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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 the 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
Parliament passes the Quartering Act in 1765. This law required the colonists to house British soldiers and provide them with supplies. The colonies did this because Britain needed more revenue and that the colonies needed to pay part of the war debt. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a law passed by Parliament in 1765. They pased this law to obtain revenue. It required all legal and commerical documents to carry an official stamp showing that a tax had been paid. This law did not just apply to merchants, but to colonists also. -
Townshend Act
Once again Parliament wants to gain income, so they pass the Townshend Acts in 1767. This act stopped New York's assembly until the New Yorker's housed troops. Also Townshend thought that the duties, collected before the goods that arrived to the colonies would anger the colonists less than the taxes of the Stamp Act. The money collected would be used to pay the British governors and other officials in the colonies. -
Tea Act and Boston Tea Party
Later on in 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act. Tea was really popular in the colonies so it gave the British control over American Tea trade. Also colonists still had to pay a tax on their tea. This angered the colonial shippers and merchants. Protests againt this Act took place throughout all the colonies. The Sons of Liberty organized The Boston Tea Party. They destroyed 342 chests of tea to show the British how strongly they reacted about taxes. -
Intolerable Acts
Since Britain was angry about the Boston Tea Party, they passed the Intolerable Acts in 1774. They closed the port of Boston until colonists payed for the destroyed tea. They also banned the committees of correspondence, allowed Britain to house troops when they wanted, and they also allowed British officals accused of crimes to stand trail in Britain. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the Revolutionary War. In this war, 700 British troops reached Lexington and met 70 militiamen. They fight and once they get eighth militiamen dead, they go to Concord and destroy their military supplies. 4000 militiamen and Minutemen arrive and drove away the British. -
Olive Branch Petition
Moderates in Congress wrote the Olive Branch Petition. It asked the king to restore harmony between Britain and the colonies. Some members refused to sign it, but some did it anyway as a last hope. The king rejected this and said to punish colonies. -
Declaration of Independence
Committee drafts Declaration of Independence on June 7, 1776. On July 4, 1776, Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence. This proclaims the independence of the colonies and claims that the people have rights that the government cannot take away. Even if they refuse these rights, they lose their right to govern. They can even form a new government that will protect and secure their rights.
