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French and Indian War 1754-1763
The French and Indian War was fought for American land from 1754 to 1763, the American colonists won, defeating the French and Native American militia. After helping the colonists to their victory Great Britain was left in mass debt. -
Proclamation of 1763
Great Britain's King, George lll issued the proclamation of 1763, which forbade colonist to expand west of the Application Mountains. Since Britain was in debt, the proclamation prevented colonists from communicating with Native Americans in hopes to not cause conflict and war. The king then sent troops to protect the colonists; they were stationed on the western border. The presence of the troops only made the colonists worry that Great Britain was going to take more control over the colonies. -
Sugar Act 1764
British Parliament decided to pay off their war debt by adding tariffs to imported goods going into the colonies because they helped during the war. Taxed goods included coffee, textiles, wine, sugar, and molasses. The colonists in Boston were fed up so in 1764 they created the committee of correspondence to communicate between the colonies. The Tariffs did not benefit the colonists because the money just circled back to Great Britain. -
Stamp Act 1765
The Stamp Act was passed March 22, 1765, making it necessary to have a stamp on all paper documents in the colonies. Stamps purchased from stamp distributers were required to be on all newspapers, pamphlets, wills, and playing cards.The Sons of Liberty, founded in July 1765, forced British Parliaments hand to repeal the Stamp Act in 1766. In protest, the Sons of Liberty led a string of violence against the stamp distributers who became afraid and quit. -
Quartering Act 1765
In 1765, British government passed the Quartering Act. This act forced the colonists to open their doors to the British troops to give them housing and food. The colonists felt they couldn't provide for the troops while also paying the harsh taxes. "No taxation without Representation" became the motto for the colonists, they wanted to send a representative to serve on British Parliament to vote on the new laws and taxes. -
Boston Massacre March 5, 1770
The Townshend Act was passed in 1767, which put taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. Boycotts began in Boston and New York, finally in 1770 Parliament repealed the act, except for the tax on imported tea. The British troop's presence in Boston caused tension which led to an open fire between a crowd of colonists and British soldiers. The Boston Massacre ended in the death of five colonists. In March 1773, each colony formed its own committee to communicate. -
Tea Act 1773 / Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773
The colonial merchants were suffering after the Tea Act was passed in 1773, the act only allowed the colonies to buy tea from the British East India Company. The taxes on the tea were higher than ever after the act. The colonists refused to purchase tea from the East India Company, and rejected the tea by returning it back to Great Britain. December 16, 1773, in Boston members from the Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawk Native Americans and dumped 342 crates of tea overboard in protest. -
Intolerable Acts 1774
March 24, 1774 King George lll passed the Intolerable Acts to punish the colonists after the Boston Tea Party and to gain full control over the colonies. The Boston Port Act punished the rebels and the loyalists by closing the Boston Harbor until the East Indian Company was repaid. The Massachusetts Act allowed the governor, more power, and to appoint government officials to vote at the annual town meeting. The Administration of Justice Act allowed the governor to move trials to Great Britain.
