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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was the last and most important conflict between the British and the American colonists on one side, and the French and Native American allies on the other. After winning both The Battle of Quebec (1759), Battle of Montreal (1760), The British Siege Fort Detroit in 1761 and the French surrender shortly after. This is significant because this owed money for the war creates taxes that are put on the Colonists such as the Sugar, Stamp, and Tea Acts. -
The Sugar Act
This was in indirect tax added to the price of sugar. The goal was to collect taxes, stop smuggling, give unwarranted stops & searches, and boost the British economy. The colonists were in a period of financial difficulties and their resentment was due to both the economic impact as well as the issue of taxation without representation. The Sugar Act was seen as detrimental to America and was one of the laws that helped spark rebellion in the colonies when it was enforced. -
The Stamp Act
This direct tax was imposed on American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. The money collected was to be used to help pay the costs of defending and protecting the land near the Appalachian Mountains. This was viewed as an attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonials. This provoked groups like the Sons of Liberty to meet for the first time and ultimately protest against the British. -
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The Intolerable Acts
The Quartering Act, Boston, Port Bill, Administration of Justice Act, Massachusetts Government Act, and Quebec Act were all established as pettiness to Boston after the Boston Tea Party occurred. In response, merchants refuse to boycott, and other colonies are hesitant to help. There is a call for an inter-colonial meeting. (1st Continental Congress) -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of acts proposed by Charles Townshend. They were taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea imported into the colonies. He hoped the acts would defray imperial expenses in the colonies, but many Americans viewed the taxes as an abuse of power, resulting in agreements to cut down imports from Britain. -
The Boston Massacre
The incident in which a line of British soldiers let off a round of shots into a tax protesting crowd of colonials on March 5th, 1770, in Boston, Mass. Five colonists were killed. Captain Thomas Preston, the British officer in charge, was arrested along with eight of his men, all of whom were later acquitted. It is as a key event in helping to win colonists over as Patriots and to join the fight for independence. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty and their leader, Samuel Adams, entered three ships docked in Boston harbor dressed as Mohawk Indians. Once on board, they dumped 342 chests (90,000 tons, nearly 1,000,000 dollars worth today) of tea into the harbor. Because of this incident, the Coercive Acts (1774) were put in place by British rule to punish Bostonians. Tensions grew between the two sides rapidly. -
Lexington and Concord
Militias forming in Massachusetts with goals to steal munitions and leaders forces the King to react immediately. Poor planning on GB’s part leads Paul Revere’s 150 man militia to kill 273 British troops. Britain and the Colonists are no longer secretive in their defensive tools. British troop do not find any of the hidden munitions. “Shot heard ‘round the world”. -
Thomas Paines’ “Common Sense” Published
A very popular and widely read book by Thomas Paine that urged colonists to “Join or step aside” in the fight for independency against the King. He changed the mind of non-patriots who still felt loyal to Britain, and those who were against a revolution. -
The Declaration of Independence
Five delegates of the Continental Congress including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin were tasked with drafting a formal “breakup” statement that was to be sent to Great Britain. The result is known as the Declaration of Independence and it was adopted by Congress in Philadelphia on July 4th.
