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Period: to
Constitution in the Making
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End of French & Indian War
Dispute between the French and the British over competing claims in North America. Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1763; the British were inn major debt and resulted in taxing colonists. -
Proclomation of 1763
Issued by King George III which established territories. Intended to conciliate the Native Indians by checking the encroachment of settlers in their lands. -
Quartering Act
Passed by British Parliament to maintain the King's power in colonies. This included enforcement of punishment for mutiny. Provided housing for the British troops. -
Stamp Act
Enacted by British parliament to implement stamp duties and amend some of the trade duties among the colonies. Applied to cards, dice, pamphlets, and newspapers. -
Stamp Act Congress
Efforts by the colonists to enforce an opposition to the Parliament's imposition of the Stamp Act. Laid the colonists' grievances directly before British parliament. -
Boston Massacre
Resulted from set up of Board of Commissioners in Boston Quartering of the British troops and conduct. Troops opened fire per order. -
Tea Act of 1773
Allowed for the drawback of duties on tea being exported to British colonies in America. Granted a license to export duty-free tea. -
Boston Tea Party
A form of protest against the unfair taxes from England radical colonial merchants disguised themselves and dumped cargo of tea into the Boston Harbor. -
Coercive Acts
A form of punishment for the colonists as a result of their behavior and protest. Colonists resented British taxation acts were an effort to calm violent opposition to British military presence. -
First Continental Congress
Created to represent the English colonies. Colonists expressed a list of complaints against Britain. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
sparked the war of angered American colonists against Britain for the goal of Independence. -
Second Continental Congress
Met and adopted Declaration of Causes & Necessity of taking up arms after Lexington & Concord. Later discussed weighing pros and cons of independence. -
New York Campaign
Series of battles for control over New York City between British forces under Howe and Continental Army under Washington. -
Battle of Princeton
Conflict in New Jersey between General Washington and Cornwallis's British troops. Included efforts of Washington to get his troops across Delaware River. -
Battle of Saratoga
Pivotal battle which resulted in the surrender of Burgoyne. This battle caught the attention of the French and eventual assistance against the British. -
Southern Campaign
Focus of British anticipating support of the southern Loyalists. The troops marched day and night and were effected by the sleep deprivation. -
Battle of Yorktown
Decision of General Cornwallis to take his army to Yorktown while attempting to secure South Carolina. General Washington and French allies surrounded Cornwallis; this battle resulted in his surrender. -
Articles of Confederation
Declares union between states. Contained the rights and privileges of the states; it regarded the National congress and its purpose to foreign policy and war. -
Constitutional Convention
Intended to revise the League of States and the government under the Articles of Confederation. -
Ratification of the Constitution
Acknowledged sovereignty and the exercise/ protection of colonists' rights. Drafted the Constitution of the United States based on natural rights.
