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The French And Indian War
Initially began once the governor of Virginia sent a militia commaded by George Washington to win control of the Ohio River Valley. Things became harder for the British as the indigenous population became allies with the French. The Albany Plan of Union was adopted to provide an intercolonial government, but it eventually did not take action. After a few victories, the British aquired some of French Canada and Spanish Florida. -
Significance of The French And Indian War
The Albany congress set the stage for the First and second Continental congresses. Colonists were impressed by their defenses and began to see themselves as better than British Troops. -
The Proclamation of 1763
This was a proclamation made in 1963 by the British government stating that colonists may not settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. This was also made to prevent conflict between colonists and the indigenous population.. This prevented colonists from reaping their benefits from the French and Indian War. -
Significance of The Proclamation
Although the Proclamation existed, thousands of colonists still proceded to settle across the Appalachian Mountains, which infuriated the British. -
The Sugar Act
The act that placed taxes on imported sugar. Created to provide money for the crown and prevented the smuggling of these type of goods. -
The Significance of the Sugar Act
This placed more pressure on the colonists and just gave them another reason to be concerned about who is taking control of them. -
The Quatering Act
This act made the colonists provide hospitality for British Soldiers of they were required to. -
The Significance of the Quartering Act
Colonist do not agree with keeping British soldiers in their houses and created more tension between the colonists and the British. -
The Stamp Act Congress
A man named James Otis called for action among the colonies, creating the Stamp Act Congress. Representitives from nine colonies met up in New York and resolved that only representatives that they elected themselves could approve taxes. -
The Stamp Act
Used to raise funds to support the British forces. This required stamps to be placed on all paper products, including legal documents and newspapers. This was a form of direct tax. -
The Boston Massacre
The a harrassment of a few guards led to a violent outbreak which led to the murder of five people including African American and freed slave Crispus Attucks. This led to a huge anit-British sentiment since they were acquitted from their crime. -
The Gaspee Affair
A British customs ship was seized by a group of colonists dressed as Native Americans. They set fire to the famous customs ship and then were brought to Britain for trial. -
Boston Tea Party
Parliament passed the Tea Act in 1773. Many colonists refused to pay for the tea because it recognizes the power that parliament has in the coloinies. In protest a few Bostonians boarded a ship with Tea from the EIC and dumped 342 chest of tea into the water. -
Intolerable Acts
In retaliation to the Boston Tea Party, the British Government enacted the Coercive acts which was made mainly to punish those in Boston and Massachussets. It closed ports, reduced power, and strengthened the quartering act. After this act was the Quebec Act which reorganized Canada. -
First Continental Congress
In response to the Intolerable acts, delegates from each colony excluding Georgia met in Philadelphia which determined how the colonies should react to their own rights and freedom. They didn't want independence as much as they wanted to resore their reationship with the crown -
Second Continental Congress
After quarells in Massachusetts, delegates met in Philadelphia. They were separated between delegates who wanted to declare independence and another group (Mainly from middle colonies) who wanted to negotiate a new relationship with Great Britain. -
Olive Branch Petition
Delegates voted to send the Olive Branch Petition to King George III where they pledged loyal and wanted to secure their peace and protection of their rights. -
Thomas Paine's common sense
Paine argued strongly that the Colonies should severe ties between themselves and the Great Britain and to become and independent nation because they have the right to do so. "It is contrary to common sense for a large continent tp be ruled by a small and distant land." -
The Declaration of Independence
Congress began to favot independence over negotiation. Richard Henry Lee suggested that they become an independent nation. The declaration drafted by Jefferson had a list of grieviances from the King and British Government. The declaration adopted Lee's resolution and then the Declaration of Independence was then adopted in July 4th 1776.
