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The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris concluded the French and Indian War. The treaty stated that Britain claimed the majority of France's land, due to their triumph in the French and Indian War. Britain had to raise taxes in order to pay off the $3 million that they borrowed to fund the war, which angered many colonists. Even though Britain owned the majority of the land in the country, the Proclamation line was drawn, which ended Westward Expansion and forbade settlement in the Ohio River Valley. -
Stamp Act
After the French and Indian War, the laws were much more strictly enforced. The Stamp Act placed a tax on all printed goods in the colonies. This was a direct tax, which is paid separately from the item. Colonists- especially the Sons and Daughters of Liberty- felt that their rights were being violated by being forced to pay an additional tax. There was an abundance of chaotic methods used to rebel against this Act, such as boycotting and tarring & feathering those who did not choose to rebel. -
Quartering Act
George Grenville persuaded Parliament to pass the Quartering Act in 1765- quickly after they passed the Stamp Act the month before. This Act was, in retrospect, yet another tax. This law required that Americans must house and feed British soldiers in the colonies. This applied to all colonies, but affected mostly New York, which was the headquarters of the British forces. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was passed at the same time as the Stamp Tax was repealed. This Act asserted Britain's power in the colonies and in Britain. This law made it possible for Britain to enforce laws upon the colonies whenever necessary. Although this law mentioned nothing about taxes, Americans rejoiced anyway because this happened as the repealment of the Stamp Tax. -
Boston Massacre
After the Quartering Act had gone into effect, colonists were extremely angry towards the British soldiers. The soldiers were a constant provocation and reminder of the colonies' dependence on Britain. Many colonists took part in abusing the red-coats. On March 5th, a group or rowdies began throwing icicles at the soldiers. A soldier was knocked to the ground, regained his footing, and fired into the crowd of colonists. Five colonists were dead, and Crispus Attucks was the first to go. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was led by Sam Adams and John Hancock, along with the Sons of Liberty. Roughly sixteen men, including these two leaders, dressed up as Mohawk Indians and boarded three ships. They threw 342 chests of East India Company tea overboard- tea that was very important to the British. No one took responsibility for this action, so respecitvely no one got in trouble. King George III was extremely angry at these Bostonian rebels, thus helping to make a revolution. -
Intolerable Acts
Due to the uproar which was known as the Boston Tea Party, the British government was extremely angry because of the rebellious actions against their soldiers and goods. This gorup of 5 acts included the Boston Port Act, which shut down Boston's port entirely, the Massachusetts Government Act, which nullified the government there, and the Justice Act, which required any soldier who is accused of a crime to be tried in England. The King passed these laws in order to isolate Boston. -
1st Continental Congress
This was one of the first responses to the Intolerable Acts. Representatives from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia to discuss their relationship with Britain, and how to assert their rights. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a list of rights that Britain was violating, examine how they were being violated, and devise a plan of how to get Britain to restore their rights. King George only punished the colonies for this. -
Lexington & Concord
There is a militia forming throughout Massachusetts, and the King will want to react immediately by seizing guns ad ammunition, as well as the leaders. The British will plan on landing in the marshes to accomplish these tasks. The Americans heard of this plan and were well prepared. Paul Revere led a beacon system to warn if the British were coming. The significance of this event was that it was the first ever resistence the Americans took against the British. -
Olive Branch Petition
Though the war had already started, the Americans were still not independent from Britain. The Olive Branch Petition was their final attempt to end this revolution peacefully. Congress drafted the petition on this day. The Olive Branch Petition outlined their problems and asked the British government to respond and deal with them. The King refused to accept the Americans' offer and instead decided that this whole thing could be solved using military force.
