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French and Indian War
Conflict between the French and Great Britain over new world territory. This causes the colonies to be controlled over the British. -
French and Indian War ends
The Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War causing France to surrender all of its North American possessions east of the Mississippi to Britain. This also causes British to tax colonists because of the war costs. -
Sugar Act
The sugar act was passed to tax wines, coffee, and sugar so the government could get money for the war. This angered many colonists because they didn’t want to give up money for war. -
The Currency Act
This caused a major decline in the value of the paper money used by colonists. Colonists became very upset because paper was used daily. -
Stamp Act
Britain passes the Stamp Act, imposing a tax on legal documents, newspapers, even playing cards. These taxes were the first taxes passed on the American colonies and was highly resisted. This caused many colonists to fight back and resist other taxes later passed. -
The Quartering Act
This act was passed requiring colonists to allow British soldiers into their home, feeding them and assisting them. This upset many colonists for not having privacy and requiring this. -
The Boston Massacre
British troops land in Boston to enforce the taxes that were passed. Many colonists were upset about the taxes and caused an uproar in town and many street fights broke out. During one outbreak, colonists were harassing soldiers that caused them to shoot into a crowd killing 5 colonists. This event was spread quickly and caused the colonists to continue to rebel. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest about taxes on tea. American political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts. The colonists poured tons of tea into the harbor to fight back. This causes the intolerable acts to be passed -
The Intolerable Acts
These were laws that were passed after the Boston Tea Party as a form of punishment for the colonists. The four acts were the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act. This caused many people to turn against the British government. -
Thomas Paine Common Sense
This was created and changed the colonists' perspective of Britain as it explained independence for the American colonies that were under control. He helped show how much control Britain had over the colonies. This caused many people to speak out about independence. -
Declaration of Independence
Britain needed money for the war and the colonists were tired of paying taxes. The colonists spoke out and fought back about declaring independence. The Declaration of Independence was the first formal statement by a nation's people asserting their right to choose their own government. After this, the complies became more unified and peace returned.