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French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was part of a long battle between France and Britain for territory and power. The French teamed up with the Native Americans to help defeat the British. The war lasted seven years, ending in 1759. In the end, France gave Canada to Great Britain. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 stated that the colonists could not go west of the Appalachian Mountains, and the Native Americans could not go east of the mountains. King George did this to help keep the Native Americans and colonists from killing each other. The colonists thought that the King's act suggested tyranny. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765 taxed any paper goods that the colonists bought. Britain did this to help pay off the large debt from the French and Indian War. The Loyalists simply did not buy the stamps. However, the Patriots participated in violent mobs. And after months of protest, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a brawl that broke out between the British soldiers and the Boston Patriots. Five Bostinians ended up dead and ten were injured. The Patriots were taunting the soldiers by calling them lobsterbacks. Although the troops were forbidden to attack, they opened fire out of panick when a soldier got knocked over by the mob. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was inspired by the Tea Act. The Tea Act lowered the price of tea while still having a tax, making it cheaper than smuggled Dutch tea. But the colonists got angry about this. Especially the PATRIOTS. On December 6, 1773, the Sons of Liberty dumped about 90,000 pounds of British tea into the Boston Harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were very harsh laws that were meant to punish the colonists. First, the Boston Harbor was closed to all shipping until all of the tea was paid for. Second, colonists is Massachussetts could not hold a town meeting without the governor's permission. And lastly, British troops were sent to Boston to enforce the new laws. Some British leaders thought it might make the colonies rebel, but King George thought it would make them give in to British authority. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met in September of 1774. 50 leaders from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia to send a respectful message to King Geroge. There plan was to try and have the King recognize their rights. They also decided to boycott British goods until Parliament repealed the Intolerable Acts. -
Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War began in 1775. There were many times when the British almost won the war, but the colonies pulled through in the end. But, many LOYALISTS still supported the King's cause. Lord Charles Cornwallis finally surrendered in Yorktown on October 19, 1781 when the French and the Americans trapped them, leaving him no other option. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met on May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia.They already had a New England militia. But, they had yet to decide who would lead the CONTINENTAL ARMY. They decided on GEORGE WASHINGTON of Virginia. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first plan of government for the United States. But, that plan miserably failed. For starters, Congress could not ask the states for taxes. They had to ask the states for funds, and often their "humble requests' were denied. As the nation kept falling apart, they decided to establish an entirely new government. -
Declaration of Independence
The colonists tried sending KING GEORGE III a message through the OLIVE BRANCH PETITION. But by that time, the King had already labeled them as traitors.THOMAS PAINE wrote a pamphlet called COMMON SENSE. It explained why the colonies would do better on their own. It persuaded tons of colonists to fight for independence. JOHN LOCKE was an enlighenment thinker who believed that liberty should be based on "laws of nature". THOMAS JEFFERSON helped to draft the Declaration and played a big role in it -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was an agreement signed by the United States and Britain. It had 3 major parts to it. First, the United States would be recognized as a seperate nation. Second, Britian gave up all of its between the Atlantic Coast and the Mississippi River and from Canada south to Florida. And thirdly, the United States had to give back any property taken from the loyalists during the war. But, many loyalists did not trust the treaty and moved to British Canada. -
The Northwest Ordinance
After the Treaty of Paris, the United States got the western lands that the British formarly had control of. In The Northwest Ordinance, the land was divided the land into smaller territories, each governed by a governor. When they territory had 5,000 white males, it could make its own legislature. When the population reached 60,000, it could apply to become a state. They had the same rights as the other citizens. Except slavery was banned. -
Shays's Rebellion
Shays's Rebellion was a rebellion by the farmers. There was a major money shortage after the war and farmers could not make enough to pay off their debts. In Massachussetts, farmers were ordered to sell their land and livestock. Shays and his followers closed down courthouses to keep judges from taking their farms. Then, they marched to the arsenal in Springfield to seize the weapons there. Massachussetts sent militia troops to restore order. -
Constitutional Convention
Delegates met on May 25, 1787 to start the Constitutional Convention. There were very many disagreements. They agreed to mix the Vrginia plan and the New Jersey plan to create the GREAT COMPROMISE. As for population, slaves would count as 3/5 of a person, creating THETHREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE. Then, voters chose electors who vote for president, creating THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. On September 17, 1787, the delegates declared the Constitution complete. It then had to get ratified by 9 of the 13 states. -
Constitution
The Constitution had people who supported it, as well as people who didn't. The influencial articles writen by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay are called THE FEDERALIST PAPERS. Opponents of the constitution were called ANTI-FEDERALISTS. They thought it was too strong and would become a monarchy. THE PREAMBLE states the reason for a new government. ALEXANDER HAMILTON and JAMES MADISON were both federalists. Madison was called the father of the constitution because he took the lead. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is a list of the citizens' rights. They wanted to limit the government's power after what happened before the MAGNA CARTA in 1215. The RATIFICATION of the Constitution would not take place unless a list of rights was included. So, Congress said that they would later write a list of rights if they ratified the Constitution.
