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Navigation Acts
These were a series of laws passed by the British Parliament to regulate colonial trade. The acts were designed to ensure that trade benefited Britain and its empire. For example, certain goods could only be shipped to England or other English colonies, restricting the colonies' ability to trade freely. This angered many colonists who felt their economic freedom was being restricted. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War, a part of the larger Seven Years' War (1756-1763), involved Britain and France in a battle for global supremacy. Britain's victory in 1759 effectively diminished France's power, securing Canada for the British Empire and setting the stage for the American Revolution by removing the French presence in North America. The war began in 1754 as a conflict between the French, British, and Indians over land and power in the Ohio Valley. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was one of the first direct taxes on the American colonies, requiring colonists to purchase a government stamp for printed materials, such as newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards. It was passed to raise revenue for Britain’s military presence in America. This act led to widespread protests in the colonies and was eventually repealed in 1766. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required American colonists to provide housing and supplies to British soldiers stationed in the colonies. Colonists resented this, feeling it was an infringement on their rights and an unnecessary burden. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws that taxed goods imported to the colonies, like tea, glass, and paper. The revenue from these taxes was used to pay British officials in the colonies, which meant they were less dependent on the colonial governments. The acts sparked protests and boycotts, and were eventually repealed, except for the tax on tea. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of colonists in Boston, killing five people. The event was widely publicized and used as anti-British propaganda, further inflaming tensions between the colonies and Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
In response to the Tea Act (which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies), a group of colonists, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships in Boston Harbor and threw an entire shipment of tea into the water. This act of defiance led to harsher British measures. -
Intolerable Acts
Also known as the Coercive Acts, these were punitive measures taken by Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party. They included closing the port of Boston, reducing Massachusetts' self-government, and allowing British officials accused of crimes to be tried in Britain. These acts were seen as a direct attack on colonial autonomy and fueled anger and resistance. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
On April 19, 1775, British troops marched to Lexington and Concord to seize colonial arms. The skirmishes that followed are often called “The Shot Heard Around the World” because they marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The colonists fought back, and the British were forced to retreat. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met in May 1775 after the battles of Lexington and Concord. It acted as the government of the 13 colonies during the Revolutionary War. It organized the Continental Army, appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief, and eventually declared independence from Britain. -
Olive Branch Petition
In July 1775, the Second Continental Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III, offering to reconcile with Britain if he would address their grievances. However, the King refused and declared the colonies in rebellion, leading to the next stage in the fight for independence. -
Common Sense
Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that argued for independence from Britain. It was widely read and had a major influence on public opinion in the colonies. Paine presented the case in simple terms, criticizing the monarchy and the way Britain treated the colonies. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson. It declared the 13 American colonies independent from Britain and outlined the philosophical justification for the colonies' right to self-government. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781. It established a weak central government with limited powers, giving more authority to the individual states. The lack of a strong central authority led to problems with governance, economic instability, and interstate disputes. -
Daniel Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts, led by former soldier Daniel Shays, protesting economic injustices, including high taxes and debt. The rebellion revealed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, particularly the inability of the government to maintain order or address economic problems, and it helped spur the push for a new constitution. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787 to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Delegates from 12 of the 13 states met and drafted the United States Constitution, creating a stronger central government with a system of checks and balances. The Constitution was ratified in 1788 and replaced the Articles of Confederation.