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French and Indian War Begins
-Young George Washington sent to Ohio River Valley to protect British colonists from French-Fired first shots at French force near Fort Dusquesne-French respond with 10-hour siege of Fort Necessity, Washington forced to surrender on 4th of July. -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War
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Battle of Quebec
-British scale cliffs up to Quebec during the night-Battle the next morning on Plains of Abraham on the outskirts of Quebec-Battle lasts 15 minutes- French defeated- British commander James Wolfe(in picture) and French commander Marquis de Montcalm both fatally wounded. -
French and Indian War Ends
-Treaty of Paris ended the war, -No more French power in North America, but allowed to keep West Indian Islands. French settlers remain. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris, also known as the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763 by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement, after Britain's victory over France and Spain during the Seven Years' War. -
Proclamation of 1763
-The Proclamation of 1763 forbade the settlement of American colonists beyond the Appalachian mountains pending further adjustments. -It was designed to fairly work out Native disputes.-The Proclamation angered colonists, as they had fought for this territory and believed they had a right to it.-Many colonists settled on this territory anyway. -
Sugar Act
-First law ever passed by Parliament raising tax revenue in colonies-Increased tax on sugar imported from West Indies to North American colonies were very unhappy. After bitter protest these taxes were substantially lowered and agitation died down. -
Currency Act
The Currency Act was an act stating that the colonies could not make its own money, or issue any kind of bills with credit. It angered the colonists becuase it meant that Parliament was in control of their banking system. -
First Committee of Correspondence
Originally formed to help resolve some issue by patriot leaders, they were shadow governments which eventually lead to our first Continental Congress. The first commitee was formed in Boston, in opposition of the Currency Act. One of the famous leaders was Samuel Adams, who helped spread new through letters. -
Stamp Act
George Grenville in 1765 to pay for the military stationed in the colonies-Required that stamps be affixed to paper as proof of payment-About fifty items needed stamps, including commercial and legal documents-Examples: marriage licenses, bills of lading, newspapers, pamphlets, diplomas and playing cards-Caused uproar in colonies- led to nonimportation agreements, Stamp Act Congress. -
Quartering Act
-Act passed by George Grenville in 1765 requiring certain colonies to provide food and lodging to British soldiers stationed there-Kept colonial resentment alive after Sugar Tax reduction -
Stamp Act Congress
-Congress in New York City with twenty seven delegates representing nine colonies.-had dignified debate, then drew up statement of rights and grievances urging Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act-Ignored in Britain, had little effect in colonies, but step toward colonial unity. -
Formation of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty
An underground society of patriots who were created after the Stamp Act, who tried to protect the rights of colonists. They were not afraid to stand up for their actions, like tar and feathering, and are famous for undertaking in the Boston Tea Party. -
Repealed Stamp Act
British Parliament repealed the stamp act becuase it was bad for British buisness, and they did not think they could enforce the law any longer with the opposition from the colonists. The colonists rejoiced, and many of the patriots subsided and there seemed to be peace in America. -
Townshend Acts
Acts passed by Prime Minister Charles Townshend-The most important of these acts was a light tax on goods such as tea, paint, glass, white lead and paper payable in American ports-Part of tax paid for royal governors' salaries- colonists cherished right to control governors by suspending their salary-Colonists somewhat angered, revived nonimportation agreements, but not as angered as they were by Stamp Act-Smuggled tea for cheaper, smuggling increased. -
British troops occupy Boston
The British government, fearing the breakdown of law and order in Boston landed to regiments of soldiers there.Soldiers- drunken, unpleasant, hated by colonists, constantly taunted. -
Townshend Taxes Repealed
Revenue from the taxes imposed by the Townshend Acts was low due to nonimportation agreements, so Prime Minister Lord North persuaded Parliament to repeal them all, save for the tax on tea, which angered the colonists the most, to remind them of Parliamentary taxation. -
Boston Massacre
Sixty colonists taunted ten redcoats, clubbing them and throwing rocks and snowballs, provoking them to open fire. Eleven "innocent" colonists were killed, including Crispus Attucks, the leader of the mob and a runaway "mulatto" slave. Though both sides were partially to blame, this incident was used in revolutionary propaganda (pictured) and fueled the colonists' anger. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was the killing of five colonists by British regulars on March 5, 1770. It was the culmination of tensions in the American colonies that had been growing since Royal troops first appeared in Massachusetts in October 1768 to enforce the heavy tax burden imposed by the Townshend Acts. -
Townshend Acts Repealed
Since the boycott on goods hurt British merchants, they decided to repeal the taxes on everything but tea. Even though this was an improvement, it was still too little and too late and just inflamed the colonists even more. -
The Burning of Revenue Cutter Gaspee
Captain Thomas Lindsay tricked the hated British revenue schooner the Gaspee into following him into shallow waters. The colonist crew then hijacked the ship and overwhelmed the small crew that was on the Gaspee. They then set the ship afire. -
Boston Tea Party16 Dec 1773
-Bostonians disguised as Indians dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor-Earlier that year- nearly bankrupt British East India Company-17 million chests of unsold tea. British government lose tax revenue if bankrupt- gave British India Company monopoly of American tea trade. Tea cheap, even with tax.-Americans realized Britain's attempt to make them accept tax- protests, including Boston Tea Party. -
"Intolerable Acts"
Parliament passed acts to punish Massuchsetts, specifically Boston, for Tea Party.-Boston Port Act- closed Boston harbor to trade until damages paid, order assured-Administration of Justice Act- British officials who committed misdemeanors tried in EnglandMassachusetts Government Act- many charter rights revoked, restritions on town meetingsColonists were angered even further by this. -
Quebec Act
Parliament passed act regarding French Canadians in territory from French and Indian War.-Allowed to retain customs- practice Catholicism, no trial by jury or representative assembly-Borders of Quebec province extended to Ohio RiverAmerican colonists considered this an "Intolerable Act." Didn't like Catholics, wanted Ohio River valley that they had fought for, feared rights being taken. -
Battle of Concord
Took place right after Battle of Lexington. British attempt to seize colonial gunpowder, capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock- leaders of rebellion. Colonists prepared after Lexington, hid behind walls and shot British, pushed back to Boston. Seventy British soldiers were killed, with 300 total British casualties. -
Second Continental Congress
All 13 colonies were represented at yet another convention to address American grievances. Made more appeals of grievances to the king. They sent an "Olive Branch" petition as well, affirming their loyalty and pledging for an and to hostilities. Although they did not yet seek independence, the congress decided to raise money for an army, appointing Washington as its commander in chief (pictured) in a contradictory move. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was adopted by the Continental Congress in July 1775 in a final attempt to avoid a full-blown war between the Thirteen Colonies that the Congress represented, and Great Britain. -
Common Sense
Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775–76 that inspired people in the Thirteen Colonies to declare and fight for independence from Great Britain in the summer of 1776. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense Published
Common Sense- pamphlet that swayed many to the revolutionary cause. Inspirational best seller-120,000 copies.Posed revolutionary ideas-Questioned logic of a small island controlling a much larger continent-Called for independence and the formation of a republic- a government with authority derived from the people. -
Declaration of Independence
the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress asserting the independence of the Colonies from Great Britain.
