-
Period: to
French and Indian War
-
Battle of Quebec
Quebec was a very significant battle in the French & Indian War. The British were led by James Wolfe, a cunning strategist, who led an unplanned scale of the cliffs outside Quebec, giving the British troops prime positions for the battle. The French forces were overwhelmed in the 15-minute fight. Both Wolfe and the French commander were fatally wounded. This battle changed the course of the French & Indian War. The French would not be able to recover from the loss, as Montreal was taken next. -
Proclamation of 1763
This statement, issued by the government in London, prohibited the settlers of English North America from living further west than the Appalachian Mountains. The colonists were immediately frustrated by the proclamation, but they did not understand the motives of those who put it into effect. The native population was out of control, and after Pontiac's Rebellion, the British government was cautious. <a href='http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/proc63.htm' >Full copy and desccription -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was established in 1764 as Parliament's attempt to improve the hurting molasses industry in the New World. The colonists were trading for French molasses, which was far cheaper and incurred no tax. Meanwhile, the British government wanted to turn a higher profit from the industry, so with the Sugar Act, the tax was lowered, but the regulations and navy enforcement became much more strict. -
Stamp Act
This infamous act stated that all paper and paper products used in the British colonies must be stamped with a special seal. With the Stamp Act, the British government hoped to make a profit with a simple tax on an everyday good. But it did not go over well. The colonists were so furious with the prospect of "stamped paper" that the act was soon repealed. The uproar led to the popular phrase "no taxation without representation." -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act of 1765, as the document was called, forced residents of the 13 colonies to provide food, clothing, and shelter for British soldiers at any time. Naturally, the colonists were frustrated by the act, but their frustration was multiplied tenfold when the redcoats began to take advantage of the new rule, making themselves at home in the resiences of any colonist at their whim. Full copy of document. -
The Stamp Act Congress
In response to the hated Stamp Act, The Stamp Act Congress met in New York City in 1765. The Congress consisted of delegates, 27 in all, from nine of the colonies. It had a slight effect in the British colonies, though it did mark an important step towards unity for the 13 colonies. The Stamp Act Congress concluded its time with a petition to the king and Parliament outlining the colonists' rights and begging for the removal of the Stamp Act. -
Declaratory Act
This act was released by Parliament and the crown for the sole purpose of reinforcing authority wielded by the British government over the colonies. The Declaratory Act also gave Britain an answer to the forced negation of their Stamp Act that very same day. <a href='http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/declaratory.htm' >Full copy -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts, proposed by Charles Townshend, included a series of smaller taxes on other items used by the colonists, such as glass, paper, and tea. While the acts were intended to be insignificant, but profitable nonetheless, they irked the colonists, who saw them only as more British regulations and fees: taxation without representation. The real purpose of the Townshend Acts was to help pay Royal Governors and judges in the colonies, which made the colonists even angrier. -
British Occupation of Boston Begins
[Occupation](<a href='http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/boston2.htm)' >The Britiah Occupation of Boston</a> began in 1768. In that year, the Royal Governor of Massachusetts requested regiments of troops to help keep the peace in the aftermath of June's riot and the ever-present, rebellious "Sons of Liberty." With this reasoning, Parliament and the crown chose to send redcoats to Boston for a "siege." The purpose was to give British officials safe passage through what was a dangerous area for them. The troops prompted such events as the Boston Masacre, as well as constant rioting in the city. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a small fight between a group of angry Bostonians and British troops. The colonists attcked a lone redcoat with sticks, snowballs, and rocks. When the agressors did not stop, other British soldiers were called over, and they fired upon the rogue crowd. Three colonists were killed, while eight were injured (and two of these died as a result of their wounds). The event was promptly blown out of proportion by rebellious colonists looking to rally against the British rule. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was one of Parliament's regulations that irked the colonists the most. Tea was an important part of the colonists' day-to-day lives, and imposing this tax on it was preposterous to many of the Tea Act's recipients. The Tea Act was not repealed when many of the Townshend Acts were. Many colonists were frustrated by this. Angry colonists in Boston responded to the Tea Act seven months later with the infamous Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
