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Land grant given to the Ohio Company
French and Native Americans did not agree to the land grant of territory in Ohio, and they believed the land was rightfully theirs. The Ohio Company asked the French to honor their claims and the French refused. This was the root cause of the Seven Years War. (AKA the French and Indian War) -
Beginning of the Seven Years War
The formal start of the war. A disaster for the British. General George Washington built and then abandoned Fort Necessity losing 1/3 of his men. The tides would later turn as the British captured major French forts. -
The British capture Quebec
This marks the victory for the British as this capture esentially cut off supplies for the French and the Indians. Montreal surrendered soon after. -
Treaty of Paris
Ended the The Seven Years War (aka the French and Indian War).
Gave Great Britain Canada and Florida. The French gained valuable sugar-cane growing Carribean islands but lost all land in North America Spain gained Cuba, also a valuable sugar-cane growing island, but lost Florida. -
The Sugar Act
Extended the Molasses Act by actually cutting the tax on imports from the Carribean; however, the tax was now enforced to eradicate smuggling. It also gave the right to British Courts to try colonial smugglers (since colonial courts were very lenient on smugglers). -
The Stamp Act
Declared that all printed material had to have a stamp. This stamp, of course, was not free, This Act was enacted purely to gain money for Great Britain. -
The Stamp Act Congress
Organized by colonial protesters who all decided to boycott British goods. This was the first time the colonies had united and worked together. The British Parliament later repealed the Stamp Act. -
The Townshend Acts
Another attempt by Great Britain to gain revenue from the colonies. These acts taxed many British imported goods such as lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea. -
Boston Massacre
When colonists were protesting the acts that Britain had passed British soldiers fired into the crowd killing 5 colonists. This raised the tension between the colonists and Britain. -
The start of the American Revolution - The Revolutionary War
After the passing of the Intolerable Acts, Massachusetts enacted a resoultion calling for colonists to stop obeying the Intolelrable Acts, stop paying taxes, and prepare for war, -
The Declaration of Independence was signed
This document called for the world to recognize the United States' independence. -
The Battle of Trenton
The famous crossing of the Delaware by George Washington and groups. A victory for the future United States of America. -
Ratification of the Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the USA. A VERY weak government. Failed largely due to the fact that it couldn't collect taxes. -
Shays' Rebellion
The state of the U.S. economy became so bad that farmers in Massachusetts closed courts to prevent them from foreclosing their farms due to their crippling debt.
This in part led to the creation of a stronger government. -
The Constituional Convention
Created the Constitution the U.S. lives under to this day. Originally planned to revise the Articles of Confederation, instead wrote a whole new charter of government. -
The invention of the Cotton GIn
Reinvigorated slavery in the South. Allowed cheap cotton to turn a major profit. Greatly inclined the South to want to keep slaves. Which would lead to the Civil War.
