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The French and Indian War
After 3 wars had already been broken out between France and Great Britain, the fued was continued because both countries wanted control of North America. After lose after lose, officer George Washington planned an aside attack on the British as they were starled and they fled. Now Britain was in defeat until King George II elected a new leader. In September 1759, the British defeated the French with a surprise attack, leading them to win the war and claiming all of North America. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act imposed taxes on documents to prove that the tax had been paid, but this was the first tax that affected the colonists directly. In May, the colonist came together and formed a group called the Sons of Liberty to protest the law. Then in October, with the help of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, the colonists boycotted the law and evuntually the law was repealed. But on the same day, another law was passed called the Declaratory Act. -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts taxed imported goods that were sent into the colonies. Such goods consist of lead, glass, paint, paper, and the most popular drink, tea. Once again, the colonists boycotted. After boycotting for so long, the prime minister noticed it was costing them more to enforce than bring in. So the North persuaded Parliment to repeal the acts with the exception of tea. -
Boston Massacre
A mob gathered around the Boston Customs House and began to taunt the Bristish soldiers guarding it and so the British soldiers had enought and fired shots. 5 colonists were killed in this battle and othes wounded. Depite the tension, the political amosphere wanted to let the event simmer down. But in 1772, tensions rose again tea was still being taxed and when colonists attacked British schooner that patrolled for smugglers. -
Boston Tea Party
In an effort to save backrupcy in Britian, Lord North devised a Tea Act to sell tea to colonies without tax. This act would cut merchants out of the tea trade. The Lord thought the colonists would buy the cheaper tea, but instead they protested bigger than ever. In December, a group, disguised as Native Americans, dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts
With King George II angry about the tea incident, he established the intolerable acts to take full control over the colonists. These acts consisted of shutting down the Boston Harbor, authorizing British commanders to house soldiers, and appointingGeneral Thomas Gage as new govenor of Massachusetts. He later placed the Boston Harbor under military force. This led to the 56 delegates writting the declaration of colonial rights, allowing them to fight back. -
1st anf 2nd Continental Congress
The first continental congress meeting isued to right the declaration of colonial rights, which establoshed that colnies had the right to run their own affairs and stated if the British used force, they had a right to fire back. The second continental congress meeting addressed the debate to form independence or reconcilate with Great Britian. At the end, congress agreed to recognize the militia and appointed Geaorge Washington as their commander. -
Lexington and Concord
On that night, the Colonist got a warning about the Redcoats heading to Lexington. When the Bristish got there, they saw 70 minutemen lined up and the King told the troops to move out without leaving their weapons. The first shot was fired and the Bristish defeated the minutemen in the 15 minute battle by killing 8. The next day was a slaughter house with the Colonists shoting fire at the British behind stones. The colonists won the battle and had British troops under seige. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act was placed in order to save the bankrupcy In the Britain East India Company. It grated the right of the company to sell tea without tax, but the colonial tea sellers had to pay for them. This was a leading a factor in the Boston Tea Party. -
Publishing of Common Sense
Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine who attacked King George and the monarchy. He stated that responsibility for British tryanny laid with "the royal brute of Britain." Paine later went on saying that independence would give American colonists a chance to create a better socierty. George Washington later said that the "Common Sense is working a powerful change."
