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Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was a law diabling the colonists from moving westward into Native American territory. This law was a result of Pontiac's rebellion. -
Sugar Act
England imposed an import tax on foreign sugar, molases, and other items entering the colonies. This was ironic because there was already an identical law, and the new one had a lower tax than the old one. -
Stamp Act of 1765
In the Stamp Act of 1765, all printed material needed to be stamped. It could either be printed on stamp paper or use stamps to show that the person printing the paper paid the tax. -
Quartering Act
The Quatering Act of 1765 required colonists to house and feed British troops. These included troops from the French and Indian war and additional troops as well. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress was an assembly of representatives from the colonies to discuss the stamp act. They discussed the Stamp Act with Parliament and the act was repealed. -
Declaratory Act 1766
The Declaratory Act of 1776 repealed the stamp act. Although, Britian still had full power and authority of the Parliament, which makes laws for America. -
Townshend Acts
The townshend acts were taxes on many products. These include lead, paper, tea, paint, and glass. Charles Townshend believed that the colonists didn't care as much about the taxes they were given. The colonists actually just didn't like Parliament controlling them. Then, Townshend created these laws. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was caused because British troops had been sent to enforce the writs of assistance (warrants for smugglers). The colonists were throwing rocks and snowballs at them, and one soldier accidently fired his weapon. The others did the same after him. The soldiers were put on trial after the event. -
Tea Act
The tea act allowed The East India company to sell its surplus tea to the colonies. The act retained the import tax on tea, the only remaining tax of the townshend acts. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists disguised as Indians boarded three tea ships in Boston. As a large crowd watched, they broke open every crate on board and dumped the tea into the harbor. -
Coercive Acts
To punish Boston and all of Massachusetts, in the spring of 1774 Parliament passed a series of laws known as the coercive acts. One of the laws limited town meetings to once a year and another suspended the Massachusetts general court. Because the measure seemed so harsh, the colonists labeled them as intolerable (coercive) acts. -
Quebec Act
This was an act to set the procedures of government in the providence of Quebec. The act was regarding Quebec and also the colonies. There was a loss of political freedom and liberties in quebec. -
1st Continental Congress
A convention of delagates from 12 colonies. 55 members met in response to the passage of the Coercive acts by Parliament. It was held in Carpenters' Hall in Philidelphia. -
Battle of Lexington/Concord
Late at night, 800 British troops marched toward Concord to seize their supplies. This was supposed to be secret, but Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode on horseback alerting the patriot leaders. The British arrived in Lexington to find a militia, and within minutes some were dead and wounded. They then marched to Concord to destroy the militia's things. On their way back, they returned to about 4000 patriots armed along the road. This was easy at first, but the British won. -
2nd Continental Congress
Convention of delegates from all 13 colonies. They met in Philidelphia to manage the colonial war effort, and to move towards independece. -
Olive Branch Petition
Was an attempt to avoid a full-blown war with Great Britian. The petition affirmed American loyalty to Great Britain to prevent further conflict. The petition was rejected by the king. -
Declaration of Independence
A document announcing that the thirteen colonies, being at war with the British, were to become independent states and no longer a part of the British Empire. Although it was approved on July 4th, the actually signing was on August 12th.
