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The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was an unorganized, but widespread movement of evangelical Christian sermons and church meetings during the 1730s and 1740s. The people who impacted the Great Awakening were Johnathan Edwards, who held dramatic sermons, and George Whitefield, who began a series of rivals. The Great Awakening started because many church leaders were in fear that the colonists' dedication to their religion was declining and the religious commitment of previous generations had been lost, so they -
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felt that they should renew the people's knowledge with revivals. This movement spread through all the colonies from the south through New England and eventually swept west to the frontier as well. The Great Awakening was important because it changed the way people thought about their politcal and religious beliefs, and impacted the society by encouraging colonists to demand greater political equality. It also brought new races and cultures. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War began when the French wouldn't share their profitable fur trade with the British, so they made forts on the Ohio Valley. When the French wouldn't leave, they began making plans for another war. George Washington and his troops fought against the French in the Ohio Valley as the government made more forts. The British suffered a lot of defeats, but as the French lost indian allies, the British gained some. -
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Britains comeback was a daring attack against the French that was planned by British general James Wolfe. Peace came at last when warring countries signed the Treaty of Paris, which meant that they would settle their differences and end the global conflict. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 is a written document that created a dividing line between colonial and Indian lands. The leaders of British government feared that more fighting would happen if colonists continued to move on Indian lands. In response to the document, colonists ignored it and settlement began to increase. This showed that they and the British officials had different ideas about what was best for the colonies. -
Sugar Act
In 1764, the Parliament passed the Sugar Act which put taxes on molasses and sugar. The Sugar Act was important because it helped raise money for the army protecting the colonies. The British needed money to pay for the standing army. In response, the colonists were angry about this act and said, "No taxation without representation." This led to a boycott in which merchants agreed to no longer buy British clothing and other items until Parliament eliminated the taxes. -
Stamp Act
On March 22, the Stamp Act was passed and colonists were forced to pay taxes for items such as newspapers, pamphlets, licenses, legal documents, and playing cards. Prime Minister Grenville asked colonists if they had a better plan than the Sugar Act, but they didn't respond so he created the Stamp Act. Andrew Olliver refused to pay, and Patrick Henry presented a series of resolutions, the House of Burgesses, in May. The colonists protested against it as they did for the Sugar Act. -
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Parliament then issued the Declaratory Act which stated that British made the rules, not the colonists, and that they were just gonna have to deal with whatever taxes they used. -
Townshend Acts
The Towshend Acts were used for taxes on imported glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The Crown used these acts to pay military expenses and the salaries of colonial government. The colonists thought these acts took too much power away from colonial courts and legislatures, and gave it to royal officials. The colonists boycotted with a group called the Daughters of Liberty. This led to more joining in on the protest against the Townshend Acts, so Governor Francis Bernard rquested some troops. -
The Boston Massacre
A British soldier got in an argument with a civilian about the Townshend Acts and struck him. As word spread quickly about this incident, a riled up crowd gathered around him where five people were shot randomly. These five people were African American Crispus Attacks, Irish immigrant Patrick Carr, rope maker Samuel, and sailor James Caldwell. The colonists used this incident as propaganda against the British. -
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Trials were held, and Preston and six others were proved not guilty, but they convicted two other soldiers of accidental killing. The trial was held to prevent further violence by quieting the unrest. -
Tea Act
When the government finally repealled the Townshend Acts, they put up a new act, the Tea Act, to show the colonists that they still had the right to tax them. The Teat Act was a tax on tea which persuaded colonists to buy East India Company's tea, generating more tax revenue and helping the company pay its debts. The colonists opposed this act and would not let the cargos be unloaded from the ships. This led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
As Parliament continued to force the tax on tea, the colonists got more agitated every day. On December 16, the Sons of Liberty went down to the Boston Harbor and threw overboard forty five tons of tea. In response to this, the British closed up the ports and destroyed the Massachusetts government. -
Intolerable Acts
The British parliament created the Intolerable Acts which consisted of four new laws. These laws closed up the Boston Harbor, destroyed Massachusetts government and replaced it with council members chosen by the King, and expanded the Quartering Act so British troops were housed in private homes. The Quebec Act was passed, which extended the Canadian border southward to the Ohio River, excluding the colonies claim to land in order for colonies to stop growing larger and gaining more power. -
Battle of Lexington/Concord
The Battle of Lexington/Concord is known to be the first battle between the colonists and the British. 700 soldiers were sent to Concord by British General Thomas Gage. Their mission was to destroy all guns and ammunition that the colonists were storing. On their way passed Lexington, 75 soldiers, or Minutemen, were armed and ready to fight the British soldiers. Unfortunately, they were outnumbered and 8 were killed. -
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As they were on their way back to Boston, the British soldiers were attacked by Minutemen, local farmers, and townspeople. A total of 73 British soldiers were killed and 174 were injured that day. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was originally fought on Breed's Hill. The patriots heard that the British were gonna attack them on Bunker Hill, so they sent 1,600 men to set up fortifications there. General Howe led 2,600 British soldiers up to the battle field where the Americans won twice, but had to evacuate on the third charge. Even though British did gain control of Breed's Hill, they suffered heavy losses with a total of 1,054 men killed or wounded. -
Common Sense
Common Sense was a 47 page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to clarify why America should seek independende. This explained all of the reasons that the colonies should rebel and what the British had done wrong. Colonists purchased around 120,000 copies which eventually led to changing colonists' attitudes towards Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a written document that declared independence from England. It explained every reason on how the British abused the colonists' rights. Unfortunately, the British still wanted to control their rights and they responded with war. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a key turning point of war and a major victory for the American forces. When General Burgoyne striked for the third time, he was outnumbered and had to surrender. The French allied with the Americans, making it easier to win. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle in the Revolutionary War. General Cornwallis and his 8,000 troops were trapped in between the American army and the French Navy. Running out of food and ammunition, Cornwallis decided to surrender. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was a written document that ended the Revolutionary War. It was signed on September 3, 1783, making the United States an official country. In terms of the Treaty, Britain agreed to dismiss all of its troops from America, and America would pay all the remaining debts owned to Britain. The Treaty also created new borders for the United States. Americans could now feel successful and proud of themselves with their new freedom.
