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The French and Indian War (7 Years' War)
As French settlers moved into the Ohio River Valley, conflict arose with previously established British settlements. The surrounding Native American tribes chose to align with the French and fight to keep Englishmen out of their territory. To fund the war, England raised taxes on the colonists which was just one of the grievances they later listed in the Declaration of Independence. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 established a settlement line that colonists could not legally cross. The goal of this line was to appease Native Americans by promising colonists would not move any further into Native territory. However, the Proclamation only angered the colonists and inspired them to defy England by continuing to settle West. -
The Sugar Act (Molasses Act)
The sugar act placed a 3 pence per gallon of molasses tax on molasses from the French West Indies. The goal of this tax was to give the colonists no choice but to purchase the now-cheaper (but still over-priced) sugar from the British West Indies. This act also caused punishment for molasses smugglers to be harsher which led to less active smugglers and less rum. Lastly, the act removed the colonists right to jury trial. All of these pieces further enraged the colonists. -
The Stamp Act
This particular stamp act was the fourth act of its kind to be passed. It stated that, "...all legal documents. permits commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards" must be taxed by means of a stamp. This act was meant to help pay for the war, however, because it was sprung on the colonists without their consent, they became even more weary of England's intentions. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was made of two parts. The first part established that should housing in barracks become limited, Americans must allow British soldiers to stay in their homes/spare barns and buildings, and provide them with all necessary items. The second Quartering Act consisted of nearly the same provisions, it was just meant to reestablish England's control over the colonies. Colonists felt that England was overstepping their bounds with this law and reacted negatively toward it. -
Boston Massacre
After being beaten by a British soldier, a young man gathered a group of people to harass the soldier. As more soldiers arrived, the number of enraged civilians increased. Finally, the crowd became too rowdy and a British officer's command for the soldiers to hold their fire was misunderstood. After the soldiers fired upon the group of Americans, word spread of the "massacre" and hatred for British soldiers grew which created a deeper divide between the colonists and England. -
The Tea Act
In 1773, British parliament gave the East India Company a monopoly on the sale of tea in the colonies. The colonists were already opposed to the taxes on tea, and the Tea Act only raised prices higher and further aggravated the colonists. The Tea Act would inspire the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an act of political protest by the American colonists against British parliament. It was carried out by a group of men who dressed as Mohawk Indians, boarded ships loaded with British tea, and dumped the tea into the Boston Harbor. This was one of the most obvious rebellions against British taxation without representation which made other Patriots more comfortable acting out. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable acts were also known as the Coercive acts because they were meant to coerce, or force, the colonists into obeying the British government. This act was made of several smaller acts including the Quartering Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, and the Boston Port Act. The Intolerable Acts further enraged the colonists because they felt as though their rights were being stripped from them. -
Lexington and Concord
The battle of Lexington and Concord is known as "the shot heard around the world" because it marked the official beginning of battle between England the the American colonies. On the night of the battle, hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to Concord for weapons. Paul Revere famously warned militiamen that the British were coming so they could prepare to fight. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend acts placed a tax on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. It was meant to spread the taxes more evenly so the war debts could be payed off without colonists being too over-charged. However, the colonists saw the taxes as an abuse of England's powers and resisted by passing regulations the limited the goods that could be imported from England. -
Works Cited
History.com
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