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Navigation Acts
A series of British laws passed in the 17th and 18th centuries to regulate colonial trade and ensure that it benefited England. These acts restricted the use of foreign ships and required that certain goods be shipped only to England or its colonies. -
End of Salutary Neglect
Britain ended its policy of salutary neglect, which had allowed the American colonies to operate with minimal interference. This shift led to stricter enforcement of trade laws and increased colonial resentment. -
Proclamation of 1763
Issued by King George III, this proclamation forbade American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent conflicts with Native Americans. -
Sugar Act
this act reduced the tax on molasses but increased enforcement of smuggling laws. It aimed to raise revenue for Britain and regulate trade. -
Sons of Liberty
A secret organization formed to oppose the Stamp Act and other British policies. They used protests, boycotts, and sometimes violence to resist British rule. -
Stamp Act
this act required colonists to purchase a stamp for every piece of paper they used, including newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards. It was the first direct tax imposed on the colonies and sparked widespread protests. -
Townshend Acts
imposed duties on imported goods such as glass, paper, paint, and tea. The acts led to boycotts and heightened tensions between Britain and the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five people. The incident was used as propaganda to fuel anti-British sentiment. -
Committees of Correspondence
these committees facilitated communication and coordination among the colonies in response to British policies. -
Boston Tea Party
American colonists, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act. -
Intolerable Acts
a response to the Boston Tea Party. They included the Boston Port Act, which closed Boston Harbor, and other measures that restricted colonial self-government. -
First Continental Congress
this meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies aimed to address colonial grievances and coordinate resistance to British policies. -
Patric Henery "Give me Liberty or Give me Death
this speech by Patrick Henry urged the Virginia Convention to take military action against British tyranny. -
Second Continetal Congress
this assembly managed the colonial war effort and eventually adopted the Declaration of Independence. -
Lexington and Concord
The first battles of the American Revolutionary War, fought on April 19, 1775. These skirmishes marked the beginning of armed conflict between Britain and the colonies. -
Olive Branch Petition
this petition was a final attempt to avoid war with Britain by asserting colonial loyalty and seeking reconciliation. -
Thomas Paine "common Sense"
this pamphlet argued for American independence and criticized monarchy. It was widely read and influenced public opinion. -
Declaration of Independence
this document declared the American colonies' independence from Britain and outlined the principles of individual liberty and government by consent.