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Treaty of Paris
The Treaty Of Paris ends the French and Indian War. The British take control of the Ohio River Valley. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act is the first law passed by parliament to raise tax revenue in the colonies for the crown. It increased the duty on sugar imported from the West Indies. -
Stamp Tax
The Stamp Tax was aimed to raise revenue to support the new military force. It mandated the use of stamped paper or affixing of stamps to certify tax payment. Stamps were required on bills of sale for about 50 trade items. This new law pinched pocketbooks and seemed to strike at local liberties. They believed it jeopardized the basic rights of colonists as Englishmen. Offenders were tried in admiralty courts without juries or the “innocent until proven guilty” concept. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required colonies to provide food and quarters (housing) for the British troops. It led to renewed anger in the colonies. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress beseeched the king and Parliament to repeal the repugnant legislation. They were ignored in England, but it was a significant step toward intercolonial unity. -
Declaratory Act
When Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766, they passes the Declaratory Act. It reaffirmed the right “to bind” colonies “in all cases whatsoever.” The British government defined its constitutional principle as an absolute and unqualified sovereignty over the colonies. Confrontation continued as colonies wanted a measure of their own sovereignty. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Act imposed a light import duty on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea. The colonists refused any taxes without representation. -
The Boston Massacre
The British sent out two regiments Of troops to Boston to enforce order. A clash erupted between the troops and the colonists and the troops. Crisps Attucks was one of the first to die. Both sides were to blame, however, only two red coats were found guilty. -
Committees of Correspondence
Adams organized the first committee of correspondence in Massachusetts. Around 80 towns followed his lead, creating their own committee of correspondence. They exchanged letters that kept alive opposition to British policy. It evolved directly into the first American congresses. -
Boston Tea Party
The British East India Company was facing bankruptcy. It had 17 million pounds of unsold tea and because of this, could sell its tea at a low price. The colonists saw this as an attempt to trick them into accepting taxes and forced tea- bearing ships to return to England. Hutchinson ordered to ships not to leave Boston. Around 100 Bostonians disguised as Indians boarded the ships and smashed 342 chests and tea and dumped them into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
Parliament passes a series of acts to chastise colonists. The acts were known as “the massacre of American Liberty” in the colonies. The Boston Port Act closed the port until damages were paid. The Intolerable Acts limited rights traditionally practices in Massachusetts. There were restrictions on town meeting and officials who killed colonists in line of duty could now be sent to Britain for trial. The New Quartering Act gave local authorities power to lodge soldiers anywhere. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act was passed at the same time as the Intolerable Acts. It was regarded in English speaking America as part of the British reaction to the turbulence in Boston. It guaranteed the French their Catholic religion. The old boundaries of Québec were extended southward to the Ohio River. It angered to American colonists because land was taken away from them. Anti-Catholics were shocked that the land that was once marked for Protestantism was now Roman Catholic. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to regress grievances. All colonies, but Georgia sent 55 men. They deliberated for 7 weeks. They were a consultative body who drew up a Declaration of Rights as a solemn appeal to the British. They were not calling for independence, but to repeal offensive legislation. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
A British commander in Boston sent troops to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of gunpowder. They were also supposed to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Shots were fired, killing 8 Americans and wounded several more. The Redcoats then pushed to Concord, where they suffered heavy losses. Britain now had a war on its hands. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Colonists seized Breeds’s Hill, now known as Bunker Hill. The Americans mowed down the British, but soon ran out of ammo and ran away. -
Olive Branch Petition
After the Battle at Bunker Hill, the Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch Petition. It professed American loyalty to the crown and begged the King to prevent further hostilities. The King slammed the door to all hope of reconciliation. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was formally approved by Congress. Jefferson gave his appeal universally by evoking natural rights of mankind. The Declaration of Independence become an inspiration to countless other revolutionary movement. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet Common Sense. It became a whirlwind best seller. This pamphlet went a long way toward convincing the American colonists that their true cause was Independence rather than reconciliation with Britain. -
Battle of Long Island
Outgeneraled and outmaneuvered, the Americans were routed at the Battle of Long Island. Washington managed to escape to Manhattan Island thanks to favoring wind and fog. -
Treaty of Paris
The British recognized independence of the United States. It granted generous boundaries: from Mississippi, to Great Lakes, and to Spanish Florida. Loyalists were not to be further persecuted.
