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Proclamation of 1763
This order, issued by King George the III, prohibited colonists from settling West into the Appalachain Mountains, on Native American land. The King sent 10,000 soldiers to enfore this law. The British believed that this would keep peace between the colonists and Native Americans, and make the colonies easier to control. However, this law only increased tension between the colonies and Britain for the colonists resented this order of restriction. -
The Sugar Act
This act lowered the tax on molasses in hopes of stopping the smuggling of these products, and allowed officers to sieze goods from accused smugglers without going to court. The Sugar Act angered the colonists because they believed this violated their right to a trial by jury, and the right to be secure in their homes without barging officers in search of smuggled goods. This order made the principle of 'No taxation without representation' a basic right. -
Stamp Act
This law passed a tax on almost all printed materials including, newspapers, wills and even playing cards. The taxed products needed a stamp on it to show the tax had been paid. This made the colonists outraged; they believed that only their colonial assemblies had the right to tax them. Because of this, the Virginia House of Burgesses passed a resolution claiming that they were only ones who had the right to lay taxes on their citizens. -
Start of the Sons of Liberty
(The original date of the Sons of Liberty origin is unknown.) Samuel Adams helped start this organization. Its members started protesting the Stamp Act in the streets, and burned effigies made to look like unpopular tax collectors. -
Stamp Act Congress
The first meeting since the Albany Plan of Union in which colonies united together to fight for a common cause, in which this case was the protest of unjust British laws. Delegates from nine colonies met in New York, and sent a statement to the King and Parliament declaring that only colonial assemblies had the right to tax colonists. -
Declaratory Act
This was passed by Parliament in answer to the boycotts of British goods in the colonies. It repealed the Stamp Act, but stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the colonies in all circumstances. -
Townshend Acts
This act, passed by Parliament, taxed imports such as glass, tea, lead, and paper. The tax was paid when the goods arrived before they were brought inside the colonies. As a result, the colonists began to protest immediately. Through this the Duaghters of Liberty formed and began boycotting the British goods. -
The Boston Massacre
This was a street fight that broke out between the colonists and the British soldiers sent to Boston. The angry townspeople provoked the soldiers, daring them to fire and threw objects at them. After a soldier was knocked down, the others started to fire at the crowd. John Adams, one of the founders of America, defended these soldiers and successfully excused 6 out of 8. This event was used as a propaganda by colonial leaders, and Paul Revere created an engraving of it. -
Tea Act
This act gave the British East India Company nearly total control of the market for tea in the colonies. This order also removed some taxes on tea, making it less expensive for colonists. Yet the colonists were angry because they did not want to be told what tea to buy. The result of this was even more boycotts, and vows to stop East India Company ships from unloading. -
The Boston Tea Party
In Boston three East India Company ships loaded with tea arrived in the Boston Harbor. The royal governor ordered that they be unloaded. The Sons of Liberty acted swiftly, and at midnight they dressed up as Native Americans, boarded the ships and threw 342 chests of tea overboard. This was an act of civil disobedience and fired patriotism in America. -
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The Continental Congress
Delegates from twelve colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss complaints of the British and to stop the distinction between colonies and unite them. The delegates called for the repeal of the 13 acts of Parliament because they believed thse acts violated their rights. They also voted to boycott British goods and would not trade with them. The Continental Congress enforced Suffolk Resolves declaring the Coercive Acts to be illegal. They called out Americans to arm themselves against the British. -
Intolerable Acts
As a consequence of the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts. It forced colonists to allow British soldiers to live among them. Town meetings were banned in Massachusetts, and the Boston Harbor was closed, stopping most shipments of food and supplies in hopes of isolating it from the rest of the colonies. But these acts drew the colonies together. A part of this was the Quebec Act, claiming colonial land to Canada all the way to the Ohio River. -
Battle at Lexington and Concord
As the tension grew between the colonies and Britain, fighting broke out. King George the III sent more troops to America, and they made way toward Concord. The redcoats approcahed Lexington, and shots were fired. The minutemen were badly outnumbered, and 8 died. As the British kept going, they faced minutemen at the North Bridge. The British took heavy losses and made their way back to Boston. Around 60 years later a poet wrote that this battle had fired the,"shot heard 'round the world." -
Siege of Fort Ticonderoga
Captain Benedict Arnold raised a force of 400 to capture Fort Tinconderoga near Lake Champlain. This Fort was a key location, and rich in supplies. Arnold learned of Ethan Allen, who also wanted to sieze the fort, and joined men with them (the Green Mountain Boys). Taking the British by surprise, Fort Ticonderoga surrendered on May 10,1775. However, Arnold soon betrayed the patriotic cause. -
The Second Continental Congress
The delegates of the Second Continental Congress included some of the greatest patriots in the colonies. They met and began governing the colonies by creating a post office and authorizing the printing of money. They formed committees to handle relations with Native Americans and foreign countries. They also formed the Continental Army and sent the Olive Branch Petition to the King, stating that the colonists wanted peace but also their rights protected. The King rejected this petition. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The British militia, lead by Colonel William Prescott set up posts on Bunker and Breed's Hill, across the harbor from Boston. The next day the redcoats assembled. The Americans opened fire, forcing the British to retreat. Twice more the British charged to be met with fury from above. Finally the Americans ran out of gunpowder and had to retreat. This battle was a British victory, but they suffered severe losses. As a result, the British learned that this war was not going to be easy. -
The Siege of Boston
George Washington reached Boston shortly after the battle of Bunker Hill. Although the British held Boston, patriots ringed the city. Washington, seeing his men disorganized began turning civilians into soldiers. He also got weapons supplied from Fort Ticonderoga. In March, Washington moved his soldiers and cannons in the night overlooking Boston while the redcoats slept. The British, surprised, withdrawed to a part of Canada. -
Declaring Independence
Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution of independence from Britian. The delegates from the colonies debated this. Meanwhile, a committee was assigned the task of writing the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration, drawing ideas from philosopher, John Locke. The Second Continental Congress voted on Lee's resolution on July, 2nd. The members then discussed the DOI and after revision, approved it on July 4th. The document was spread in the colonies and the army. -
The Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence has four major sections, the preamble is the introduction. The next two sections list the rights the colonists believed they should have and their complaints of Great Britain. The final section proclaims the existence of a new nation. This document states that government exists to protect the unalienable rights and to pledge a new status. This led to our National Independence Day.
