The Road to Revolution
Colonial Timeline by Molly Hairel
French and Indian War 1754
The French and Indian War was fought between the British and Colonists, and the French and Indians. It lasted for seven years and was fought over territory in the early Americas. The war began in 1756 when the French had tried to expand to the Ohio River Valley, which caused tensions to rise with the British's territorial claims and eventually led to fighting. In 1763, The Treaty of Paris was signed and the British received Canadian land from France and land from Florida from Spain.
Proclamation Line of 1763
This was a proclamation issued by King George III that forbade any westward expansion past the Appalachian Mountains. This law also forced settlers to leave the upper Ohio River Valley. The King feared that more fighting between the British and Native Americans would break out.
Sugar Act 1764
Prime Minister George Grenville passed this tax on sugar and molasses imported by colonists to help pay for the expensive war the British had just won. it was the first act passed to specifically raise money in the colonies.
Stamp Act 1765
A year later, Prime Minister George Grenville, once again, proposed a tax to the colonists as a way to pay off British debts. This act was called The Stamp Act which required the colonists to pay extra for an official stamp, or seal, when they purchased legal documents, licenses, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards. This angered the colonists because it was the first act that directly impacted each one of them so eventually The Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams, was assembled to help repeal the act. However, this only led to the Declaratory Act which allowed congress the power to make laws in the colonies "in all cases whatsoever".
Boston Massacre 1770
On March 5, 1770 violence erupted when a lone British soldier was provoked and struck a colonist. Many people gathered around yelled and threw snowballs at the soldier until a few more troops came by. "Come on you rascals... fire if you dare!" was what some men dared the soldiers until they finally did, killing three men in the process. The story quickly spread throughout the colonies and was resolved when Samuel Adams supported the soldiers saying it was an act of defense and the soldiers were innocent of all charges.
Boston Tea Party 1773
Due to illegal smuggling of tea from colonial merchants, the British passed the Tea Act and agreed for parliament with The British East India Company. The tea was cheap so the British believed that the colonists would stop smuggling and pay the taxes for the British tea. Many colonists were angered due to the competition for the smuggling of cheaper tea so when the British East India Company came to the Boston Harbor, the members of the Sons of Liberty demanded that they leave. However, the governor would not let them leave without leaving the tea. Finally on the night of December 16, 1773, colonists disguised themselves as Indians, sneaked onto the company's ships and dumped over 340 boxes of tea into the harbor.
Intolerable Acts 1774
These acts were a form of punishment for the Massachusetts colonists for the Boston Tea Party. Lord North, the new British Prime Minister, closed the Boston Harbor until paid for the ruined tea, canceled Massachusetts charter, allowed royal officials accused of crimes to face easier fate in Great Britain, and required colonists to house British soldiers.
First Continental Congress 1774
This was a meeting of colonial leaders who were concerned with the relationship between Great Britain and its American colonies. Many delegates had different views but were able to compromise and continue boycotting British goods and prepare for war. They also drafted the Declaration of Rights, a list of ten resolutions that King George III would be presented. However, this congress did not yet seek separation from Great Britain, only to try and solve the problems in the colonies.
Second Continental Congress 1776
King George III ignored the concerns in the Declaration of Rights, so in May, 1775, delegates from the twelve colonies met again for a Second Continental Congress. Many of the colonists did not openly show revolt, just dissatisfaction. They asked colonial authorities for new state constitutions that lead to the authorization of the Massachusetts militia to become the Continental Army, which was eventually led by George Washington. The congress, however, still attempted peace while Washington prepared for war. On July 5, the delegates signed the Olive Branch Petition as a final resort for harmony. King George refused to read them, however, and continued to look for ways to punish the colonists.