French and Indian War. This proclamation barred colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, in an attempted to stop fighting between Indians and colonists. However, the law not enforced and colonists continued to settle there anyway. -
Sugar Act of 1764
After the French and Indian War, Great Britain was in deep debt. Their solution was to impose more taxes on the colonies. The first of these taxes, the Sugar Act of 1764 put a heavy import tax on foreign sugar and molasses. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The 2nd tax law Parliament passed after the French and Indian War. This law applied a tax to advertisements, diplomas, legal documents, newspapers and even playing cards. Anything printed on paper had to be on stamped paper, or have a stamp attached to show it had been paid for. -
Quartering Act of 1765
Law passed that required colonists to provide money to quarter (house) British soldiers stationed in the colonies. After the Townshend Acts caused powerful opposition, Great Britain sent more troops. However, New York's colonial assembly refused to provide the money, causing Great Britain to suspend the assembly. -
Stamp Act Congress
After the Stamp Act was passed, Samuel Adams and other colonist decided to gather delegates from 9 colonies to express their dissatisfaction with the Act. They pledged love and obedience to the King and Government of Great Britain, but made their displeasure clear. Thus the Stamp Act was repealed in 1766. -
Declaratory Act of 1766
This act closely followed the repeal of the hated Stamp Act. It asserted that Parliament had the full power and authority to make laws binding the colonies and people of America. No exceptions. Clearly the struggle over whether Parliament could tax the colonies was not over. -
Townshend Acts 1767
A series of Acts passed by Parliament imposing import taxes on various goods. It included tea, lead, glass, and dyes for paint. This also involved British customs officials using special warrants to search vessels, warehouses, or homes on even just the suspicion of containing smuggled goods. -
Boston Massacre
The British had sent addition British troops to assist in searching for smuggled goods because of the tax acts. On the evening of March 5, 1770 an angry crowd of colonists gathered outside a customs house, throwing snowballs, rocks, oyster shells, pieces of coal and insulting the soldiers. The British troops fired on the colonists killing 3, with 2 others dying later. The colonists were deeply shocked. The soldiers were later convicted of manslaughter and branded on the hands. -
Tea Act of 1773
In 1773, Great Britain feared that the East India Company, a company selling tea, would go bankrupt. To save them, Parliament passed the Tea Act, excusing the company from paying certain taxes and allowing them to sell directly to American agents. This allowed the East India Company to offer the lowest prices, even after the consumer's tax. Colonists opposed this because they were afraid Parliament, using similar laws, could put them out of business. -
Boston Tea Party
After Parliament passed the Tea Act, colonists feared that the East India Company would develope a monopoly. Groups in Philadelphia and New York boycotted tea and threatened tea importers. Colonists demanded that the govenor of Massachusetts send 3 shiploads of tea back to Britain. When he refused, a group of colonists boarded the ships and duped all 342 chests of tea into the water. -
Coercive Acts of 1774
A series of 4 Acts passed by Parliament, called the "Intolerable Acts," by the colonists. The first losed Boston port until the colonists paid for the tea destroyed at the Tea Party. The second took away governing power from Masschusetts, revoking their charter of 1691, and preventing them from having townmeetings without the govenor. The third allowed royal officials charged in Massachusetts to be tried elsewhere. The final was a new Quartering Act, forcing colonists to house and feed soldiers -
Quebec Act of 1774
Yet another law passed by Parliament that angered the colonists. This law extended Quebec's boundary south to the Ohio River, conflicting with claims in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Virginia. It also gave religious freedom to the French Roman Catholics, which upset many Protestant colonists. -
1st Continental Congress
Representatives from every colony (except Georgia) met in Philadelphia to discuss their problems and weigh their options. Some wanted to stay a part of the British Empire, while others wanted independance. They created the Declaration of Resolves, stating that they were loyal, but had rights as British subjects. King George III saw this as rebellion and ordered a stop be put to it. -
Battles of Lexington/Concord
First real battles of Patriots (colonists who favored independence) vs. the British. Under General Gage, 750 British Redcoats sought to seize rebel supplies at Concord. They were twice amushed by colonial minutemen - men who swore to be ready at a minute's notice. This was the source of the "shot heard round the world," signifying the beginning of the Revolutionary War. -
2nd Continental Congress
After the news spread of Lexington and Concrod, representatives met again in Philadelphia. Some, led by Samuel Adams wanted immediate freedom from Britain. While others argued for restraint, it was ultimately decided that the Continental Army be established to defend American liberty. This army would be commanded by George Washington. -
Olive Branch Petition
Effort by some colonists to avoid the break with Britain. They convinced the Continental Congress to make a final offer to make amends with King George. The Petition stated colonists' loyalty and asked him to end the conflict. He rejected it, sending the Royal Navy to blockade shipping to the colonies and enlisting the help of German mercenaries - the Hessians. -
Declaration of Independence
On June 7th, 1776 Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution to the Second Continental Congress. He said the United Colonies ought to be free and independent states, breaking away from Great Britain forever. Thomas Jefferson then wrote the Declaratio of Indepence, drawing inspiration from the Virginia Bill of Right. Its purpose was to gain support for indepence, weaken loyal to Britain, and outline the principles of the new government.
