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French & Indian War
The French and Indian war started due to fighting over colonial wealth and territory. The battling of 7 years set the stage for the American Revolution. During the French and Indian War colonies started to form stronger opinions and they sought the best for one’s rights. The war also brought military experience, knowledge, and the French lost the war, creating an ally. The French became a great ally to the colonists during the Revolutionary War as they sought revenge for their loss. -
The Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was created to prevent tension between the Native Americans and the colonists due to the territory changes that accrued after the French and Indian War. The proclamation deemed that lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were off limits to colonists. Colonists were unable to move into the Ohio Valley and the colonists living in the off limits land were forced from their homes. Many colonists were angry and felt that their rights had been taken from them. -
The Stamp Act
On March 22, 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was initiated to help the British recover from the debt they faced after the French and Indian war. The act required the colonists to pay a tax on papers, documents, playing cards, and molasses. These new taxes angered the colonists. They were particularly angry about the tax on molasses because they imported molasses in large quantities. -
The Townshend Acts
Charles Townshend, British chancellor of the Exchequer, put the Townshend Acts into movement. The British taxed the products they exported to American colonies, these products were items they thought colonists would have trouble getting on their own. They taxed British china, glass, lead, paint, paper and tea. Originally the Acts were in place to raise revenue, but Charles Townshend saw it as a way to pay Judges, colonial governors, and colonial officials to insure their loyalty to the British. -
Boston Massacre
The Townshend acts made colonists very mad. Resulting is a formidable, secret group, the Sons of Liberty. This group spoke the famous phrase “no taxation without representation”. With their influence many colonies agreed to boycott British goods and protesting became an often occurrence. The British government sent more than 2,000 soldiers to Boston to restore order. The tension combusted on March 5, 1770. British soldiers shot into an angry mob of protesters. They killed 5 American colonists. -
The Boston Tea Party
After much protesting British parliament seemed to listen to the colonists. The British repealed all of the Townshend Acts, except for the tax on tea. The Sons of Liberty were not happy with the continual taxation of tea. The group of activists disguised themselves as Indians and managed to pull off one of the most infamous protests in American history. The angry colonists destroyed an entire shipment of tea by dumping it into the Boston Harbor. -
The Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
To punish the actions of the Boston Tea Party British Parliament set in place the Coercive Acts. First, the Massachusetts Government Act, this act instituted a new government over the already present, elected government. Secondly, the Boston Port Bill which closed the Boston Harbor. Third, the Administration of Justice Act, so British officials could have trials in another colony or in England. Lastly, the Quartering Act, stating that unoccupied buildings could be used to house British troops. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
April 18, 1775, hundreds of British troops marched to Concord. They planned the attack hoping to suppress the colonists’ ability of rebellion. Paul Revere and other riders alarmed the colonists that the British were coming. It didn’t take long for a battle to break out. In the end, British forces succeeded in destroying supplies, and colonists pushed British back to Boston. That night caused countless colonists to join the Revolution. It’s known as the event that started the Revolutionary War.