Furious Bostonians, angry with the Tea Act, showed the British government their opinion with the Boston Tea Party in mid-December. Dressed as natives, colonists snuck aboard ships in Boston Harbor holding crates of tea and threw the tea into the water. The British government retaliated with the Intolerable Acts as punishment. -
Boston Port Act
One of the "Intolerable Acts." Enraged by the events of December's so-called "Boston Tea Party," Parliament lashed out at Bostonians with the Boston Port Act. This act closed Boston Harbor to all ships carrying goods into the port, with the exceptions of clothing and food. The restricitions were to be lifted with a refund of the capital lost in tea during the "Tea Party." The Massachusetts colonists took it hard. Full copy -
Massachusetts Government Act
One of the "Intolerable Acts." The Massachusetts Government Act took many of the Massachusetts self-governing policies away. These included the town hall meetings that were so important to the colonists in New England. As one of the Intolerable Acts, it made the Bostonians irate towards Parliament for taking away a fundamental part of their lives. Full copy -
Administration Act
One of the "Intolerable Acts." The Administration Act, or the Administration of Justice Act, was introduced by Parliament in 1774. This act stated that British officers in the colonies who faced trial could have their hearings in Great Britain. This made the colonists furious because they felt that the officers would basically get away with anything, as the British would sympathize with them. Full Copy -
Quebec Act
One of the "Intolerable Acts." This move by Parliament was especially deterimental because it truly affected many of the colonies, while the others focused on Massachusetts or even just Boston. The Quebec Act outlined a plan for the land the British had won from the French, known as Quebec. It extended the boundaries of Quebec signifiacantly, blocking westward boundaries for many colonies. Colonists felt betrayed. Full copy -
First Continental Congress
<ahref='http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/congress.htm' >The First Continental Congress</a> (September 15, 1774 - October 26, 1774) was a meeting of delegates from the various British colonies with the purpose of deciding how to respond to the Intolerable Acts. They were deeply upset about the Intolerable Acts. So they sent a document to Britain and established the Association, a colonies-wide boycott of all British goods until the Intolerable Acts were repealed. -
Battle of Lexington
The Battle of Lexington, the first battle of the American Revolution, was a small skirmish outside a small Massachusetts town. But it was important nonetheless. The British troops were advancing to Lexington to take gunpowder from the colonists' military stores and find rebel leaders. Colonials messengers rode through rural Massachusetts warning of the redcoats. But the colonists were not ready, and were beaten handily. -
Battle of Concord
The Battle of Concord was a follow-up to the previous day's Battle of Lexington. But the results were anything but similar. In Concord, the colonist forces were ready to meet the redcoats, and did so successfully, using sheer numbers to beat the British back. The battle sealed the promise of war, ensuring that the revolution was going to go on and providing a rallying point for rebelling colonists in all the colonies. -
Period: to
American Revolution
-
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a follow-up the the previous year's First Continental Congress, in Philadelphia. The issue this time was how to meet the redcoat armies in the colonies. The delegates wasted no time in establishing a Continental Army, but stalled when the question arose of what to do next. Many still wanted to try to reconcile with Britain peacefully, and the Olive Branch Petition was sent to King George III. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hillwas an early battle in the Revolution. The Americans decided to take position on a hill overlooking Boston. But they misunderstood their instructions, taking Breed's Hill rather than Bunker's Hill. Their position was significantly closer to the British forces. However, British General Howe did not handle the situation well. He sent waves of redcoats charging up the hill.The first two were beaten before the colonists ran out of ammunition. The British won, with heavy casualties. -
Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense"
Writer Thomas Paine published his famous piece "Common Sense" in 1776. "Common Sense" was a milestone in that it was really and truly the first writing to directly demand independence of Great Britain in a clear and decisive manner. The fact that the essay was written in simple terms aided its importance in the revolutionary cause: The average colonist could read Paine's work and understand it. "Common Sense" became a key to success.
