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"hands off approach by Great Britain; British policy of loosely enforcing laws and regulations in the American colonies, allowing them to govern themselves. -
An economic system where the Mother Country controlled all trade. The colonies were forced to send raw materials to Britain for cheap, only to buy back expensive finished products. It kept the colonies financially dependent. -
A massive world war between Britain and France over North American land. Britain won, but the war was so expensive it nearly doubled their national debt. They decided the colonists should help pay for the protection they received. -
To pay off war debts, Britain required a government stamp on every piece of paper from legal docs to playing cards. This was the first time Britain taxed the colonists directly, leading to the famous cry: "No Taxation Without Representation!" -
A law requiring colonists to provide British soldiers with "quarters" housing and supplies. It felt like a massive invasion of privacy and a way for the King to spy on his subjects. -
After the Stamp Act failed, Britain tried taxing imports instead (lead, glass, paint, paper, and tea). The colonists responded by organizing "Non-Importation Agreements," essentially a giant boycott of anything British. -
Tensions boiled over when a mob of colonists began harassing British guards. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five people. Paul Revere’s famous engraving of the event turned public opinion against the King. -
In protest of the Tea Act, the "Sons of Liberty" disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians, boarded three ships, and threw 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. -
These were meant to punish Boston. They closed the port (starving the city’s economy), ended town meetings, and gave the King total control over the colony. -
British troops marched to seize hidden weapons. They met colonial militia at Lexington. A shot went off—"The Shot Heard Around the World"—and the American Revolution officially began. -
Representatives from all 13 colonies met to figure out what to do next. They created the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as the Commander-in-Chief. -
A "peace offering" sent to King George III asking for a compromise. He rejected it without reading it and declared the colonies to be in open rebellion. -
Thomas Paine wrote this pamphlet in plain, everyday English. He argued that it was ridiculous for a small island to rule a whole continent. It convinced thousands to support independence. -
Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, this document listed the King's failures and declared that "all men are created equal" and that the colonies were now the "United States of America." -
The first US Constitution. Because they hated the King’s power, they made the central government extremely weak. It couldn't tax or raise an army, leading to chaos between the states. -
Angry farmers revolted over debts and taxes. The weak government couldn't stop them easily, scaring the nation into realizing they needed a stronger central government. -
A meeting called to discuss trade wars between states. Only 5 states showed up. This failure convinced leaders that the Articles of Confederation needed a total rewrite. -
Delegates met in secret in Philadelphia to replace the Articles. They created the US Constitution, establishing the three branches of government we use today.