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Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation did not allow colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British Government feared the conflict between colonists and Native Americans would lead to another war. They also could not afford to pay British troops to defend the western lands. Colonists were enraged by this proclamation because they felt they had won the right to settle in the Ohio River Valley after winning the French and Indian War. -
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Road to Revolution
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Quartering Act
This act required the colonists to house British soldiers and provide them with supplies. This was used to save costs on sending and housing soldiers. Colonists were not happy with this act because they didn't like the idea of taking care of the soldiers without even wanting to. -
Stamp Act
This act required all official documents to carry a stamp that showed a tax had been paid. This tax applied to all of the colonists. Also, the tax was expensive. Colonists were angered because most people couldn't afford to pay the tax. -
Townshend Acts
These acts required for a tax to be paid on imported goods. Unlike the Stamp Act, these taxes were indirect. That caused the prices of the goods to rise, making them more expensive than they should be. Colonists were not happy at the high prices. -
Tea Act and Boston Tea Party
When the Townshend Acts were repealed, Parliament left the Tea Act. The Tea Act put a tax on tea and only allowed colonists to buy tea from the British East India Company. Since tea was usually smuggled from Holland and the tax was high, the colonists were angered. They were so upset over the Tea Act that they performed the Boston Tea Party. In the Boston Tea Party, colonists dressed as indians and threw 342 chests of tea overboard a tea ship. The tea was destroyed. -
Intolerable Acts
These acts were a series of laws that were used to punish the Massachusetts colony for the Boston Tea Party. These laws were very harsh and mad the colonists upset. The ports of Boston were closed until the colonists accept to pay for the lost tea. These acts were strongly enforced. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
These battles were the very first battles of the Revolutionary War. The troops fired "the shot heard 'round the world." These battles officially started conflict between Britain and the colonies. Colonists took sides and called war from then on. -
Olive Branch Petition
This was a document drafted by the Continental Congress to ask the king to restore peace between Britain and the colonies. The king rejected and punished all the colonies by blocking all ports and sending Hessians to fight against colonists. This was the last straw for the colonists. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. It declared the colonists independent, free from Britain. This document assured colonists that they were free and completely separated from Britain.
