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Sep 1, 1500
Mercantilism Theory
There is not an exact date of the start of this theory. It lasted beteen 1500-1800. The goal was to have a favorable balance of trade. A nation should export more than it imports. Made people want to separate into colonies due to the fact wealth could be kept if they provided raw materials to the mother country and the mother country finished and sold the items. Colonists began to break off and wanted more freedom which contributed to the revolutionary war. -
Salutory Neglect
England relaxed its enforcement of most things as log as the colonial were loyal to them economically. This act caused the ideas of self-government to begin since now with every colony there was a governor appointed by the king and included an advisory council and a local assemby. -
French and Indian War
The fourth war between Great Britain and France. The british victory led to the widening of the british empire and created new conflicts between the colonists. British victory also caused the english language to spread further throughout North American. The english claimed all of the territory east of the Mississippi River including Florida. This led to the Revolutionary War in two ways. One, the funding of this war accumulated a great national debt for Great Britain and they felt the americans -
Proclamation of 1763
Banned all settlement west of the Applachians. British did not enforce the ban effectively. Colonists still continued to move west. This act made the colonists feel the the British did not care about their needs. The colonists feeling like they could not be provided with what they needed made them want to sepearte which helped develop the Revolutionary War. -
The Quartering Act
Authorized British commanders to house soldiers in citizens houses and other buildings. Thomas Gage as createed governor of Massachussets and enforced marital law which is rules imposed by military forces. The colonists were very upset about these new laws which is an obvious cause that led to the Revolutionary War. Nobody enjoyed Military men staying in their home by force. -
The Stamp Act
Passed by British Parliament, tax imposed on all American colonists. Had to pay a tax on every piece of paper they used. March 22nd, 1765. Colonists were outraged. This event is important to the Revolutionary War because it was another movement that angered the colonists and made them feel like the had no freedom. -
Stamp Act Congress
Issued a Decleration of Rights and Grievances that stated Parliament lacked the power to impose taxes on colonies because colonists were not represented in Parliament. "No taxation with representation". This was another document that led to the excitement and encouragement of rebellion, and for the colonies to become their own. -
The Declaratory Act
Asserted Parliaments full right to make laws. To pull together the people of America in any case. Colonists didnt want Parliament to have any rights or power over them. Another law that drove the colonists to rebellion. -
The Townshend Acts
Indirect taxes put on imported materials. Like the Stamp Act but the Stamp Act was a direct tax. This tax was unknown to them at the time but it would be a key factor that led up to the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. It was a small tax that played a large role in leading to the American Revolution since the colonists did not want to be controlled by Britian. -
Boston Massacre
This event in history was a dispute for jobs between the colonists and the under paid soldiers. March 5, 1770, a fight broke out when a mob of colonists gathered around the front of the Custom house and were taunting the soldiers on duty. The soldiers ended up killing three men and wounding others. This led to the American revolution when the legal aftermath of this court trial was brought to the public. The results sparked a rebelion on the colonists; this mishap is considered, by some historia -
The Tea Act
Granted the right of selling tea to colonies without taxes. The company could sell it products directly for less. This Act fired up the colonists and caused a violent end. This event is what led into the Boston Tea Party. Another little piece that turned into a large event which all led up to the American Revolution. -
The Boston Tea Party
In reaction to the massive amounts of taxes being placed on the colonists desided to boycott british goods, especially tea imported by the British East India Company. The colonists reacted violently when The Tea Act came about and decided to dump the tea into the Boston Harbor. The led to the American Revolution because it was yet another even sparking rebellion in the colonists and was one of the main reasons of the gathering of the Continental Congress to then create The Declaration of Indepen -
The Coercive/Intolerable Acts
Shut down the Boston Harbor since the colonists refused to pay to fix the it after the Boston Tea Party. Another was the Quartering Act. After these Acts were created the colonists moved quickly and created the First Continental Congress. These Acts angered the colonists and they refused to be controlled. -
First Continental Congress
56 delegates met in Philadelphia. They created a declaration of colonial rights. They defended colonists right to control their own colonies and supported the Massachussetts protests. They also said if the British should use force that the colonists would fight back. This decleration angered the British and led to the Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
A group of men from the 13 colonies met again in Philidalphia right after the war began. They established a contential congress. They approved the Olive Branch Petition. They later wrote the Decleration of Independence. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
After the First Continental Congress eastern New England towns upgraded military preperations. Minutemen started to stockpile firearms and gunpowder. British marched troops from Boston to Concord. Soldiers sounded an alarm and the minutemen jumped to defend themselves against the British. British retreated under intense fire. This began the Revolutionary War. -
Thomas Paine writes Common Sense
This pamphlet challenged both the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. First work to openly ask for independence. This is considered to be on of the most influential pamphlets in American history. Played a signifant role in the American Revolution. -
The Declaration of Independence
Drawn up by Thomas Jefferson, included the concept of natural rights which included life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Government derives powers from consent of the governed. The people have a say in government. All men are created equal. After this was written people began to pick sides on wether they were loyalists or patriots. -
American Revolution Ends
The war came to an end in the "City of Lights" when they signed the Treaty of Paris. General Cornwallis was surrounded and forced to surrender in Yorktown, Virginia. -
The Treaty of Paris
Ended the American Revolutionary War. British gained most of France’s American land. Colonists were given more land to expand. Recognized America's Independence.
