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French And Indian War
The French and Indian War was a conflict between France and Great Britain, primarily fought in North America. It was part of a larger global conflict known as the Seven Years' War. The war began over disputes regarding land claims in the Ohio River Valley. British forces, with the support of American colonists and some Native American allies, eventually defeated the French and their Native American allies. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765 was a law passed by the British Parliament that imposed a direct tax on the American colonies, requiring them to use specially stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and other printed materials. The Act was intended to help pay off Britain's debt from the Seven Years' War, but it angered the colonists, who saw it as taxation without representation. Widespread protests, boycotts, and the formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty led to the Act's repeal in 1766. -
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was a secret organization formed in the American colonies in the mid-1760s to oppose British policies and taxes, particularly the Stamp Act of 1765. Composed of patriots and influential figures like Samuel Adams and John Hancock, the group used both peaceful and violent methods, including protests, pamphlets, and acts of civil disobedience, to resist British authority. The Sons of Liberty helped unite the colonies against British rule to the American Revolution. -
Townshend Acts of 1767
The Townshend Acts of 1767 were a series of measures passed by the British Parliament to exert authority over the American colonies and raise revenue. They imposed duties on imported goods like glass, paper, paint, and tea, which angered the colonists as they viewed these taxes as unjust without their representation in Parliament. The Acts led to widespread protests, boycotts of British goods, and heightened tensions between the colonies and Britain. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a deadly clash on March 5, 1770, where British soldiers shot and killed five colonists during a confrontation in Boston. The incident, sparked by escalating tensions between the soldiers and a crowd, was used by colonial leaders to rally support against British rule and fuel anti-British sentiment. -
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Intolerable acts/Coercive acts
The Intolerable Acts, also known as the Coercive Acts, were a series of punitive measures imposed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party. They included the Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston, and the Massachusetts Government Act, which restricted colonial self-government. These acts were intended to punish Massachusetts and assert British authority but instead united the colonies in opposition and contributed to the onset of the American Revolution. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord. Marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The conflict began when British troops were sent from Boston to seize colonial military supplies stored in Concord, Massachusetts. In Lexington, the British encountered a small group of colonial militia. The British forces then moved on to Concord. The battles ended with the British retreating to Boston. Signaling the start of armed conflict between Britain and its American colonies. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a final attempt by the American colonies to avoid war with Great Britain, sent to King George III in July 1775. Drafted by the Second Continental Congress, the petition expressed loyalty to the crown and a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflicts between the colonies and British government. Despite this appeal, the petition was rejected by the king. The rejection of the Olive Branch Petition pushed the colonies closer to declaring independence from Britain. -
Declaration of Independence adopted
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, was a document drafted by Thomas Jefferson and the Continental Congress declaring the American colonies' independence from Britain. It articulated the colonies' reasons for seeking independence, including grievances against King George III and the denial of their natural rights. The declaration marked the formal start of the United States as an independent nation and was a pivotal moment in the American Revolutionary War. -
The Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton, was a pivotal victory for General George Washington and the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Following a daring night crossing of the icy Delaware River, Washington launched a surprise attack on the Hessian forces stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. The American forces achieved a decisive victory, capturing nearly 1,000 Hessian troops and boosting morale among the troops and supporters of the revolution. -
The battel of Camden
The Battle of Camden, was a major confrontation in the American Revolutionary War. The British, led by General Cornwallis, defeated the American forces commanded by General Horatio Gates in South Carolina. The American defeat was significant due to the loss of nearly the entire Continental Army present, which weakened the Southern campaign. The battle demonstrated the difficulties faced by the American forces and led to a reorganization of the Continental Army's command in the South. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, officially ended the American Revolutionary War. It was negotiated between the United States and Great Britain and recognized American independence. The treaty established the borders of the new nation, ceded territory from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean, and addressed issues related to fishing rights and debts. It marked the formal conclusion of the conflict and the establishment of the United States as a sovereign nation. -
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise, was an agreement reached during the 1787 Constitutional Convention that resolved a dispute between large and small states over legislative representation. It established a bicameral legislature with two chambers: the House of Representatives, and the Senate, where each state has equal representation with two senators. This compromise balanced the states with large and small populations and was crucial in the creation of the U.S. Constitution. -
The 3/5 Compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached during the 1787 Constitutional Convention that determined how enslaved people would be counted for purposes of taxation. It established that each enslaved person would be counted as three-fifths of a person when apportioning representation in Congress and determining direct taxes. This compromise was a result of negotiations between Southern states, which wanted to count enslaved people fully. and Northern states, which opposed this. -
The Bill of rights
The Bill of Rights, adopted in 1791, consists of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These amendments were introduced to protect individual liberties and limit the power of the federal government. They guarantee fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, the right to bear arms, and protections against unreasonable searches, cruel and unusual punishment, and self-incrimination. The Bill of Rights was crucial in securing the support of Anti-Federalists.