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The Sugar Act, officially known as the American Revenue Act of 1764, was a British law that aimed to raise revenue from the American colonies by imposing taxes on imported goods like sugar, molasses, and other items. It also aimed to regulate trade and crack down on smuggling. -
The Proclamation of 1763 was a British policy established after the French and Indian War, which prohibited Anglo-American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. This line was intended to manage westward expansion, protect Native American territories, and prevent further conflict between colonists and Indigenous populations. -
The Stamp Act, passed by the British Parliament on March 22, 1765, was a direct tax imposed on the American colonies. It mandated that colonists purchase special embossed stamps to be affixed to various paper goods, including legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers, licenses, and even playing cards. This tax was intended to help Britain pay off the debt incurred during the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War -
The Townshend Acts were a series of British laws passed in 1767 that imposed taxes on goods imported into the American colonies. These acts, named after Charles Townshend, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, aimed to raise revenue to pay for the administration of the colonies and to assert Britain's right to tax the colonies. -
The Tea Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1773, aimed to save the struggling East India Company by granting it a monopoly on the tea trade in the American colonies -
The "Coercive Acts" and "Intolerable Acts" refer to the same set of four acts passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party. -
The Second Continental Congress was a governing body formed by the thirteen American colonies during the Revolutionary War. It convened in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, following the outbreak of armed conflict. Initially, it aimed to address grievances with British rule and seek reconciliation, but it ultimately led the colonies towards independence. -
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, is a foundational document of the United States, formally declaring the thirteen American colonies' independence from British rule. It articulated the reasons for separation, asserting the colonies' right to self-governance and outlining the principles upon which the new nation would be founded -
The Proclamation of 1763 was a British policy established after the French and Indian War, which prohibited Anglo-American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. British troops, sent to seize colonial weapons and arrest leaders, clashed with local militia, resulting in casualties on both sides. These battles, often referred to as the "shot heard 'round the world," marked the beginning of armed conflict between the American colonists and Great Britain. -
"Common Sense" is the title of a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776, which played a crucial role in persuading American colonists to declare independence from Great Britain. It is considered one of the most influential pieces of political writing in American history.