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Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation was passed by the British at the intention of preventing colonists from expanding westward. Specifically, the colonists were prohibited from expanding past the Appalachian Mountains. -
Stamp Act
The British wanted to make more money from the colonies since the colonists were rebelling against the other taxes. The colonists didn't like how their was no taxation without representation. They started rebelling more often and creating more conflicts with the British. -
Sugar Act
The British wanted to raise revenue from the colonies directly. Thus, implemented a tax on sugar and molasses. The colonists wanted to portray opposition through physical acts of resistance, such as boycotts and riots. -
Quartering Act
The British passed this with the mentality that colonists needed to help provide for their own protection. Specifically, the colonists were required to accommodate soldiers with housing and other necessities. The colonists obviously disapproved of this as they were facing several other hardships at the time and reacted through a series of protests in colonial assemblies. -
Currency Act
This act insisted that British merchants be paid in gold rather than scrip, which was inflated at the time. The colonists fell that all o their resources were begin drained as a result of mercantilism caused by the act and thus responded with smoldering resentment. -
Repeal of Stamp Act and Passage of Declaratory Act of 1765
The British backed off by repealing an extremely hated tax that caused a lot of backlash, but still thought that they could maintain British supremacy and superiority. As a result, the colonists reacted joyously and ignored the Declaratory Act for the most part as they felt their collective efforts had an effect on the British's policy making. -
Townshend Acts
The British passed this due to their belief that they had a legitimate right to tax the colonists for their own protection. The way they did this was through indirect taxation of the colonists. The colonists did not like the indirect tax and reacted with boycotts, petitions, and more as they felt that even though it was an indirect tax it was ultimately being used for revenue. -
Tea Act
The British passed this act as an attempt to save the British E. India Company, which was dying due to repeal of Townshend Duties, and tried to hide tax on transport costs and lower prices on tea. Colonists reacted with their usual protests, but went as far as to create "Tea Parties" in which they dumped tea into the ocean due to being taxed without representation. -
Coercive or “Intolerable” Acts
The Intolerable Acts were the multiple British laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea party. They were meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their defiance in throwing a large tea shipment into Boston harbor. As a result, the colonists did exactly what they were told not to, they continued to boycott shipments and even went as far as to convene the 1st continental congress. Their reaction was formed on the basis of the idea that they had no liberties. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord occurred mainly at Concord, but the confrontation of fight started at Lexington. This battle was significant as it marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War and as a result, the previously standing tensions were escalated to a point where true war occurred. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting in the summer of 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that, soon after warfare, declared the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met between September 5, 1774 and October 26, 1774, also in Philadelphia. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which was peripherally involved in the battle. The battle was a tactical victory for the British, but it proved to be a sobering experience for them, involving many more casualties than the Americans had incurred. It was significant because it caused the British to adopt better war tactics. -
Declaration of Independence
By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. The Declaration summarized the colonists’ motivations for seeking independence. By declaring themselves an independent nation, the American colonists were able to confirm an official alliance with the Government of France and obtain French assistance in the war against Great Britain. -
Battle of Saratoga
Fought eighteen days apart in the fall of 1777, the two Battles of Saratoga were a turning point in the American Revolution. On September 19th. Though his troop strength had been weakened, Burgoyne again attacked the Americans at Bemis Heights on October 7th, but this time was defeated and forced to retreat. He surrendered ten days later, and the American victory convinced the French government to formally recognize the colonist’s cause and enter the war as their ally. -
Battle of Yorktown
This battle occurred at Yorktown Virginia and was a decisive Franco-American victory. This battle was significant as it furthered French and colonial ties and was one of the victories that perpetuated the idea that the British should just surrender peacefully. It was the last battle before the Treat of Paris. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years’ War between Great Britain and France, as well as their respective allies. In the terms of the treaty, France gave up all its territories in mainland North America, effectively ending any foreign military threat to the British colonies there. Despite what seemed like a success, the Treaty of Paris encouraged dissent between Anglo-American colonists and the British Government because interests in America no longer coincided.
