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The Molasses Act
The Molasses Act put a tax on molasses, sugar, and rum imported from non-British colonies into the North American colonies.The Act was made in order to help the British West Indies sugarcane growers. The act was not strongly enfrced and many colonists smuggled in their goods. Later, in 1764 an ammended version was passed by the name of The Sugar Act. Although the molasses act did not greatly relate to the revolution, the Sugar Act to follow did. -
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French and Indian War (7 Year War)
The French and Indian war was started by the scalping of a French ambassadors head. The war, which consisted of the Native Americans and France against the British, lasted nine years before coming to a finish. Great Brittain won many things but in return lost lots of money. The French and Indian war was so vitally important to the revolutionbecause iwthout it Brittain would never been in such a bad debt, and therefore would have never had to tax the colonies in such a tremedous way -
Proclamation of 1763
Although the end of the French and Indian war was joyus for the colonists the Proclamation of 1763 was not. The proclamation of 1763 made it so that the colonists were not allowed to move west into the Ohio Valley or south the Floridas. The British put boundries up so that there would not be issues between the Native Americans and the colonists because it was costing the British too much money to keep them away. Many people did not follow this rule and it was changed later in 1768 and 1770. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act of 1764 was a followup to the molasses act of 1733, which was soon to expire. The sugar act did lower the tax on molasses from six pence to three pence but it also raised/ put new tax on many items including coffee, certain wines, and even the export of lumber and iron. The sugar act also enforced in a much stricter way than the molasses act. The sugar act hurt the colonists economy very badly and many wer extremely upset by it. -
The Currency Act
The colonists often found them selves short of money, being only able to get money from Brittain. Many colony's started printing their own money and using their own forms of trade. This got very confusing and Brittain was quick to write up a new act. The Currency Act got rid of the colonists own currency systems, forcing them to use Britains. Left with no other choice the colonists were deeply upset but obeyed. The colonists protested but nothing was changed. -
The Stamp Act
The stamp act was the first time that the colonists were directly taxed to help pay off the British debts from the French and Indian war. The stamp act stated that any document; magazine, letter or any other printed material must be printed on london made stamp paper and must carrying a tax stamp to be considered legal. Different stamps cost different amounts, somebeing fairly cheap while others were insanely expensive. The people were upset that they were paying off the debt of the British. -
The Quartering Act
The quartering act stated that the colonists must provide British troops with housing as well as pay for provisions including food, wood, candles, bedding, utensils, etc. Still suffering from debt Brittain realized that it would be cheaper to keep British troops in North America at the colonists expense instead of trying to bring them back home to England, The act upset many colonists in two ways. Firstly, many people felt uncomfortable with the soldiers so close and second, it was expensive. -
The Declatary Act
Tired of passing law after law the British passed a new law that would impose lots of new taxes on the colonists. The new law (the Declatary Act) stated that any law passed in England would come into effect in what was to become the United States. This act was passed near the time of the repeal of the stamp act so that while the coloniists celebrated the repeal of the stamp act they got frusterated with the passing of the Declatary Act. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws named for the British Chancellor of the Exchequer (or treasuer) Charles Townshend. The laws placed new or more taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The colonists were very upset, just as they had been when other acts, such as the stamp act were imposed. The colonists once again protested leading the British to sending more troops to the colonies. All of the taxes were eventually repealed for the tea tax which was later lowered. -
The Boston Massacre
Contradictory to its name The Boston Massacre was a pre-revoloutionary war event in which five people of Boston were killed. British troops shot into a rioting crowd killing protesters. British Captain, Preston and his men were tried for murder with R. Paine as the prosecutor and J. Adams as the defense. John Adams won the case and the British were found innocent. This was important to the revoloution because people were starting to protest against Brittain. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act lowered the cost of the British tea so
that not only did it taste better, but also it was also cheaper. But, American colonists couldn't buy tea unless it came from the British East India Company. The downside of this law was that the British East India Company had control of the tea trade so that selected
agents could only sell tea in colonies. This cut off the profits
of local sellers. Although tea was cheaper many colonist got very upset. -
The Boston Tea Party
On what was to become a historical December night, three British ships sat in the Boston Harbor, the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver. The ships sat full of British tea that were yet to be unloaded. A group of colonists upset toward the tea act led by John Hancock and Samuel Adams dumped the British tea into the Boston Harbor. This group, the Sons of Liberty, dressed as a group of Native Americans. This act was important to the revolution because it people were working together to rebel. -
Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts were a series of the by far harshest acts that the Parliemnt passed. The inotlerable acts consisted of the Impartial Administration of Justice act, the Boston Port act, the Massachusets Government act, the Quartering act of 1774, and the Quebec act. The Intolerable acts were very important to the revolution because they stirred the colonists up, getting them angry and ready to fight a revolution. -
The Boston Port Act (intolerable act)
The Boston Port act was another law designed to punish the colonists for the famous Boston Tea Party. The Boston Port act was mainly constructed to close the Boston Port untill the British East India company was payyed back for the tea and the King of england was payed back for the loss of taxes. Only food and firewood were allowed to travel through the port. -
