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French & Indian War (Seven Years War)
French & Indian War -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union (written by Benjamin Franklin) called for the colonies to unite against the French. The Plan in the document states that there will be one general government that collected taxes, raised troops, and regulated trade. -
Washington Defeat at Ft. Duquense/Ft. Necessity
Washington lead British troops (alongside Major General James Grant) to attack a French fort (Ft. Duquense) that sat in the Ohio River Valley, a plot of land that the British wanted/held. They attacked because they asked the French to leave but they didn't. This was the unofficial start of the French & Indian War. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty that officially ended the French & Indian War/ Seven Years War. The treaty stated that France give up all its territory in North America, effectively ending any military threat from them. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was a document that closed off any colonial expansion to the west. They did this because there were still Native Americans in the area that didn't want the colonists on their land. The colonists reacted negetavely to the proclamation because they believed it interfered with their liberties. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was an act passed by the British Parliament to lower the tax on molasses. They passed this because the colonists were smuggling molasses and not paying the tax, so they lowered the tax to try to convince the colonists to pay the tax instead of smuggling. The colonists didn't like the act because they thought it violated their liberties. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax issued by Parliament in an effort to raise money to pay off debt from the French & Indian War. The act taxed almost everything printed (newspapers, pamphlets, etc.). The colonists DEFENITELY didn't like this act for two reasons. One is that Parliament had taxed the colonists directly. The other reason is that Parliament taxed them without their consent. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was a law stating that colonists HAD to house and feed British soldiers if they told them they needed housing. -
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was a group of colonists who protested and ran boycotts against the Stamp Act. These men stood up for American liberty like no other. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act congress was a group of colonists who wanted to show Britian that the colonists should have a say in their taxes (this congress was made during the Stamp Act (as you can tell by the title)). -
Daughters of Liberty
The Daughters of Liberty was a group of women who protested the Townshend Acts by making their own goods instead of buying British ones. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was an act that stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the colonies "in all cases." Parliament did this to finalize that it had control over making taxes for the colonies. Again, the colonists didn't like the act because they didn't have a say in their taxes. -
Townshend Act
This act was passed by Parliament to tax only imported goods (glass, tea, paper, lead, etc.). they only taxed imported goods because they didn't want to cause problems like the Sugar Act did. This was the last straw for the colonists. They didn't want any more taxes to be made until they had representatives their to have a say in the taxes -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a event in where American colonists mocked and abused the British soldiers on guard and, out of self defense, the British troops fired. -
Committee of Correspondence
Established by Samuel Adams, the Committee of Correspondence was formed to spread news across the colonies quickly and to get everyone informed. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was an act passed by Parliament to let the East India Company export tea without having to pay most of the taxes on tea. It let the East India Company have a monopoly on tea because of its cheap price. -
Boston Tea Party
This action wasn't really a "party" at all! This was a revolt led by the Sons of Liberty in which they dressed up as Native Americans and boarded 3 tea cargo ships and threw all of the tea overboard into the harbor. At least $1,000,000 worth of tea was thrown into the harbor! -
Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts were a group of acts that were issued to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. The acts closed Boston Harbor (which was where Bostonians got there food) and banned town meetings. The colonists also had a name for these acts, the Intolerable Acts. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act was a law passed that basically made life better for British people living in Canada. This act followed right behind the Cercive (Intolerable) Acts. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a group of 56 men who combined together to represent their grievances from the colonists to Great Britian. They were basically the telephone line from the colonists to Great Britian. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first battle of the Revolutionary War. This is where "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" happened. No one knows who shot that shot, but it was the shot that started the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed's Hill. Although the British won this battle, the Patriots put up a fight and showed the British thay they were ready for battle. -
Second Continental Congress
The actions of the Second Continental Congrees were:
--printed money
--established post office
--communicated with foreign nations
--created Continental army
--sent Olive Branch Petition to King George III (the colonists last try to have peace with Britian (the king didn't accept (jerk))). -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
The signing of the Declaration of Independence was nearly a month after the rough draft was approved (July 4, 1776). Most people think the signing of the Declaration was on July 4th, but that was the day the rough draft was approved.
