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Seven Years War
The Seven Years War beginning in 1756 is very important because it started the road to revolution. Before this war, there was little desire for independence from the colonists, but after the war, a series of chain events led to the colonists rebelling. The Seven Years War marked a turning point towards revolution. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was a plan developed by representatives from 7 colonies calling for an inter-colonial government and taxes. It was important because it established the idea of a central government and congress which would be later a key element in the colonies rebellion. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was important because it was the first law put in place by the British government after the Seven Years War that influenced the colonists. The law said that no one could settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. This limitations angered the colonists, who wanted to benefit from the newly acquired lands. This anger towards British policy became common among the colonies in this time period. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act established a tax on all printed paper in the colonies to fund British troops. This was important because it was the first direct tax on the colonists. It greatly upset the colonists because it violated one of their rights- to not be taxed without representation. The tax led to colonists protesting and forming secret societies like the Sons and Daughters of Liberty to rebel. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act repealed the Stamp Act, but made it so that the British could legally tax the colonies whenever they wanted. It soon became a point of conflict, as the taxation of the colonies was a big reason for their rebellion against the crown. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were laws adopted from Charles Townshend that taxed colonial imports and made it so that an official could search anywhere in the colonies with only a writ of assistance. This further angered the colonists because the ability to search without a warrant took away another right of theirs, and the new taxes came still without their representation. The colonists saw it as truly threatening their fundamental liberties. -
Boston Massacre
In the Boston Massacre, several British soldiers shot into a mob crowd in Boston and killed 5 colonists. It was important in the years leading to revolution because it inflamed the anti-British movement in the colonies. It made the British look ruthless and horrible, making it easy to hate them as the colonists. It added fuel to the fire of revolution. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was a law implemented that put a tax on foreign tea to make the colonists buy British tea. It is important because the colonists refused to buy the British tea, in protest of Britain taxing the colonies without their permission. It was another form of protest from the Americans leading up to the revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was when many colonists in the Boston Harbor dumped shipments of British tea into the ocean. The event is important because it showed that the colonists had the power to protest in more destructive manners. The destruction of British property was seen as a justifiable defense of liberty, so the colonists were encouraged and empowered, leading them closer ot revolution. -
Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts were a series of laws made by the British to punish the colonists in Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. It included closing the Boston Harbor, reducing Massachusetts gov. power, and requiring colonists to quarter troops in private homes. The laws were punitive, and only made the colonists more upset. Tensions increased, and the colonists grew closer to rebellion against this tyranny. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was created as a result of the Intolerable Acts, and it decided to rebel against the British harsh policies. This event is important because it basically started the revolutionary war. It was the final event leading up to rebellion. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act from Britain made Roman Catholicism the official religion of Quebec and set up a government their without representative assembly. This made the colonies worry that Britain would take away both their representative assemblies and their freedom of religion. This scared the colonists, making them all the more ready to get away from the control of Britain.
