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Proclamation of 1763
The proclamation closed off colonial expansion to the frontier. Also, the proclamation defined four new colonies, Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Grenada. -
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Major Events
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Sugar Act of 1764
The Sugar Act put three pence taxes on sugar and increased taxes on coffee, indigo, and certain wines. Also, the act banned rum and French wines from being imported to the colonies. Finally, the act was created without the consideration of the colonies. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act was an act that required the colonists to pay a tax on all of the paper that they used. The money that was made from the taxes was used to pay for defending the frontier near the Appalachain Mountains. -
Quartering Act of 1765
The British sent extra slaves to be stationed in the colonies. New York's colonial assembly refused to provide money to house and supply these extra soldiers. Therefore, the Quartering Act was created. -
Stamp Act Congress
Th Stamp Act Congress was created to have the colonists unite as one against the British. Also, the colonies voiced their opinion on the unfair Stamp Act. As a result, British merchants joined with the colonists and pushed the British into an appeal. -
Declaratory Act of 1766
The Declaratory Act stated that Parliament had the full power and authority to make laws to bind the colonies and the people of America. -
Townshend Acts of 1767
The Townshend Acts placed import duties on common items such as tea, lead, glass, and dyes for paint. -
The Boston Massacre
General Thomas Gage sent British troops to Boston. The soldiers being in Boston caused tension between them and the colonists. Then, on the evening of March 5, 1770, a small group of angry colonists gathered and began throwing things and yelling insults. An accidental British fire was shot so, many other British soldiers fired their guns. In the end, five colonists died. -
Tea Act of 1773
The Tea Act excused the British East India Company from paying certain duties. Also, the act stated that they were able to sell tea directly to the colonists. Therefore, the British East India Company charged the lowest prices for tea after tax. The tax payed on tea was three pence, which was less than before. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty in Philadelphia and New York threatened tea importers with a boycott of their tea. The governer refused to grant the colonists wish, which was to send three ships full of tea back to Britain. That night, a group of colonists dressed to look like Indians went to Boston Harbor and poured 342 chests of tea into the water from the ships. -
Coercive Acts of 1774
The British officials were extremely mad at the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. In response to the colonists actions, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, which were four laws made to punish Massachusetts and make the British control over the colonies stronger. These acts were also called the Intolerable Acts. -
Quebec Act of 1774
The Quebec Act extened Quebec's boundary south of the Ohio River overriding Conneticut, Massachusetts, and Virgnia to the western lands. Also, the law gave full religious freedom to French Roman Catholics and this upset many of the colonists that were Protestant. -
First Continental Congress
Representatives from every colony except Georgia came to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Congress was a convention where delegates could talk about their options. Some colonists wanted to remain part of the British Empire and others wanted to become independent. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
On the evening of April 18, 1775, 750 British troops left Boston and crossed the Charles River. Patriots Paul Revere and William Dawes saw the troops and rode on horses through the night to warn all that the British were coming. On April 19, 1775, there were seventy minutemen along with Captain John Parker to greet the British on the Lexington village green. One side shot th first fire and the battle left eight colonists dead and ten wounded. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Then, the British Redcoats marched to Concord. Hundreds of mintuemen fired at the Redcoats from behind a wall along the route. They killed or wounded 273 British soldiers. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia and Samuel Adams wanted immediate indpendence from Britain. Others that were led by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania stopped this from moving forward. As a result, the Continental Army was established for the defense of American liberty. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition stated that the colonists were loyal to the king, and they asked for his help in ending conflict. The petition was rejected buy the king, and he ordered the Royal Navy to block the shipping to the colonies. Also, he sent Hessians to defeat the Americans. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement of the Second Continental Congress. It officially declared the United States of America to be Independent from Great Britian. Also, the declaration was formally adopted by the Congress on July 4, 1776.
