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Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation did not allow colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British government feared the conflict between colonists and Native Americans would lead to another war. They also could not afford to pay British troops to defend the western lands. Colonists were enraged by this proclamation because they felt they had won the right to settle in the Ohio River Valley after the French and Indian War. -
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The Road to Revolution
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Quartering Act
This act said that colonists would have to house British soldiers. In addition, the colonists would have to provide British troops with supplies. Britain needed more revenue and they wanted the colonists to pay some of the war debt from the French and Indian War. This made colonists angrier. -
The Stamp Act
This act stated that all documents must have an official stamp to show that the tax had been paid. Unlike the Sugar Act, this affected everyone, not just merchants. This made colonists start boycotting against British goods. -
The Townshend Acts
This act stated that import taxes should be put on imported goods, such as glass, paint, lead, and tea. To make sure colonists were not smuggling goods, the British used search warrants to enforce these acts. The colonists felt it violated their natural rights. -
The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party
This act said that colonists had to pay a tax on tea from the only company which sold it, which was the British East India Company. This gave Britain control over the American tea trade. The colonists were outraged. Some of them disguised themselves as Native Americans and boarded British tea ships and threw tea off of them. This event is known as the Boston Tea Party. -
The Intolerable Acts
These were a series of acts that closed the harbor, banned the commitees of correspondence, allowed Britain to house soldiers whenever they wanted, and allowed British officials accused of crimes to stand trial in Britain. This made the colonists furious. They stopped trade with Britain until these acts were repealed. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
These were the battles that started the Revolutionary War. At Lexington, the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" was fired and in the battle, 8 militiamen died. At Concord, British soldiers destroyed supplies. The British soldiers fought the colonists and retreated. -
The Olive Branch Petition
This document asked that the king to restore harmony between the Colonies and England. But the king said no. He said he would use new ways to punish the colonies. -
The Declaration of Independence
This document was written by Thomas Jefferson. It said that people had natural rights. If government took those rights from us, it loses the power to govern. It also said that that people can make a new government that protects their rights. They sent this to the King, saying that the colonies had declared their freedom. If they won the Revolutionary War, they'd be an independent country.
