-
Revocation of Edict of Nantes by King Louis XIV of France
Aimed at Huguenots, made it illegal to not be Catholic, causing many to flee the open persecution, including 2nd generation relatives of St Francis Xavier, whose descendents made their way to the Americas via England. Notable Huguenot descendents who played a major part in the Revolution and forming of the new United States included Paul Revere, Alexander Hamilton, John Sevier and Davy Crockett, all of which had a legacy of not allowing government to dictate how they choose to live. -
Seven Year War between Britain, France, Spain, Natives and the Colonies
Began with disputes over the western push west past Allegheny Mountains. France and Britain suffered financially, but Britain came out the winner because of the many colonists who left their homes and livelihoods to join the effort. The war made colonist less dependent upon England and set the stage for heavy taxation, thus planting the seeds for American Independence. -
Royal Proclamation of 1763
To organize the newly acquired acquisitions and attempt to ease tensions with Native Americans, settlements west of the Appalachian mountains was prohibited. Many land prominent land speculators and independently minded settlers took offense at this order, stirring up resentment towards the crown. -
The Sugar Act
Designed to help pay for war debts, increased duties on imported sugar and other items needed by the colonists, such as textiles and dye and doubled duties on foreign goods shipped from England and prohibited other imports. This caused immediate hardship on colonies and the trickle down affect on everyone, shopkeepers, investors, farmers, etc, as the economy slowed down and debts became difficult to pay. Families and businesses were suffering and outrage began it's course. -
Boston: Taxation without Representation Meeting
James Otis raises questions of taxation without representation of British subjects. Merchants unite together with Otis in the publication of "The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved" in July and boycott of British luxury goods begins. -
The Currency Act - England assumes control of currency system
Prohibited colonists from issuing legal paper money of their own to pay debtors in England who were fearful of depreciation in payment of the colonists debts. However, with all the taxation on imported consumer goods, the people were overburdened with just trying to survive, the colonists began to realize the mother country was more interested in her own interest and the black market of smuggled goods increased. -
Committees of Correspondence
In response to the Crowns growing assertion of power and collection of revenues, Sam Adams organized the first of the meetings to spread propaganda and information of outrage and boycott. Within three months over 80 more committees were formed throughout the colonies. Ordinary citizens from all levels of society joined on local levels and there was a solidarity of leading simple lives and avoiding the overtaxed luxuries in boycott. -
The Stamp Act
A small but resented tax on all printed material, of documents & cards, license etc, to offset the cost of maintaining militia in the colonies. Not high in actual cost per stamp, it affected everyone, especially legal and financial sectors the most, and set a precedent of unharnessed taxation without representation as English citizens. -
Sons of Liberty
A uniting of underground groups to oppose the Stamp Act, drew common middle class of printers, publishers, traders, local politicians, artisans, lawyers, etc., and appealed to the masses which made up the lower classes. Propaganda began to highlight the hardships imposed upon individuals of all classes because of the taxes and spurred the citizens to action in boycotts and riots. -
Stamp Act Congress
The secret Congress of Representatives of the colonies met to discuss and react to the Stamp Act at what became Federal Hall and adopt a DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND GRIEVANCES to the King, which included insisted colonists possessed all the rights of Englishmen and without voting rights, could not be represented by Parliament and other grievances. English rulers rejected it as an inappropriate, illegal document from an unconstitutional assembly. -
Townsend Act
Duties on glass, paper, lead, tea and other items necessities, imposed upon colonist to raise revenue to make the British officials independent of them. Colonist responded with non-importation forced upon the merchants so they would also suffer economically with the colonists, but more British troops came to intervene causing an even greater tension on both sides. -
Royal Governor of Virginia dissolves House of Burgesses
Because they protested the sending of colonists being accused of treason being sent back to England for trial and they supported the demonstrations against the unfair taxes. The members then met in a tavern in Williamsburg and agreed to boycott British trade goods, luxury items and slaves. By now citizens of all levels were feeling the effects of the taxes and tension and the general masses had more secret meetings of the Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty join boycott. -
Boston Massacre
Panic ensued when British soldiers guarding the customs house were bombarded with stones encased in snowballs and taunted, with 3 dead, 6 wounded, resulting in Townshend Acts being repealed, which prevented further acts of war. John Adams, a staunch believer in fair trial defended the soldiers in court, more propaganda appeared and colonists were taking a united stand against British rule. -
The Tea Act
Sparked the final blow to action towards independence. Designed to increase the monopoly held by the East India Company and was seen by colonist to validate the last duty imposed by the Townshend Act. The colonist were forced to buy the East India Tea, as the British cracked down on smugglers of the lesser quality tea from other countries. The colonist rebelled and boycotted tea in favor of coffee in "coffee houses" in defiance. -
Boston Tea Party
Was almost comical event (if they weren't caught), of just how far the colonists would go in sending a message to England, which proved to be a major turning point in the peoples resolve to become independent of the crown. The Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians emptied a shipload of tea into the Boston Harbor in protest over the Tea Act. They showed the British they no longer will tolerate being told what to do, which resulted in the Intolerable Acts. -
Coercive Acts
Immediate retaliation against the Boston Tea Party, Britain sets out to make an example of Massachusetts by closing the port of Boston until the East India Tea Company was compensated for their loss, quartering soldiers where they pleased and the Royal governor took control and appointed officials. -
First Continental Congress
Formed to organize a united protest of the colonies against the outrageous acts of Britain declaring they would not be obeyed and promoted the formation of local militia units. American colonists are taking a strong stand against England in favor of their own self rule as an independent state. It is said one third of the colonist were opposed to this as Loyalist, another third was just trying to hold on to daily life and the other third enthusiastically embraced organization of local militia. -
Declaration of independence
The final act of declaring the colonies free and independent of England in favor of it's own united self-ruling country. It is the final revolt against English rule. Most of the populace at this time, except for the Loyalist, gave excited approval for this action and were willing to join forces to fight against England for freedom of their own country. -
The Battle of Kings Mountain
American patriots, lead by Cols Isaac Shelby and John Sevier, fought Indian-style against the Loyalists lead by Maj Patrick Ferguson. This battle was the turning point in the Revolution and the mountain with their typical American response whenever they felt their liberties were in danger. -
Lost State of Franklin looses by two votes
political differences with North Carolina, denied statehood to Franklin and charges pressed against their leader John Sevier, however, the independent spirit fought in court and threats of bloodshed, causing the Continental congress to create laws and population standards that would permit other regions to apply for statehood in the nation, allowing America to expand it's borders. John Sevier was acquitted, became a representative of North Carolina and later the first governor of Tennessee.
