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French and Indian War 1756 – 1763
The French and Indian War started when France decided to expand into the Ohio River valley causing conflicts with Britain. The British military effort was hampered by lack of interest at home, rivalries among the American colonies and France’s greater success in winning the support of the Indians. The French and Indian War then finally ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in February 1763. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a law imposed by the British Parliament to stop the smuggling of molasses into the American colonies from the West Indies by cutting taxes on molasses. It also imposed new taxes on several other imported goods while restricting the export of certain highly demanded items that could legally be shipped from the colonies under the Navigation Acts. -
Stamp Act 1765 – 1765
Due to being in debt from the French and Indian War, the British parliament imposed taxes on the American colonists to be able to pay it off which caused the Stamp Act to be the first internal tax. -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were numerous of things passed by the British Parliament that taxed goods imported to the American colonies. For example, they put taxes on tea, glass, paper, paint, and lead. The American colonists who had no representation in Parliament saw the Acts as an abuse of power. The British had sent troops to America to enforce the unpopular new laws. This caused further tension between Great Britain and the American colonies. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a deadly riot. It had just begun as a street brawl between American colonists and British soldiers until it quickly escalated to a bloody slaughter. The colonists had started fighting with the soldiers because they were mad about the taxes. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest for imposing taxation. The American colonists were so angry that they were taxed without having any representation in Parliament. So, they dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor to show them how they felt about it. This event was the first major act of defiance to British rule over the colonists and was led by Samuel Adams, the Sons of Liberty, and more. -
Intolerable Acts
After the incident of the Boston Tea Party, the British adopted a strategy that was meant to isolate troublemaking Boston from the other colonies. The Parliament had passed the strategy known as the Coercive Acts which were aimed at Boston and envisioned as punishment for its radical opposition to British policies. It was later known as the Intolerable Acts. It consisted of four legislative measures the Boston Port Bill, the Government, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act. -
First Continental Congress
Colonies had gathered in the Philadelphia to show support for Boston and to work out a unified approach to the British. They issued the Declaration of Colonial Rights and Grievances. They had passed for colonies to stop importing goods from the British Isles, if the Coercive Acts were not repealed. The Congress then declared it would reassemble and the colonies would cease to export goods to Britain. -
Paul Revere’s Ride
Paul Revere had ordered a friend to keep an eye out and turn one lantern on if the British were moving by land south of town and to turn on two lanterns if they were crossing the river north of town. Revere set up this signal to notify Charlestown of the British movements. So, that citizens could take on the mission of informing the countryside in case the riders failed to get through. He had to warn the patriots when the British were coming but he was captured on the road outside of Lexington. -
Lexington and Concord
British troops had arrived in Lexington and came upon some militiamen. A gunshot had gone off and the British took it as a sign to attack. Colonists were killed and the rest fled. The Americans then fled from Lexington and the British went to Concord. They began to search the town for weapons and munitions. The Americans had retreated outside of Concord and watched the British from other side of the North Bridge. While waiting the Americans were growing their army causing the British to retreat. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
It was a battle between the British and the Americans. The Americans were told, “ Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” The Redcoats were within a couple of dozen yards when the Americans let loose and started firing. Making the British to retreat. The British began to reform their lines and attacked again with the same result. For the third time the Redcoats went up the hill and reached the Americans. The Americans were outnumbered and were forced to retreat. -
Deceleration of Independence
It started when a few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert R. Livingston had to write a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain. The Congress finally adopted the Declaration of Independence written largely by Jefferson and became the first formal statement by a nation’s people asserting their right to choose their own government.