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Treaty of Paris
The treaty ended the Friench and Indian War. The British gain control over the area west of the 13 Bristish Colonies, and the French gave up colonies in North America. -
Proclamation Act
This royal proclamation was to close down colonial expansion westward, which affected all thirteen colonies. King George III declared all lands west of the Appalachian Divide off-limits to colonial settlers. -
The Sugar Act
The goal of the act was to raise revenue to help defray the military costs of protecting the American colonies during the French and Indian War. The focus of the Sugar Act was to discourage colonial merchants and manufacturers from smuggling non-British goods to avoid taxes imposed by Parliament. -
Stamp Act
All American colonists were required to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. Ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards were taxed. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act of 1765 required the colonies to house British soldiers in barracks provided by the colonies. If the barracks were too small, then localities were to accommodate the soldiers in local inns, livery stables, ale houses, victualling houses, and the houses of sellers of wine. -
Stamp Act Congress
Stamp Act Congress, held in New York City, nine colonies sent representatives to the Congress. The Congress decided to ask people in all the colonies to refuse to buy stamped goods. They suggested a boycott of all stamped goods. -
Stamp Act Repealed
When Parliament heard about the Stamp Act Congress, the boycott, and how angry the colonists were, it repealed, or ended the Stamp Act law. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament then agreed to repeal the Stamp Act on the condition that the Declaratory Act was passed. On March 18, 1766, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act and passed the Declaratory Act. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts imposed duties on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea imported into the colonies. Townshend hoped the acts would defray imperial expenses in the colonies, but many Americans viewed the taxation as an abuse of power, resulting in the passage of agreements to limit imports from Britain. -
Boston Massacre
The colonists threw snowballs and other objects, and Private Hugh Montgomery was hit, leading him to discharge his rifle at the crowd. The other soldiers began firing a moment later, and when the smoke cleared, five colonists were dead or dying. -
Committee of Correspondence
Committees of Correspondence were the American colonies’ first institution for maintaining communication with one another. The relationship with Great Britain made it increasingly important for the colonies to share ideas and information. -
Tea Act
The act was designed to prop up the East India Company which was floundering financially and burdened with eighteen million pounds of unsold tea. This tea was to be shipped directly to the colonies, and sold at a bargain price. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians board three British tea ships and dump 342 chests of tea into the harbor to avoid paying taxes for tea. -
Intolerable Act
The Intolerable Acts were passed in 1774 to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. There were three major acts involved that angered the colonists. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies that met on September 5 to October 26, 1774 at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. -
Declaration of Rights and Grievances
The Declaration of Rights and Grievances was made by the First Continental Congress decided that it is best to let the then King of England, King George III, hear out the simple Colonists that are much affected by the laws passed, and approve the Declaration to make life easier for the colonies in America. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord kicked off the American Revolutionary War. Tensions had been building for many years between residents of the 13 American colonies and the British authorities, particularly in Massachusetts. -
Bunker Hill
The British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces inflicted significant casualties against the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. -
Oliver Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was adopted by the Continental Congress in an attempt to avoid a full-blown war with Great Britain. The petition affirmed American loyalty to Great Britain and entreated the king to prevent further conflict. The petition was rejected on Sept. 01, 1775. -
Cmmon Sense
"Common Sense" written by Thomas Paine, was published on February 14th, 1776. “Common Sense” advocated independence for the American colonies from Britain and is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence states the reasons the British colonies of North America sought independence.
The preamble describe the document's necessity in explaining why the colonies have overthrown their ruler and chosen to take their place as a separate nation in the world.
