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Road to Revolution
The Road to Revolution was the period leading up to the Revolutionary War. During these 14 years, colonists were trying to get their rights and freedoms from Britain but instead decided to fight for their freedom. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War in North America, giving Britain all the land east of the Mississippi River. -
Pontiac’s Rebellion
The movement is named after the Ozawa leader, Chief Pontiac, who inspired the action against the British. Pontiac’s Rebellion was launched by a loose confederation of American Indian tribes, in the Great Lakes region, the Illinois Country, and Ohio Country who were unsatisfied with British policies in the Great Lakes region following the French and Indian war. The goal of the movement was to push the British out of the Great Lakes, leaving the land for themselves again. -
Navigation Laws
Prime Minister George Grenville ordered the British Navy to make sure all ships carrying goods to or from the colonies stop in England. This made sure England could get the first pick of the Cargo. Then, the ship would be sent on their way, allowing England to raise funds for their new military force. -
The Proclamation of 1763
The proclamation of 1763 restricted colonists to the east side of the Appalachian Mountains, because Britain thought the Indians might attack again, causing Britain to spend even more money after the French and Indian war. This would later be a leading factor to the American Revolution because the colonist wanted to expand westward. -
Sugar Act is Passed
The Sugar act was aimed at ending the smuggling of sugar and molasses from French and Dutch West Indies which in turn, would provide funds for the British Empire’s role in the French and Indian war. -
Stamp Act is Passed
The Stamp Act was an act passed by Parliament that imposed a direct tax on the British colonies in America. This required that many printed goods be printed in London, carrying a revenue stamp. The Printed legal documents, magazines, and playing cards. The Stamp Act, would later be one of the causes of the American Revolution. -
Quartering Act is Enforced
The Quartering Act required colonial settlers to provide food, supplies, and housing to British troops in North America after the French and Indian War. The Colonists disliked the Quartering Act, because they viewed it as unjust taxation because they didn’t have representation. Making this, another huge cause towards the American Revolution. -
The Stamp Act Congress of 1765
The Stamp Act Congress of 1765 forced the repeal of the Stamp Act. It stated the rights and the grievances of the colonists, made the king and Parliament repeal the repulsive legislation. But, All of this was shot down in England and was a significant step toward intercolonial unity. -
The Stamp Act is Repealed
Due to widespread protest in the colonies, the British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, a taxation without representation used to raise funds for the British army in North America. -
The Declaratory Act is Passed
The Declaratory Act was Parliament’s answer to the drama in the colonies over taxes. The declaration stated that the Parliament’s power was the same in the colonies as it was in England. This gave Britain complete control over the colonies, later angering the colonies since they wanted some controls of their own. -
The Townshend Acts are Instated
The Townshend Acts put a small import tax on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea. Colonist refused to pay these taxes due to the lack of representation and would try to smuggle the items such as tea instead. This event would eventually lead up to the Boston Massacre. -
Repeal of the Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts failed to generate revenue. Instead, they nearly started a rebellion. These taxes also hurt the English economy. With these laws ending, King George III decided to keep the tax on tea, angering the colonists. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a confrontation by the colonists where British soldiers were harassed, fired shots, and killed five people. This event was used heavily by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams to pave the path for the American Revolution. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty. The target of this event was the Tea Act, which allowed Britain to sell tea from China at a very high price, instead of letting the colonist buy it directly. The demonstrators, dressed up like Native Americans, destroyed an entire shipment of tea that was sent by the East India Company. That shipment contained 342 chest of tea, which is enough to fill 18.5 million tea bags. -
Parliament Passed the Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a series of acts put into effect to scold the colonists. The most significant Act was the Boston Port Act. It closed the Boston harbor until all damages from the Boston Tea Party, placed restrictions on town meetings, and a New Quartering Act. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was made up of 55 men from 12 of the 13 colonies, excluding Georgia. They met in Philadelphia to address the distress in the colonies. The First Continental Congress drew up a Declaration of Rights, while also calling for the complete boycott of British goods. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
Parliament rejected the First Continental Congress’s wishes. With this the colonist gathered muskets and began to train. In April 1775, a British commander sent troops to Lexington and Concord to take stores of gunpowder and arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. At Lexington, the shot heard around the world was fired, officially starting the American Revolution. The British killed 8 Americans and wounded Several more. The British then went to Concord, were ambushed and suffered heavy losses. -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document created to say government exists for the benefit of the people and that “all men are created equal.” A total of fifty-six delegates signed the document, putting themselves at risk for being prosecuted, for treason, by England.
