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The Albany Congress
The British government was expecting a war to break out, so they called a meeting of colonial leaders. This meeting was held in Albany, New York. The British wanted the colonies to agree to become allies. The Iroquois were also invited to the meeting. The British wanted to form an alliance with the Iroquois, but they refused the offer. -
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French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was fought because The French built forts between Lake Erie and the Ohio river, the Virginia colony also claims land along the Ohio river. The governor of Virginia sent soldiers to order the French to leave. Then the war began. The war was fought between the French and the Virginia colony. The French captured George Washington, the age of 21, who was sent by the Vinginia colony. Henwas to tell his people that the French won't give up the Ohio River Valley. -
The Treaty of Paris
The British and the French both signed The Treaty of Paris. After doing so, France lost nearly all of it's North American Possessions. France then surrendered. Britain then earned land from the French, also Spanish Florida. Native American would lose the French, so their battles would be quite a bit more difficult. -
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Pontiac's War
The leader of the Ottawa nation, Pontiac, formed an alliance of Western Native Americans. In May they attacked British forts and settlements. At least 2,000 back country settlers were killed. The British fought back and defeated Pontiac's forces in a battle near Fort Pitt. -
Proclamation of 1763
Britain wanted to avoid more wars, So they issued the Proclamation of 1763. It banned Colonial settlements wrist of a line along the Applalachian Mountains . Settlers had to move east of the line.The Proclimation angered many people and was widely ignored. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was passed in 1764, by the Parliament. It put a duty on several products such as, molasses. It called for harsh punishment of smugglers. Colonial merchants protested. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed by the Parliament in early 1765. This required all colonists to buy special tax stamps for all products, and activities. the stamps were placed on newspapers, wills, contracts, etc.. Protests were widespread, including Patrick Henry. He said that King George 3 would get murdered, just like Julius Caesar did. People of New York Boston, and Philadelphia all boycotted on British goods. A petition from the delegates was sent to the King and Parliament. It all worked in 1766. -
The Quartering Act
The purpose of the Quartering Act was to save money. The act required the colonists to house/quarter British troops. They were to provide them with food and other supplies. Colonists protested angrily. They claimed the Parliment was violating their rights. -
The Boston Massacre
in 1770 an angry mob of workers and sailors surrounded a small group of Soldiers. They shouted and threw things at the soldiers. The Soldiers that were frightened fired, killing 5 and wounding 6. The nine soldiers were under shooting arrest and tried for murder. John Adams(lawyer)Defended them. He believed that in a free country, everyone had the right to a lawyer and fair trial. Only 2 were convicted, and their punishment was getting their thumbs branded. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act was to help the British East India Company, one of their most important companies. The company made money by growing tea in India, then selling it in Britain and in Colonies.The colonial boycott on tea hurt the company. The price of tea lowered, because it allowed The East India Company to ship it's tea directly to colonies. The prime minster of England, Fredrick North, said there shouldn't be an object on tea because the price is lower. The East India company gets a monopoly. -
The Boston Tea Party
The group, Sons of Liberty organized in port cities to stop tea from being unloaded. However Thomas Hutchinson made sure the tea was unloaded. For weeks things were tense. One night a large crowd gathered in the harbor, and a group of men disguised as Native Americans boarded a tea ship. In three hours they threw 342 cases of tea into the harbor. They destroyed 90,000 lbs of tea, worth thousands of dollars. -
The Intolerable Acts
The Boston Tea Party outraged Britain's government. The King called for tough action. As a result Parliament passed four new laws. The colonies called these the Intolerable Acts. The four laws are; the port of Boston is closed; the powers of the royal governor increase, this abolishes the upper house of the Massachusetts legislature; cut the powers of the town meetings; the 1765 Quartering Act is strengthened. -
First Continental Congress
The meeting known as the First Continental Congress took place in Philadelphia. 12 of the 13 colonies sent delegates, Georgia did not. Among the delegates were John Adams and Samuel Adams from Massachusetts, John Jay from New York, George Washington and Patrick Henry from Virginia. They demanded a repeal of the Intolerable Acts, declared that colonies had the right to tax and govern themselves, and train militias. Also it called for a new boycott on British goods. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Thomas Gage heard that minutemen were storing arms in Concord, 20 miles from Boston. He sent troops to to seize the arms and capture important colonial leaders.Paul Revere and William Dawes warned the minutemen. In Lexington around 77 minutemen were waiting for the British. A shot was fired and nobody knows who fired it. This was the Beginning of the American Revaluation. Then a larger battle there were 400 minutemen.The British left with almost 300 soldiers dead or wounded. -
The Second Continental Congress
Most colonists still did not favor independence, many were ready to use force to defend their rights from the British. Then came the Second Continental Congress, the delegates were Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, and Ben Franklin. Delegates from New England wanted to declare independence, the middle colonies wanted a less drastic action. Almost all delegates felt they should prepare for war. George Washington was chosen to be the commander. They payed for the army by printing paper money. -
Battle for Fort Ticondaroga
A battle took place in northern New York. A group of Colonists Made an attack on Fort Ticonderoga. Ethan Allen led, most of the followers from the green mountains. They were known as the Green Mountain Boys. The 83 men crossed the Lake at night. In the morning only 42 British troops were guarding it, they surrendered immediately. The Fort controlled the main route between Canada, Hudson river valley. It also held weapons. They were given to George Washington, to defend Boston. -
The Olive Branch Petition
There were two resolutions passed in July that showed the uncertainty of Congress. The first being the Olive Branch Petition, it was sent to King George. This stated that the Colonists were loyal to the King, and asked to stop all fighting. The petition got it's name from the Olive Branch, a symbol of peace. King George did not answer the petition, instead he declared the colonists were " in open...rebellion" Parliament voted to send 20,000 soldiers to end the revolt. -
Invasion of Quebec
Two American armies moved into Canada., led by Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold. Arnold's Troops were forced to eat bark an leather for food.The Americans attacked Quebec and were defeated, they stayed around Quebec until they were hit by disease. They surrendered. -
The British Withdrawal from Boston
George Washington worked hard to put together a regular army, with powerful weapons. George Washington placed cannons overlooking Boston, the British surrendered and withdrew from Boston. -
Battle of Bunker and Breeds Hill
Americans around Boston weren't soldiers. so nobody knew if they could stand a chance against the British in this war. The British attacked up Breeds hill, the Americans waited until the British were close to fire.The first British attack failed, also the second, the third succeeded. The Americans ran of of ammunition. The British won. Later George Washington used cannons to defend themselves against the British at Bunker Hill, The British surrendered and never returned.