Creating the American Government

French and Indian War

A conflict in the late 1750s to early 1760s between the British (including British colonists) and the French (along with Native Americans), resulting in a British victory.

Treaty of Paris

The agreement that ended the French and Indian War, granting England a significant amount of French land in North America.

British Debt

The financial burden the British incurred after the war, leading them to seek increased tax revenue from the colonies.

Colonial Perspective

After the war, colonists felt undervalued by the British and questioned their loyalty, feeling resentment towards taxes and lack of representation.

Proclamation of 1763

A British decree that prohibited colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains to manage conflicts with Native Americans.

Sugar Act

A law that lowered taxes on sugar to curb smuggling, which angered colonists due to issues of money and representation.

Stamp Act

Legislation that imposed taxes on paper goods, requiring a stamp, which upset colonists for similar reasons as the Sugar Act.

Boston Massacre

An incident where British soldiers fired on a crowd, killing five and wounding six, which became a significant propaganda tool for the colonists.

Committees of Correspondence

Groups established in each colony to keep citizens informed about political developments and events.

First Continental Congress

A gathering of representatives from the colonies to discuss their relationship with England and express loyalty while demanding changes.

Battle of Lexington and Concord

The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, where British soldiers attempted to confiscate weapons, leading to conflict.

Second Continental Congress

A meeting that resulted in the Olive Branch Petition and the establishment of an army led by George Washington, ultimately leading to the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence

A document adopted on July 4, 1776, authored by Thomas Jefferson, outlining the reasons for separation from Britain and the rights of individuals.

Tom Paine's Crisis

A pamphlet written to encourage enlistment in the army during the early stages of the Revolutionary War.

Turning Point

The Battle of Saratoga marked a significant change in the fortunes of the colonists during the war.

Yorktown

The site of the British surrender, marking a decisive victory for the colonists in the Revolutionary War.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The agreement that recognized American independence and defined the boundaries of the new nation, from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River.

Aftermath of the War

Following the war, the colonies began to see themselves as separate nations rather than a united entity.