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French and Indian War
-Caused by land competition, control of North American trade routes, alliance with Native Tribes, European wars, and traditional enemies
-Ended in 1763
-Its effects were increased taxes for colonists, British troops in America, Proclamation of 1763, end of westward expansion, and prohibition of settlement in Ohio River Valley. -
Sugar Act
-British thought colonists needed to pay them back for the war
-Indirect tax on sugar
-Failed attempt
-Moved onto the Stamp Act (1765)
-Direct tax on all printed goods
-Boycotted by colonists
-Attacks on tax collectors (Tarring and feathering)
-Failed as well -
Townshend Acts
-Stamp Act repealed
-Tax on glass, paint, tea and others
-The same year they tried the Quartering Act.
-Colonists forced to house and feed soldiers -
Boston Massacre
-Colonists mobbed and angered British soldiers.
-Throwing rocks and sticks and yelling
-Soldiers started shooting and killed several colonists. -
Boston Tea Party
-Caused by the Tea Act which was a tax on tea
-Caused the Intolerable Acts
-Isolated Boston
-Sons of Liberty formed
-British arrested rebels -
1st Continental Congress
-Response to Intolerable Acts
-Purpose was to show support for Boston and work out a unified approach to the British
-Boycotts on British goods -
Lexington and Concard
-Militia forming in Massachusetts
-Goal:Seize leaders and munitions
-Ended badly for British
-Found nothing and were no longer secretive -
2nd Continental Congress
-Issue:Reconciliation vs. Independence
-Elected George Washington as commander of the continental army
-Authorized the rising of an army through conscription -
Battle of Bunker Hill
-British sent troops into the colonies.
-British defeated Americans.
-"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes."
-Gave Americans confidence -
Olive Branch Petition
-Americans wanted to avoid war with the British
-Petitioned to repeal acts, and define colonial rights
-King saw this as a joke
-Declared colonies in a state of rebellion
-"Join or step aside"
-Declaration of Independency