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Creation of the Proclamation Line
After fighting against the French and celebrating the prospect of new land, colonists are forbidden from settling past Appalachian Mountains due to the Proclamation Line created by George III. This sparks initial irritation among American settlers. -
Period: to
Pre-Revolution
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Stamp Act
Created as a way to gain money from the colonists to pay war debt. This placed a tax on all printed goods, much to the dislike of the colonists. It was met with significant resistance and spurred the creation of 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 Americas - in 1766, 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; this also further annoyed colonists. -
Boston Massacre
A group of children began to harass officers in front of a customs house - this led to a mob developing, where they threw ice, oyster shells, and rocks at the soldiers. There is no clarity as to who fired the first shot, but several colonists ended up wounded or dead by the end of the ordeal. Outrage seared through American colonists; this was the first time weapons had been used against them. This also led to repeal of all Townshend duties except for the tax on tea. -
Boston Tea Party
Spurred by the taxes enforced by 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, much to the dislike of King George III. In his spiteful anger, he creates the Coercive Acts. -
Coercive Acts
In response to the Boston Tea Party, the king of England creates the Coercive Acts. These essentially strip Boston (and generally Massachusetts as a whole) of their economy, their right to self-govern, their land (to the French), and their say in justice, as British troops are tried in a biased England. This is intolerable (haha) to the colonists, and the Acts create reason for the 1st Continental Congress. -
1st Continental Congress
In response to the Intolerable Acts, the colonists hold the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. In their discussions, it is established that boycotting simply is not enough, though it must be continued. They also decide that it is a must to follow through with 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. A sense of unity appears. -
2nd Continental Congress
A second Continental Congress occurs where the main issue is whether the colonists should apologize or fight for independence. This sparks the creation of the Olive Branch petition, which asks to restore the relationship between America and Britain. Taken as a joke by the King, who declares the colonies in a full state of rebellion. Colonies begin to bond and more people think of independence as a result. -
Lexington & Concord
Militias forming around MA prompted the King to react by ordering troops to seize all of their leaders and ammunition A poor plan was organized by GB and derailed by an American spy network. As the British marched in the direction of Lexington, a standoff occurred in which 8 militia died and 11 were wounded. In Concord, the British destroyed what they could; on the march back, however, they were picked off one by one - this led to a total of 273 British casualties. This was the start of war. -
Creation of Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson writes the Declaration in only a few days, and it is then edited by other members of the Congress. It contains a long list of complaints against Britain, and points out that they did attempt to apologize. All Congress members except for Dickinson sign, and he is essentially an outcast as a result. This is an official declaration of war, and signals the start of America's pull away from British reign.