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The French and Indian War
- French and Indian War ended with the Treaty of Paris
- Britain blamed the colonies for the war and had a massive debt to repay due to the high cost($8 million) of the war which would lead to many taxes on the colonists
- This also caused the British to restrict colonial access to the Ohio River Valley and enforce colonial laws after a time of salutary neglect
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Period: to
Road to the Revolution
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Sugar Act
- Lowered taxes of the Molasses Act on imported goods after complaint/smuggling
- Issued the Writs of Assistance which allowed certain officials to search a citizens property without warning or a warrant
- Caused the colonists to be upset because of high taxes resulting in boycotts
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Stamp Act
- A tax on all printed goods
- It was an indirect tax meaning it was paid separately from the product ranging from 1 cent to $10
- Resulted in protest and boycotts from colonists and a growing resentment towards Great Britain
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Townshend Act
- Repealed Stamp Act due to upset colonists
- Placed a tax on glass, paint, tea, lead, and paper
- Created a monopoly because the colonists could only buy from the British
- Caused more unrest in the colonists, Britain sent more troops to try and control them and enforce law
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The Boston Massacre
- British soldiers fired upon an unarmed crowd of colonists killing 6
- Happened as a result of high tensions between the high number of soldiers sent in to enforce taxes after the Townshend Act
- Enraged colonists and got more colonists to start to be against Great Britain
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Boston Tea Party
- Happened as a result of the Tea Act that granted the East India Tea Co. to have a monopoly of tea sales in the colonies and also implented a high tax.
- Colonists dressed as Indians stormed the ship and threw 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.
- Lead to Great Britains Intolerable Acts
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Intolerable Acts
- Britain's reaction to the Boston Tea Party and it included the Boston Port Bill, the Administration of Justice Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, and the Quebec Act.
- The goal was to isolate Boston but ended up isolating many other colonies
- Wanted to arrest rebels
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Lexington and Concord
- Militia started forming in Massachusetts
- The King wanted to seize leaders like John Hancock as well as seize munitions to weaken militias.
- Paul Reveres midnight ride to warn local militias that the British were coming
- "The shot heard 'round the world"
- The first shots and casualties of the war
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The Olive Branch Petition
- Colonies last formal attempt to prevent the war
- Asked the King for a ceasefire, for the Acts to be repealed, and for the King to define the colonists rights.
- It was rejected by King George III
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The Declaration of Independence
- Written by Thomas Jefferson as a formal declaration of their independence from Great Britain
- It expressed the Americans opinions and listed their complaints of why they choose to declare independence.
- Passed July 4 1776