-
Hat Act of 1732
Britain's Parliament passed the Hat Act which limited the colonists ability to manufacture and export hats. The act also imposed strict guidelines regarding apprenticeships.The purpose of the Hat Act was to minimize competition hat makers in Great Britain encountered from hat makers in the colonies. Britain was looking to bolster its economy and in the process angered the colonies. -
Molasses Act
The Molasses Act of 1733 was enacted to regulate trade between the colonies and British owned West Indies. The Molasses Act would have had a tremendous impact on colonial trade had the colonists not found a work around through smuggling. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022050700059878 -
Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act was the first tax imposed upon the colonists to help pay off war debts and help reimburse Britain for expenses incurred defending the colonies. Britain felt since this greatly benefited the colonies, the colonist should contribute to paying the debt. This angered the colonists who argued this was taxation without representation Parliament passed the stamp act that taxed everything utilizing paper. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred in Boston,when an angry mob of colonists confronted British sentries sent to enforce the British Parliment's Laws. The British sentries fired into the angry mob killing five and injuring many more. This angered the colonists and further ignited a fire to revolt against British rule. http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/sjc/edu-res-center/jn-adams/the-boston-massacre.html -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a revolt by colonists objecting to Great Britan's taxation of tea. This was another example of the colonists growing tired of England creating laws that benefited the citizens of England but hurt colonists and hampered trade Portal, "Boston Massacre," Mass.Gov, , accessed June 26, 2017, http://www.mass.gov/portal/. -
Mecklenburg Resolves
The citizens and county of Mecklenburg, North Carolina reportedly enacted a series of statements that declared their independence from Great Britain's laws. These statements professed their loyalty to the Continental Congress and insisted on their right to set up their own local government. "Declaration." MeckDecorg RSS. Accessed June 26, 2017. https://www.meckdec.org/declaration. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson proclaimed the right of the colonies to be free of the Crown's policies and laws. The document asserted that the government should be created by the people and for the people.The document was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Declaration of Independence: A Transcription." National Archives and Records Administration. Accessed June 26, 2017. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 in a hotel in Paris ended the Revolutionary War and Britain formally acknowledged America's Independence. It also settle claims among warring countries regarding land rights and debts acquired during the war. OpenStax, U.S. History. OpenStax CNX. May 12, 2017 http://cnx.org/contents/a7ba2fb8-8925-4987-b182-5f4429d48daa@3.37. -
The War of 1812
The war of 1812 was a conflict between America and Great Britain and included allies. America once again asserted her independence while securing its alliances with its trade partners. The War of 1812 helped America expand further west and resulted in increased national pride. This was the time period in which Francis Scot Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner. The war took place along the Atlantic ocean and Mississippi River.
