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French and Indian War
French and Indian War was between French and British. They both wanted the Native American's land. Britian won the war. -
Albany Plan of Union
Ben Franklin's plan which called for one central government in the colonies -
Washington's Defeat at Ft. Duquense/Ft. Necessity
The French commander realized that it would be a total disaster if he were to resist. Under the cover of night, the French withdrew from Fort Duquesne, set it on fire and sailed down the Ohio River to safety. -
Treaty of Paris
Ends the French and Indian War. British victory. Britain gains control of Ohio country and Canada. -
Proclaimation of 1763
The Proclaimation of 1763 kept colonists from moving west of the Appalachain Mountains. It also limited settlement in the region that Great Britian gained control of in North America. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Acts lowered taxes on molasses imported by the colonies
The British hoped the lower tax would make coloniest pay the taxes instead of smuggling. The act also allowed officers to get good from smugglers without going to court. This angered the colonists. James Otis defended colonists. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act taxed almost all printed material in the colonies. All printed material had to have a stamp, which was applied by British officials. A group called Sons of Liberty protested them. Protesters burned effigies, raided and destroyed houses belonging to royal officials, signed nonimportation agreements, and boycotted stamps. The Stamp Act Congress drafted a petition declaring that the colonies couldn't be taxed except by their own assemblies. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act forced colonie to pay for housing British troops in taverns, inns, vacant buildings, and barns. Colonists also had to provide food and drink. -
Sons of Liberty
Samuel Adams helped started an organization called Sons of Liberty. Members protested the Stamp Act on the streets. People in other cities also organized Sons of Liberty groups. -
Stamp Act Congress
Delegates from 9 colonies met in New York as the Stamp Act Congress. They drafted a petition to the king and Parliment declaring that the colonies couldn't be taxed except by their own assemblies. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act said that Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the British colonies in all cases. There was no immediate reaction to the Declaratory Act. The colonists seemed not to have an agreement. Some felt that it meant more taxes would be collected soon, while others were unsure. -
Townshend Acts
British leaders tried to keep some of the problems the Stamp Act caused away. The taxes only taxed imported goods with the tax being paid at the port of entry. Goods taxed were things like glass, tea, paper, and lead. The colonists were outraged by any taxes Parliament passed. Colonists brought back boycotts and a group called Daughters of Liberty were formed to boycott. -
Daughters of Liberty
Women took an active role in the protest against the Townshend Acts. They organized groups called Daughters of Liberty to boycott British goods. They urged Americans to wear homemade fabrics and product other goods that ere available only from Britian before. -
Boston Massacre
Relations between the redcoats and the Boston colonists grew tense. On March 5, the tension finally reached a peak. A fight broke out between colonists and soldiers. Colonists threw snowballs and clubs and many other things at the soldiers. After one soldier was knocked down, redcoats fired and killed 5 colonists. -
Committee of Correspondence
The Committee of Correspondence is an organization used in earlier protests. This committee circulated writings about colonists' grievances agains Britian. Other committees came about in the colonies, which made a large group of protesters opposed to British measures. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was passed by Parliament to save the East India Company. This act gave the East India Company the right to ship tea to the colonies without paying most of the taxes usually placed on tea. The act also allowed the company to bypass colonial merchants and sell its tea directly to shopkeepers at a low price. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of men disguised as Mohawks and armed with hatchets marched to the wharves. At midnight, they boarded the ships and threw 342 chests of tea overboard. -
Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts were very harsh laws intended to punish people of Massachussets for their resistance. They closed Boston Harbor until the Massachussetts colonists paid for the ruined tea. Closing the Boston Harbor prevented the arrival of food and other supplies that normally came by ship. The laws also banned most town meetings. -
Quebec Act
This act set up a permanent government for Quebec and granted religious freedom to French Catholics. Colonists strongly objected to the provision that gave Quebec the area west of the Appalachains and north of the Ohio River. This provision ignored colonial claims to the area. -
First Continental Congress
A group of 55 men met in the city of Philadelphia. Men from all colonies except Georgia, came to establish a political body to represent American interests and challenge British control. They called this organization Continental Congress -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
At dawn the redcoats approached Lexington. When they reached the center of town, they came apon a group of about 70 minutemen. The minutemen had positioned themselves on the town common with guns in hand. A shot was fired (known as the shot heard around the world) and then both sides started firing. After the first battle, 8 minutemen were dead. -
Second Continental Congress
John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington were all political leaders involved in the Second Continental Congress. The president of the Second Continental Congress was John Hancock. The congress authorized the printing of money and set up a post office. It also established committees to communicate with Native Americans. Most importantly, the congress started the Continental Army. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
About 1,200 militiamen set up forts at Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill across the harbor from Boston. The next day, the redcoats crossed the harbor, assembled at the bottom of Breed's Hill. With their guns drawn, they charged up the hill. Americans opened fire, forcing British to retreat. The redcoats charged 2 more times. In the end, the Americans ran out of gunpowder and had to withdraw. Even though they didn't win the battle, Americans showed that they wouldn't be easily beaten. -
Signing of Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. 56 delegates signed the paper announcing the birth of the United States.