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Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts were a series of the by far harshest acts that the Parliemnt passed. The inotlerable acts consisted of the Impartial Administration of Justice act, the Boston Port act, the Massachusets Government act, the Quartering act of 1774, and the Quebec act. The Intolerable acts were very important to the revolution because they stirred the colonists up, getting them angry and ready to fight a revolution. -
Administration of Justice Act (intolerbale act)
The Administration of Justice Act was yet another intolerable act to punish the colonists of Boston. The Administration of Justice Act gave General Thomas Gage, the military govenor of Boston, full contol of the colony and not just the people who lived in it. The British were punishing Massachusetts as a whole instead of just the protestors so that the other Colony's would feel intimidated and hand them selves over to total control of the British Parliemnt. Instead they fired up a revolution. -
Massachusetts Government Act (intolerable act)
The Massachusetts Government act was made to punish the colonists of Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. The Massachusetts Government act did multiple things that included putting an end to the Massachusetts constituion, allowing only one town meeting per year unless altered by the govenor, Town Officials were no longer to be elected but appointed by the royal govenor and the Executive council was no longer to be elected but appointed by the King. -
The Quartering Act of 1774 (intolerable act)
The Quartering act of 1774 was an addition to the origanlal Quartering act in 1765. Te Quartering act of 1774 made no changes to the origanal act but only add on. This was done to yet again punish the colonists for their tea party. The addition to the act gave the govenor and other officials the ability to make sure that all troops were sheltered and cared for, wether it meant intruding on the colonists or not. The colonists were angered that any soldier could just walk in and ask for a home. -
Quebec Act (intolerable act)
Although the Quebec act was not a punishment towards Boston the Colonists saw it as a threat towards expansion and liberty. The Quebec act was made to extend the bouandries of Quebec and to guarentees religious freedom for all. The Quebec act extend borders to add land west of the Mississippi, passed religous reforms that highly beiniftted the major Catholic population, and yet it dinied the right to elect of legeslature. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a gathering of fifty-six delegates from the all thirteen colonies (except for Geoirga). The group met in order to figure out how to fight against the British and the "intolerable acts." The group met seceretly in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania as not to let the British know what they were up to. Without the congress or if the British had found out the revolution may never have been as succesful. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first fight of the revolution. It is also when Paul Revere's famous ride took place. When Dr. Joseph Warren found out about the British's plans too set fire too all the guns and ammunition in Concord and capture patriotic leader Samuel Adams and John Hancok he knew he had to do something. When the 700 British soldiers attacked he, with the help of Paul Revere and other's warned the towns of Lexington and Concord that "the British are coming!" -
The Second Continental Congress
The second congress met a year later in 1775. With the revolution started, the group tried to strategize. The revolution wasn't going well at the time; forces were disorganized and things were out of control.The congress tried to sort thing out, naming George Washington Commandor in Chief of the newly started Continental Army. As the congress contiued to meet in later months nad over the summer, they had important discussions that led to the Declaration of Independence and the Marine Corps. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill actually took place on Breed's Hill and Bunker Hills is the name of the fight. This attack was the third of the revolution but the first where the soon to be Americans went down. The battle of Bunker Hill is very important to the revolution because it was the first signifacant fight of the war. The colonists started the war with around 2400. 115 were killed, 305 wounded, and 30 were captured. The British had about 3000, 226 killed; 828 wounded and 0 captured. -
Common Sense Published
Common Sense was a forty-eight page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. Paine dropped out of school at age thirteen and went on to become good friends with Benjaman Franklin. Franklin suggested that Paine ove out of England, where he currently lived, and move to America. America Paine wrote his famous book which argued Independence from England, and the creation of a new country. “If Britain was the true ‘mother’ country, would a mother burden her children, and treat them badly?” - Thomas Paine. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document declaring the thirteen origanal colonies seperate from England. The document was written by Thomas Jeffereson. It was also signed by many important figures in the American Revolution including John Hancock, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. This document was aproved by the Continenetal Congress on July 4, 1776. The approvement of this document was probably one of the most significant moments of the Revolution because America was finally free! -
Crossing The Delaware
Just becuase the Declaration of Independence was signed it didn't mean that the American Revolution was over. On the night of Christmas George Washington and his forces decided to make an attack. They knew that the other side would be partying late into to the night, the perfect time for them to suprise. The two thousand of the colonial force quickly spotted the enemy and nine hundred prisoner as well as stealing food, supplies and ammunition for themselves. -
U.S.A Constitution Signed
Not to be confused with the Declaration of independence the constituion was finally signed on September 17, 1787. The Declaration of Independence declared that America wanted freedom while the Constitution is the foundation of America. Signed by thirty-nine of the fifty-five present delegates and William Jackson, the Constitution is the most important document in America. Without it we wouldn't be the country we are today.
