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Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a time for people to "awaken" their religious beliefs, because church leaders worried their dedication to their religion was declining. People did this by listening to emotional and powerful sermons and revivals. Many preachers such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards would gather a large mass to share their religious views. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War, which lasted seven years, was caused by the Britains claiming land within the Ohio Valley, which was owned by the Frech and Indians. With the help of British general James Wolfe, the British won the war. Unfortunately, this success costed them a lot of money. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was very important because if the British coninued to move into Indian lands, they feared they would keep losing lives. The Proclamation stated that the Indians and British need to stay in their own territory. Some colonists ignored this command completely and didn't want to move from the Ohio Valley, but most obeyed. This led to expansion within colonial settlement. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a tax on all sugar poducts, made by the British to help pay for the damage cause by the French and Indian War. The colonists didn't like this tax, and boycotted the sugary goods. It also lead to economic problems within the colonies, which soon led to it's end. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act, like the Sugar Act, is when Britain taxed the colonists to help pay for damage caused by previous wars. Prime Minister Grenville created a new tax after so many complaints from the colonists aout the Sugar Act that required colonists to pay for a stamp or seal when buying paper products. Colonists immediately protested and refused to pay the new tax. This eventually led to it's end, including poor trade. -
Townshend Acts
During the Townshend Act, Britain placed duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, and many more to pay for their military expenses. Colonists began to smuggle and boycott these items, and were soon sent to Vice-Admirality Courts. This act ended on February of 1768 when Samuel Adams sent a letter arguing against it and explaining how it violated the legal rights of colonists. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was caused by tension between British troops and the British government. It got so bad, as to one day, the troops fired and killed Crispus Attucks, James Caldwell, Patrick Carr, Samuel Gray, and Samuel Maverick. Paul Revere made an engraving of this incident and the soldiers involved faced charges of murder. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act, which put a tax on tea, was caused by the East India Company's need for money. Also, this tax was created and kept to show the British still had the right to tax colonists. The company officials lowered the prices, so more people would buy the tea, and in result, recieve more buissness. However, this soon ended because Britain worried if the tea company earned a monopoly, others would follow and threaten colonial buissness. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea party was caused by the British not allowing the Indians to deliver tea into their land, and the Sons of Liberty demanded them to leave. Some colonists later dressed up as Indians, boarded the ship, and threw every last chest of tea overboard. The colonists found this amusing, and the streets were filled with echoes of "Boston Harbour is a tea pot tonight!" -
Intolerance Acts
The Intolerance Acts served as a punishment towars the Boston Tea Party. Parliament soon passed the Coercive Acts and shut down the boston Harbour until they paid the cost of destroyed tea. The colonists responded by writing editorials, pamphlets, plays and many other things to critisize the government's actions. The colonists also chose representatives to discuss problems facing the colonies and to determine an appropriate response to the abuse that Britain has created over colonial rights. -
Battle of Lexington/Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was caused by major tension between the British and minutemen. Since minutemen were ready to fight the British in minutes, the British were always on gaurd and started to get scared of their quick attacks. During these battles, the colonists and minutemen made Britain surrender. Later on, during another battle, the minutemen hid the British's weapons, which helped enforce their win. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Many people responded from shock and anger from the battles of Lexington and Concord, which created the battle of Bunker Hill. The colonial forces held Boston under siege, outnumbered them, and secured the hills. This battle led to the colonists overall victory, because they could withstand a frontal assault from the British army. -
Common Sense
The colonists were fed up with Britain and wanted to break free from them. One man, Thomas Paine wrote a 47 page pamphlet "Common Sense" which supported breaking free from Great Britain. Paine wrote that the people should make the laws. Colonists purchased over 120,000 copies of this famous pamphlet . It also was written for common people as well, so it had a widespread audience and led to later changing the colonists attitudes towards Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a very important document that stated the colonists beliefs of needing to be independent and free from King George the third and Britain in general. It spelled out the colonists rights which were abused by Britain. Unfortunately, the Declaration failed to protect women and slaves' rights as well. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a major victory for the American forces. Burgoyne attacked and soon surrendered once being outnumbered. This battle was also a turning point in the war and lead to freedom. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the war, and it was caused from the Battle of Saratoga. During this event, the French Naval surrounded Yorktown, which led to Corn Wallis being trapped between the Amrican Army and the French Navy. Him and 15,000 other troops soon surrendered because of low food and ammunition. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was the document that ended it all and made us an official country. This document ended the Revolutionary War, was signed on September 3, 1782, iratified on April 17, 1783, and officially recognized American Independence. America agreed to pay all it's owed debts to britain, and britain agreed to set new borders and remove it's troops from America.
