-
French Indian War
The French and Indian War was a fight between Britain and France in North America, with both sides supported by various Native American tribes. It was part of the larger Seven Years' War and ended with Britain gaining control of much of France's North American territory, shifting the balance of power in the continent. -
Navigation Act
The Navigation Act of 1763 was part of a series of British laws designed to tighten control over colonial trade by restricting the shipment of goods to and from the American colonies. It aimed to ensure that trade benefitted Britain by requiring that certain goods only be transported on British ships and passed through British ports. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act of 1765 required American colonists to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers stationed in the colonies. This law angered many colonists, as it placed an additional burden on them and was seen as a violation of their rights. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a British law that enforced a direct tax on the American colonies, requiring them to purchase special stamped paper for printed materials like newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards. This was the first internal tax levied by Britain on the colonies, sparking widespread protest and contributing to the growing tension between Britain and its American colonies. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts of 1767 were laws that put taxes on items like glass, paper, and tea imported into the American colonies. The money from these taxes was used to pay British officials in the colonies, which made many colonists angry and led to more protests against British control. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre happened on March 5, 1770, when British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five people. The event fueled anger and distrust toward the British, helping to unite the colonies against British rule. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party happened when a group of colonists, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. They were protesting the Tea Act, which gave Britain the right to sell tea directly to the colonies, bypassing colonial merchants and forcing them to pay taxes on it. -
Intolerable Acts (AKA Coercive Acts)
The Intolerable Acts were a series of harsh laws aimed at punishing the American colonies, especially Massachusetts, after the Boston Tea Party. These laws closed Boston’s port, limited self-government, and allowed British soldiers to be housed in colonists' homes, which made the colonists even angrier and led to more resistance against British rule. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress served as the central government for the American colonies during the Revolutionary War. The Congress made key decisions, such as forming the Continental Army, naming George Washington as its leader, and eventually declaring independence from Britain in 1776. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord (AKA "The Shot Heard Around the World")
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. British troops tried to seize colonial weapons in Concord, but colonial militia forces fought back, leading to a retreat by the British and marking the start of open conflict between Britain and the colonies. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a letter sent by the Continental Congress to King George III asking for peace and the protection of colonial rights. The colonists hoped to avoid war, but the king rejected the petition and sent more troops to America, which led to the start of the Revolutionary War. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson announced that the American colonies were breaking away from Britain and becoming independent. It explained the reasons for the decision, including the unfair treatment by the British government and the desire for the colonies to have their own rights and freedoms. -
Common Sense
"Common Sense," written by Thomas Paine was a pamphlet that argued for American independence from Britain in simple and convincing language. It helped inspire many colonists to support the idea of breaking away from British rule and forming their own government. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first set of rules for governing the United States after it became independent. However, it created a weak central government with limited powers, which made it difficult to address problems like trade and finances, leading to its eventual replacement by the U.S. Constitution. -
Daniel Shay's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an uprising led by Daniel Shays, a former soldier, to protest high taxes and economic hardship in Massachusetts. The rebellion showed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and convinced many leaders that a stronger central government was needed. -
Constitutional Convention (AKA Philadelphia Convention)
The Constitutional Convention was where delegates from the states met to fix the problems with the Articles of Confederation. Instead of just making changes, they decided to create a new Constitution that would establish a stronger central government and protect individual rights.