-
Navigation Acts
The Navigation acts are passed, which prevent free trade of the Americas, though such efforts are by and large ignored. It also taxed the Americans and forced them to buy British goods, though because the trade between the colonies and the home country was so profitable it was largely ignored in a system known as salutary negelct. -
Slave Codes
Added in Southern society, slave codes were implemented in the early 1700s to institutionalize slavery. They set rules for the returning of slaves and overall led to the South's transition from a society with slaves to a slave society, using slaves to farm crops such as indigo and rice in the deep South while tobacco in the Cheasapeake region. -
Period: to
The Great Awakening
he beginning of the Great Awakening. Led by preachers such as George Whitefield and Johnathan Edwards. They moved against a lull in religiosity, appealing to emotion in order to pull in converts. New lights were made up of these followers, while Old lights called the appeal to emotion heretical. Congregationalists moved to put power of the church disseminated among members -
Albany Plan of Union
Led by Benjamin Franklin, the Albany Plan of Union was the first attempted at united colonies. This was due to the rise of the French and Indian war, and under this system a royally appointed governor would control each of the colonies. However, this measure was ultimately rejected as states still viewed themselves individually and did not want to lose power. -
Period: to
French and Indian War
The final of a series of wars fought between the French and the British in the colonies, this war began with French successes but ultimately was a victory for the British. The colonies also fought, leading to some of the first united feelings among the colonies. It also put Britain severely in debt. -
Proclamation of 1763
With all of the new lands gained by the treaty with France, Britain prohibited colonists from settling in the new areas beyond the Appalachians in order to prevent conflict with the Natives. The colonists, however, viewed that this had been the goal of the war and were irritated. Many settled regardless, -
Sugar Act
In the aftermath of the French and Indian War, the British institued a number of acts in order to regain revenue which was lost in the war. Breaking salutary neglect, the Sugar Act punished smugglers, while also lowering the tax. Regardless, colonists were irritated by the act. -
Stamp Act
Another piece of British legislation, this act taxed all official documents. Extremely unpopular, this angered newspapers, card players, and lawyers alike, all of whom rose up and began to organize protests against the Stamp Act. Many riots prevented enforcers from collecting revenue, while groups such as the Sons of Liberty enforced an embargo against the British. Meanwhile, the upper aristocracy organized the Stamp Act Congress, which wrote petitions to the British government. -
The Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act immediately ensued the repeal of the Stamp Act. This Act allowed British Parliament to excerice its unchecked power over the colonies in "all cases whatsoever," leading to the colinists view of British government as a tyranny. -
Period: to
The Townshend Revenue Acts
Charles Townshend, who took William Pitt's position as Prime Minister, issued the Townshend Acts, placinig taxes on tea, lead, paint, paper, and gas in the colonies as a means of raising revenue to combat England's problems of unemployment, price riots, and tax protests. -
Nonimportation Act
New York and Boston merchants launched the Nonimportation of British goods in responsse to the Townshend Acts. Women's support dominated this movement and was ultimately strengthened when Virginia House of Burgesses enacted the first legislation banning goods stated in the Townshend Acts. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre resulted when a group of people started calling a British soldier names and pelting him with stones and snowballs. His colleagues came to his defense and fired into the crowd, killing seven and wounding four. On the same day, the Townshend Revenue Acts were repealed. -
The Boston Tea Party
Samuel Adams coordinated the Boston tea Party, directing a group of 50-60 radicals, dressed as Indians, to board the East India Companyship, and dump 45 tons of tea, worth £10,000, into the harbor. -
The Intolerable/Coercive Acts
In response to the Boston Tea Party, British Parliament issued the Intolerable Acts:
Boston Port Act- ships weren't able to dock at colonial ports until the colonies reimbursed the East India Company.
Massachusetts Government Act- delegates of the upper house were to be hand-picked by the King himself. Administration of Justice Act- British officials were protected from colonial court rulings
Quartering Act of 1774-Colonists were forced to house British soldiers -
Period: to
Lexington and Concord
British General Gage mobilized his troops from Boston to Lexington, in hopes of capturing John Hancock and Samuel Adams. However, Paul Revere had notified Lexington fo the Regular's arrival and Britain's forces were confronted with the militia forces on Lexington Green. A shot known as the "shot heard round the world" was fired from the militia side. The British killed seven Americans and marched off towards Concord to seize gunpowder. However, when they arrived, they found that there(continued) -
Period: to
Lexington and Concord (continued)
were no ammunition stores. Dejectedly, the British trudged back to Boston, and were met with militia fire that inflicted many casualites on their return trip. -
First Continental Congress
In retaliation to the intolerable acts, the colonists sent delegates and agreed to send petitions to Kind George the Third. In addition, they also reinforced embargos against the British. Independence was not yet a part of the agenda. -
The Quebec Act of 1774
This act appointed a government for Canada and increased the boundaries of Quebec. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a meeting between all 13 delegates from the colonies. They discussed matters of the war and put the colonies in a state of defense on May 15. A month later, Congress appointed George Washignton as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. An American Navy was also created. -
The Declaration of Independece
The birth of our nation was marked by the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which was written by Thomas Jefferson and other members of the Second Continental Congress. The Declaration cemented the notion against the British government that it had ignored the colonist's natural liberties and inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property. -
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island ended in a complete disaster for the Patriots. With the guidance of General Howe, the British capture of New York City. This prompted peace talks between Ben Franklin, John Adams, and General Howe on September 6, 1776. However, these talks ended when Howe asked for the repeal of the Declaration of Independence. -
Continental Army Against Hessian Forces
On Christmas night, General Washington led 2,400 soldiers back across the Deleware in a successful counterattack against the Hessians in Trenton, New Jersey. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga is known as the turning point during the War. On October 19, 1777, General "Gentleman" Burgoyne surrendered his 6,000 British troops to Patriot General Haoratio Gates, which provided a great morale boost for the Patriot forces. After their stunning victory, foreign powers, most notably France, took notice and believed that the Patriots could actually win the war. This prompted the French in providing aid in the form of loans, ammunition, and soldiers. -
Aritcles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written government in the United States and was adopted by Congress in November of 1777. The Articles set up a national assembly in which each state held one vote and had one representative who could serve no more than three years out of six. Every year, Congress chose a president whoch could only serve one out of three years. Minor issues were determined by majority, while major issues were decided by 9 votes. -
Articles of Confederation Took Effect
-
Battle of Yorktown
The American forces and the French forces combined to tdefeat the British. Because British General Cornwalllis fell ill, his second-in-command surrended to both the Patriots and French, This defeat prompted the British Government to negotiate a resolution to the war. -
Continental Army Tensions Arise
After the war, many officers petitioned against Cognress for bonuses equal to five years pay. The army began planning a military coup until George Washignton delivered a moving speech talking them out of a coup and urged Cognress to pay their dues. In May 1783, Congress paid bonuses equal to 3 years pay, and the amry disbands.