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7 Year War Ends
The seven year war ends. Resulting in massive debt for England. England believes that the Colonist should pay for it because it was fought on protecting their land. So they start taxing the Colonies in order to pay for the war debt. -
Proclamation line of 1763
After fighting against the French and celebrating the prospect of westward expansion. However, colonists are forbidden from settling past Appalachian Mountains due to the Proclamation Line created by George III. This sparks initial irritation among American settlers. -
Stamp Act
Created as a way to gain money from the colonists to pay war debt. This placed a tax on all printed goods. The Colonist were greatly opposed to the Stamp Act, they felt it was unfair. This caused the Stamp Act Congress and the Sons/Daughters of Liberty, as well as the implementation of boycotts against printed goods and non-importation agreements. -
Quartering Act
This act required that colonists house and feed British soldiers residing in the Colonies. This included housing in taverns and unoccupied buildings. This act would severely impact the economy, as public housing depended on paying guests to keep the business afloat. Which caused the cost for paying customers to greatly increase. Which obviously, annoyed the colonist. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers stationed outside of a Customs House. They shot into a mob and killed 5+ people. The King instilled the Intolerable Acts, punishes Boston to a state of dependency. Used to teach other colonies from acting out. -
Boston Tea Party
taxes enforced caused the Tea Act of 1773, a group of men disguised as Mohawk Indians board three separate ships to throw 342 chests of tea into the water. This causes between 1 and 3 million dollars of damage. King George was not impressed and to retaliation created the Coercive Acts. -
First Continental Congress
In response to the Intolerable Acts, the colonists hold the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. They discuss that they must do something other than boycotting because it was not enough- They develop non-importation agreements, and to do this, Committees of Correspondence within almost all of the colonies are created. These committees inspect customs house records and blacklist violators. -
Intolerable Acts
MA govt. Act, Boston Port Act, Quebec Act, 2nd Quartering Act, Justice Acts. Meant to shut down government, loss of right to government and make an example of MA, try convicted soldiers in England so they often got a biased trial. Which causes the colonies to unite out of fear, creating the first continental congress. -
Second Continental Congress
A second Continental Congress occurs where the main issue is whether the colonists should apologize or fight for independence. Thus the creation of the Olive Branch petition by John Dickinson, which asks to restore the relationship between America and Britain and state the rights of the colonies. The King however, takes this as a joke and states the colonies are in a full state of rebellion. -
Creation of Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson writes the Declaration and is then edited by other members of the Congress. It contains a long list of complaints and grievances against Britain, and points out that they did attempt to apologize. All Congress members except for Dickinson sign. This is an official declaration of war, and signals the start of America's withdraw from British rule.