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French and Indian War 1754-1763, Seven Year War
No war is free and to win a war a country needs to spend a lot of money. In total the British spent about eight million dollars (in their time) to fund the war and protect the colonist. The debt needed to be paid back by Britain and to help the English felt the colonist were responsible because it had been them who were causing problems in America not the British with growing tention. This began a series of taxes and laws seen necessary by the king. -
Proclamation Line
After all the colonist had fought for during the seven years war, the king felt it was need be that the colonist not longer invade on Indian land. With the Proclamation Line, colonist could not past the Appalachian mountains to the Ohio River Valley which was prime for the pelt trade which was so beneficial to their economy. The colonist felt betrayed by the King and as if they should have no reason to pay for the war if it was in no way beneficial to them. -
Stamp Act 1765
First direct tax on colonist made by the king for things not really needed for survival like books, dice, newspapers etc. just things for entertainment. Naturally met with resentment and colonist became even better at smuggling goods. As a result the Sons of Liberty was formed in response to the "unfair" tax and it was repelled eventually. -
Quartering act
With the demand of British troops in colonies and lack of funding, the King felt it be easier as a form of payment to make the colonist house, feed, and care for soldiers already invading their states. In places like hotels this caused the price of renting a room to skyrocket because owners couldn't afford to give out food and sacrifice money they would receive from paying customers. This effected the economy and rising tensions with England. -
Townshed Act 1767
The tax on excise goods became useless so England began a tax on glass, paint, and even tea. It was the start of the Navigational Acts which monopolized the British trade. With more rules and taxes more British soldiers became necessary in the colonies which required more money on England's behalf, it began to clearly show those who were patriots and those who were loyalist. -
Boston Massacre
British troops, already unwanted by the colonist were provoked in Boston and resulted int he murder of six colonist.Colonist had thrown objects at the troops, beat them with clubs, shouted at them and yelled "fire" which was taken as the commander wanting his troop to fire at colonist. whether it was truly the colonist fault or the just the actions of the British, the incident fueled the colonist frustration and tension toward England. -
Boston Tea Party 1773
British monopolies had become too much in the colonies and they reacted by throwing approx. a million dollars worth of tea (their time) into the Boston harbor. Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams, dressed as Mohawk Indians to pull off this stunt and the colonist were met by harsh repercussions for their actions by the King. -
Tea Act
England granted a monopoly the the British East India Company for trade with America to save the company and insure colonist were paying a royal tax. Much like Obama's Cash for Clunkers, the tea act saved the company from failing.Not only did this frustrate colonist but added more tax to things the colonist already could not afford. -
Intolerable Acts 1774
The king was fed up
-British soldiers must be tried in England
-Troops will be held in homes, hotels etc
-Complete shut down of Boston to destroy their economy and make them reliant and fear the British
-The land fought for in seven years war will be granted to Quebec colonies
-Colonies are stripped of their right to govern themselves
the colonist feel as thought they have lost their natural rights. -
Continental Congress
-1st continental congress was created to help w/ boycotting/blacklisting businesses
-2nd Continental congress separates the Americans into 2 groups moderates and radicals both wanting independence, began to form a army for the Americans
-plan is to organize the colonial government, define colonial congress, form allies with France and Spain, push for independence; “join or step aside.” “Common Sense”
-the colonies start to bond together as a whole making the home stretch for independence