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French-Indian War (Start)
The war started in 1756—a war between Great Britain and the French, who teamed up with the Native Americans-- also called the 7 Years' War. -
French-Indian War (End)
The French-Indian War ends. Great Britain was left in debt, and they then threw the responsibility of paying off that debt onto their colonists. -
Navigation Acts
A series of laws were placed on the colonies to make England's economy stronger. Only England could export goods from the colonies. Colony ships had to go to England first before anywhere else. The colonies could only directly import stuff through Great Britain. -
Quartering Act
Great Britain sent soldiers to the colonies and forced colonists to allow them to house the soldiers in their homes. -
Stamp Act
Great Britain taxed the colonies on paper goods. -
Townshend Acts
Great Britain placed taxes on common goods: tea, lead, paint, paper, and glass. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of protestors in Boston. Five civilians were murdered, and six were injured. Paul Revere made a famous engraving called "Bloody Massacre," which became a piece of propaganda that fueled the start of the American Revolution. -
The Intolerable Acts
Aka the Coercive Acts
Boston Harbor was closed until the colonists paid for the 90,000 lbs of tea thrown into the harbor. The Boston legislature was suspended. Crimes stand trial in Great Britain, and a new Quartering Act was passed. -
The Olive Branch Petition
This was the American colonies' last effort to prevent war with Great Britain. The petition showed loyalty and requested peace from King George III. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Aka The Shot Heard Around the World.
This battle initiated the American Revolution. The British marched into Lexington and Concord to seize all weapons. The militia, including the Minutemen, fought against the British and forced them to retreat to Boston -
Second Continental Congress (Formed)
Delegates from the thirteen colonies met at meetings. They supported the Continental Army and appointed generals for it. They also created paper currency because there was no real, proper currency. -
Common Sense
Common Sense is a book written by Thomas Paine. It was popular because it emphasized the need to form a new nation.
This book had two major points; 1. Independence from England 2. Establishing a democratic republic. -
Declaration of Independence
A document was written and sent to King George III describing his wrongdoings and declaring independence from England. -
Articles of Confederation
Created on November 15, 1777, but went into place in 1781.
The Articles of Confederation established the nation's government after the American Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress (Disbanded)
The Articles of Confederation were ratified, creating a new and more efficient Congress. -
Daniel Shays' Rebellion
Started in 1786 and ended in 1787.
Daniel Shays led a revolt in Massachusetts against its government. This showed all the holes and generalness in the Articles of Confederation. This led to the creation of the US Constitution. -
Constitutional Convention
Delegates from all the states except for Rhode island came together to write the Constitution to form the government better.