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Jamestown
The very first permanet english colony was estsablished to provide for the mother country. it was only after tobacco, an import cash crop was etablished that jamestoen became a success -
Period: to
Revolutionary war
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House of burgesses
this colonial governing body allowed the colonists their taste of self-government. represenatives from each burgess or disrict would meet and established taxes and laws for their area. this had to meet with royal governors approval, but colonists still felt that they had power -
mayflower compact
the puritans from the plymouth colony (mass)decided to creat their own laws, which established the important self-governing principle of majority rule. -
fundamental orders of connecticut
first written constitution by a colony; limited the power of government; majority rule, consent the governed, protected minority rights -
triangle trade
new england merchants traded basic supplies with the west indies in return for the sugar and molasses. later africa was added to the route and the leg that transported slaves from the west coast of africa to the new england colonies became known as the middle passage, this was done without english government -
maryland toleration act
law granting,religous freedom to all christian living in the maryland colony. -
navingation acts
felt that the american colonies were gaining great profit through overseas trade and wanted a greater share of profit. these acts strictly enforced polocies that established brtiain as the middleman in colonial trade. andy ships had to pass through english ports and have majority english or colonial crew on board. english authorized also had approval over which countries could trade with the colonies; this provision seriously lessened colonial profits. -
john peter zenger
was accused of sedition and libel by a royal officail who took offense to the newspaper mans critisism of limits on free expression. -
great awakening
many colonists began expressing their religous ideas thrrough new churches other than the church of england or anglican church.this made them deside different on the mother country. -
french and indian war
englan and france have been warning on and off over 100 years , this time around the american colonists want to expand into the ohio valley and canada. the skirmish gets it name because england and her colonies were fighting against the comnined forces of france and her native americna allies. the natives like the french a lot more than the english because french are not heavily settled in the area and tended to be trading partners -
lexington & concord
fighting between colonial militias and british soldiers occur when gen. gage finds out that colonists are stock pilling weapons. when he tris to confiscate the arms he is met armed resistance. the first shot between the 2 sides was fired into a crowd and no one knows who shot first. colonists officially became the enemy of the british and boston was now held captive by the british army -
albony plan of unies
bejamin franklins attempt to unite volunteers from all colonies to establish a common defense -
proclomation
in and attempt to settle the natives along the frontier, england banned all colonial settement past the appalachin mountins, this plolicy enrsged the colonists who fought for the french and indian war for more land -
stamp act
englands latest attempt to get money from thr colonies comes in the form of a direct tax on a variety of goods. things ranging from legal documents to decks an dcards, the colonies protest by going after custom agents and later organize a more effective boycott of english goods -
boston massacre
tension between colonists and the standing army left over from the french and indian war has been high. many citizens feel that the soldiers begin fighting colonists for jobs, somene shoots into the crowd. when the violence ends five colonists are dead, to drum up support, sammueal adams and other patiots dub the skirmish a massacre -
tea act
in an effort to ease tension with american colonists and save their lagging east india company, the british government passes thi act which gives all colonial tea buisness to the india company but a much lower price to the consumer -
intolerable act
in an effort to punish the members of the boston community for the boston tea party, the british government vows revenge until the damadged tea is completely paid for. boston is hurt the worst by closing of the local harbor -
quartering act
this part of the intolerable acts was expesially infuriated to the colonists who felt that they should not have shoulder the responsibilty of housing the british army when they dont want them too around in the place -
olive branch petition
a comity of colonists draft a letter to the king of englsnd asking for an end of fighting and a vow obidience if certain demands are met. king george lll refuses to even resad the letter -
common sense
a popular pamphlet written by thomsaa paine states that it is obvious that england and american colonies should not remain united. the two are so vastly different that they cant have common goals and the rule of the monarchy ius so oppressive that the colonists will never prosper under british rule. the only 'common sense' is to declare independence. this helps persuade some colonists who had been against such actions -
declaration of independece
thomas jefferson drafts a document that is list of complaints against britain. this list was designed to serve two purposes; one to notify england and the rest of the world of americans intent and reasons for it, and secondly, it was to rally the colonists behind a great casue by inspiring them to throw off the shackles of opression