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The French and Indian War
The French and British had the most territorial disputes within North America during this war. Both countries wanted access to the profitable fur trade business and the cheap fertile land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Although the British lost majority of the initial battles they ultimately won the war. The war caused relations to worsen between the British and the Colonists. The colonists were angry with the Proclamation Line of 1763 and the taxes they were forced to pay. -
The Sugar Act
The British Parliament passed the Sugar Act in 1764 in order to help pay for their debt from the French and Indian War as well as to pay for the troops guarding the Proclamation Line of 1763. It forced the colonists to pay a 3 cent tax on goods like sugar, coffee, indigo and certain kinds of alcohol. The colonists were not happy with this law because they had no say in parliament. The slogan “No Taxation without Representation” became popular in the colonies. -
The Stamp Act
The was passed Stamp Act in 165 in order to support the British soldiers protecting the Proclamation Line. The Stamp Act required that a stamp purchased by the British government had to be placed on all important documents like court papers, newspapers and even playing cards. The colonists were outraged because they can't cross the proclamation line and they still had no representation in Parliament. This led to an increase in colonial protests. -
Sons of Liberty
A well-organized political organization shrouded in secrecy that was established to undermine British rule in colonial America. This group spang up in port cities like Boston and NYC. Group member were men from all walks of life, and they were known to be hot headed and violent. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts taxed imported items such as paper, glass, paint and tea. The English Parliament passed this act to cover costs of the French and Indian War, as well as to show that they still had power over the colonies. The colonists were outraged with this act so they held public demonstrations, boycotted products and smuggled in goods. Parliament eventually decided to repeal this act because of colonial protests. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5 1770 there was a violent confrontation between the British soldiers and the colonists in Boston and colonists. The first shot was taken because the colonist pretended to be the captain. They yelled from the ally and the soldiers fired at the colonist. -
The Tea Act
The tea act was created in 1773, it was created to benefit the East India Company. The British Parliament was trying to help them with their finachels problems. The colonists were very angry about this act, they left the tea out to rot in Charlestown, they refused the shipped in Philadelphia and in Boston they had the Boston Tea Party. -
The Boston Tea Party
On the night of December 16, 1773, around 60 colonists dressed as Mohawk Native Americans, boarded the tea ships docked in Boston harbor and tossed 342 crates of tea into the harbor. They British punished the colonists by passing the Intolerable Acts. -
The First Continental Congress
The meeting took place at Carpenter hall, Philadelphia, PA. Representatives from 12 out of the 13 colonies came such as John Adams, Patrick Henry ect. It was held to discuss the crisis with coercive acts. They stated they were still loyal to the king but they want to have representation or else they would meet again. -
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
After the Boston Tea Party the British Parliament passed this law as a punishment. It included four parts such as the Quatering Act, and they moved the British soldiers trials to England so the colonist had no say in the trials anymore. They also closed the boston harbor and didn’t allow the colonist to govern themselves. The colonists are angered by this and unite at the First Continental Congress. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
There 900 red coat troops headed for Lexington to seize rebel leaders and their weapons. The colonist lost the first battle at Lexington after the shot heard around the world left off. The British troops then went to Concord to raid the militia’s stash but the colonists had already taken them. Then the colonists attacked the British at Concord, forcing the British back to Boston.
