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French and Indian war
The French and British had been fighting in wars all over the world for around 24 years before the french and Indian war broke out. Both superpowers wanted control of the North American trade routes and both were competing for land in the Americas. In 1754 war broke out and for the first 5 years, the British were losing however the king decided to increase the war funds. This turns the war around and in 1763 after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the English won. -
French and Indian War Effects
England spent 8 million dollars on the war effort. The King blamed the colonies for the war and expected them to pay off the debt. The Colonies were heavily taxed. They also weren't allowed access to the Ohio River Valley. This ended western expansion. -
Sugar Act
The sugar act lessened the molasses act that was previously in place. The sugar act was an indirect tax that was added to the cost of all sugar purchased by the colonists. This was an attempt to pay off the war debt but also to end smuggling in the colonies. Smuggling was a large issue in the colonies so the tax act also issued Writs of Assistance. This allowed for properties to be searched without a warrant. -
Sugar Act Effects
The tax on sugar made rum and other sugar products more expensive and that upset the colonists. The Writs of Assistance also made it so that the colonists' ships could be searched at any time. Not only did this upset ship owners that smuggled non-English products but the searches could take hours or days so it would delay the unpacking of ships. Having the pay the ship hands for sitting around while the ship was searched cost the ship owners lots of money and it gave them no privacy. -
Stamp Act
In 1765 the British taxed all printed goods in the colonies. It was a direct tax on newspapers, books, cards, and other goods. The tax was anywhere from one cent to $10. This tax was met with a lot of resistance. -
Stamp Act Effects
The colonists boycotted printed goods and formed protests. These protests would often turn violent. The Sons and Daughters of Liberty were formed the summer after the act was enacted as a form of protest. They adopted the motto "No taxation without representation." -
Townshend Act
The British repeal the stamp act and replace it with this. The Townshend act was a tax on glass, paint, lead, paper, and tea. The colonist were mostly upset about the tea because tea was one of the few safe things they could drink. British troops were sent over to enforce this act. -
Townshend Act Effects
The colonists once again boycotted all items affected by the tax. They also were upset about how they didn't have representation in the British parliament. There was also lots of tension between the colonists and the British soldiers. -
Boston Massacre
A small mob made out of mostly 14-15 year old boys formed around a group of British soldiers. They started yelling at and mocking the soldiers. Before long the mob grew to about 300 men and boys. They kept harassing the soldiers, and the mob would throw ice, rock, oyster shells, and clubs at them. Captain Preston ordered his men to load their rifles while the mob kept egging them on and daring them to shoot. A shot goes off and the soldiers fire into the crowd killing 6 people. -
Boston Massacre Effects
The Soldiers are put on trial and found not guilty, this outraged many of the Boston colonists. Back in England the King did nothing as he didn't want to do anything that could spark a rebellion or revolts. The tension between colonists and British soldiers increased. -
Boston Tea Party
A tea act was imposed in 1773, not only was there a tax on tea but all tea had to be bought British East India tea company. The British East India Company was going bankrupt and this was an attempt to save it. The colonists didn't like the tax or the fact that they could only buy tea from one company. As a form of protest 300 colonists dressed up as natives and snuck onto a tea ship. They dumped 342 chests, worth 1-3 million dollars, of tea into the harbor. -
Boston Tea Party Effects
King George sees this as an act of rebellion and a threat to his rule. Everyone involved in the rebellion was punished. Boston is isolated from the rest of the colonies and King George sent more soldiers to Boston. He gave the soldiers in Boston permission to use force on the colonists if they don't follow orders. He tells his soldiers to reduce the colonies to a state of dependence. -
Intolerable/Coercive Acts
These are 5 acts all passed at the same time. The Quebec act cut off the colonist's access to Canada and moved Canada's borders. The Massachusetts Government act made it so that the British governor had complete control of the colonies. The Administration of Justice Act made it so that British officials couldn't be tried in court in the colonies. The Boston port act closed Boston's Port. Last of all the quartering act allowed British soldiers to live in the colonist's houses. -
Intolerable/Coercive Acts effects
These acts upset the colonists. To them, it felt like a huge invasion of privacy and a violation of rights. The loss of local government was a big issue for them and it upset many of the colonists. The passing of the intolerable acts sparked more anger and resentment towards the British. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from each colony went to Philadelphia. At the meeting, the delegates wanted to do two things, define their rights and figure out how they can defend them. -
First Continental Congress Effect
The colonies agreed to boycott imported goods. People would be blacklisted if they didn't boycott. To enforce boycotts Committees of Correspondence were created. The committees would inspect people's houses to make sure they weren't buying from or supporting British shops and goods. Militias were formed all over the colonies and this made the king very nervous. He tried to have every militia leader arrested but he was unsuccessful. -
Lexington and Concord
Some colonists don't support the revolution. One of those colonists told the British soldiers about a colonist's ammo house in Concord. The soldiers march out to Boston with plans of raiding the ammo house. Paul Revere rides ahead of them and alerts militias. By the time the British reach Concord 150 colonists are armed and blocking the road. 49 colonists and 73 British were dead by the end of it. By the time the British were able to reach the ammo house all the ammo had been moved. -
Lexington and Concord Effects
The British weren't able to find any ammo and because they didn't find the ammo the attack looked bad for the British. Small altercations between British soldiers and Colonial militias would often break out. Tensions were high and the colonists were trying to figure out what to do. -
Second Continental Congress
The Continental Congress meets again for the second time. This time they discuss reconciliation vs. independence. Some of the delegates just wanted to reunite with the British others wanted independence. As an attempt of reuniting the colonists send the Olive Branch Petition but King George sees it as a joke and says the colonies are in a state of rebellion. John Adams wanted independence and he is nominated to be the leader of the continental congress. -
Second Continental Congress Effects
Adams reorganized a colonial government, defined what powers congress has, and attempted to get foreign aid. He tells the colonists to "Join or step aside". He nominates George Washington to lead the Continental Army. This kicks off the beginning of the revolutionary war.
