-
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was apart of a larger global conflict called the Seven Years War. The French and British had the most territorial disputes within North America during this war. Both countries wanted access to the profitable fur trade business and the cheap fertile land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Although the British lost majority of the initial battles they ultimately won the war. The war caused relations to worsen between the British and the Colonists. -
The Sugar Act
The British Parliament passed the Sugar Act in 1764 in order to help pay for their debt from the French and Indian War as well as to pay for the troops guarding the Proclamation Line of 1763. It forced the colonists to pay a 3 cent tax on goods like sugar, coffee, indigo and certain kinds of alcohol. The colonists were not happy with this law because they had no say in parliament. The slogan “No Taxation without Representation” became popular in the colonies. -
The Stamp Act
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act in order to support the British soldiers protecting the Proclamation Line. The Stamp Act required that a stamp purchased by the British government had to be placed on all important documents like court papers, newspapers and even playing cards. The colonists were outraged because they were paying for troops that were keeping them out of the land they had just fought for in the French and Indian War and they still had no representation in Parliament. -
Sons of Liberty
Description: A well-organized political organization shrouded in secrecy that was established to undermine British rule in colonial America. This group sprang up in port cities like Boston and NYC. Group member were men from all walks of life, and they were known to be hot headed and violent. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts taxed imported items such as paper, glass, paint and tea. The English Parliament passed this act to cover costs of the French and Indian War, as well as to show that they still had power over the colonies. The colonists were outraged with this act so they held public demonstrations, boycotted products and smuggled in goods. Parliament eventually decided to repeal this act because of colonial protests. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770 there was a violent confrontation between the British soldiers and colonists in Boston. British soldiers were ordered to protect the soldier and King's money without loading their weapons even though Colonists hit them with clubs and snowballs. Someone even called out, “Damn your bloods, why don't you fire?" The soldiers fired in confusion killing three colonists. They thought that the Captain had said it, but Captain Preston said that he gave no such order. -
The Tea Act
This new tax law was not designed to raise taxes in the colonies.The tea act was created to help the East India Company. The company was having financial difficulty and had 18 million pounds of unsold tea. England gave the company a monopoly on tea in the colonies. The colonists let the tea rot and refused to let ships dock so they sent the ships back to England. Colonists refused to pay the tax on tea from the British government. -
The Boston Tea Party
The colonists dresses up as Indians their closest friends. They boarded the ship and ordered the crew to open the hatchways assuring the crew no harm was to come to them. The colonists hauled the chests to the deck and discharged them overboard, all that were not needed on the ship went on board they were pleased to make a cup of tea for the fish. People crowded around to see what was going on. The colonists sentries were unarmed and they couldn't stop anyone who wanted to pass. -
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
During the Intolerable Acts colonists had to feed and house the British troops in their own homes. The Boston Port Act closed the Boston Harbor from all shipments until all the destroyed tea was paid for. Colonists that were sailors and dock workers lost their jobs and stores closed. -
The First Continental Congress
The founding fathers held a meeting to talk about the unfair parliament tax. The meeting took place at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Carpenters hall. The founding fathers are still loyal to the king, they dont want war and they agreed to meet again if things didn't consult. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
At Lexington no one knows who took the first shot but people called it the shot heard around the world. At the end of the battle of Lexington 8 patriots dead and 10 wounded, the British had won. The Redcoats reached Concord to look for weapons, they were not successful because the colonists had burned at of it. The British marched 20 miles to Boston and 1000 militiamen gathered to fire at the British on the way back and the militiamen had took the British by surprise and won.
