American History

The French and Indian War (7 Years War) Between Britian and France between 1754 and 1763 for colonial control over trade routes and land. British officials tried to get rally support for their efforts with the Albany Congress where Ben Franklin proposed his Albany Plan of Union, but the colonists didn't really care.  Still, they sided with the british while the Indians sided with the French. It was primarily fought in the Ohio River Valley. Ottawa chief Pontiac led several raids on British forts and American settlements later called Pontiac's Rebellion. In response, we issued the Proclamation of 1763, which barred American colonists from settling into native territory without purchase or treaty.
Because of this war, war debts skyrocketed. With need of money, the Salutory Neglect that had allowed the colonists economy to grow by setting up new trades and smuggling, vanished. In protest, "no taxation without representation!" came to be, and the colonists made informal nonimportant agreements on several British goods. The Stamp Act Congress met in NYC to propose another way for money.
1764--Sugar act: raised taxes on sugar imported from West Indies (Southatlantic Trade)
1764---Currency Act. Banned American currency bills or bills of credit.
"--Committess of Correspondence. Propoganda and letters arranged by Sam Adams.
1765--Quartering and Stamp Act:
Stamp Act causes Stamp Act Congress and Sons and Daughters of Liberty to rise.
1767--Townshend Act: taxes on imports like tea, glass, paper.
1770--Boston Massacre
1773--To assist the failing British East sIndia Companovey, the company was given a monopoly over tea in America. This enrages the colonists and so they throw the Boston Tea Party that December, smashing about 46 tons of tea or about 1,700,000 milllion dollars lost in today's money. This mischief causes Parliament to pass the Intolerable Acts, which close down the port of Boston and outlawed town meetings.
In response to this, because the colonists are still getting pissed, in 1774 they have the First Continental Congress, where the boycott of British goods is proposed. 12/13 colonies arrived.
So in April, 1775, Lexington and Concord occur. Lexington the british were supposed to go and retrieve gun powder, Sam Adams and John Hancock, 8 Americans die. And then at Concord 70 are lost. First battles between GB and America.
Still hoping that George III would be willing to fix things, the Second Continental Congress assembles in 1775. This time, 13 out of 13 ceolonies are there that May, and George Washington is named head of the Continental Army. They write the Olive Branch Petition there.
Then--Bunker Hill happens, and George III declares the colonies in rebellion.
1776--Declaration of Independence drafterd by Thomas Jefferson.
During the war, the British had the odds for them. They had a large, HUGE navy with thousands of ships, a professional fightitng army, and they were experienced. However, what the Americans had for them, if not prnofessional fighting, was small, strong millitias who knew the terrain--and most people at that point were for the colonies, not the British. Also, they were fighting for their people and land, which gave them higher morale. Also, Americans didn't have to worry about the time or money of transporting soldiers, goods, and munitions across the ocean or the country.
1777, the victory of the colonists in Saratoga encourage France to pledge troops, because France didn't like Britaien and wanted to weaken their empire. 1779, the Spanish, who had been secretly dealing us weapons, decided to join in the cause, while in 1780, the Netherlands joined us.
1781---Yorktown, Cornwallis surrenders.
Key people in the Rev. War:
George Washington: Valley Forge
Benedict Arnold: American General who defected\
Crispus Attucks: killed in Boston Massacre
John and Sam Adams: Political leaders in the war, part of the Continental Congress, helped with propoganda and Sons of Liberty.
(Sam Adams and Paul Revere were the ones who led the Boston Tea Party)
Crossing the Delaware: Washington defeats the British in 2 battles, reclaims New Jersey, and restores Patriot momentum.
Paul Revere: "The British are coming!" At Lexington and Concord.
Patrick Henry--Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death: made at the VA Convention. Helped get the House of Burgesses to send VA troops for the Rev. War.
Phyllis Wheatly--former slave who wrote poems about American independence.
This has been a study post!!!