US History: French & Indian War to Articles of Confederation

French & Indian War

War between Britain + Colonies vs. France + Native allies (1754-1763) — Britain wins → gains Canada and land to Mississippi but ends up in huge debt → starts taxing colonies.

Proclamation of 1763

Banned colonial settlement west of Appalachian Mountains → angered colonists who fought for that land.

Salutary Neglect

Britain's policy of ignoring colonies and letting them self-govern → ended after 1763 when Britain began enforcing taxes.

George Grenville

British Prime Minister who started taxing colonies → introduced Sugar Act and Stamp Act.

Sugar Act (1764)

Tax on sugar and molasses (lowered rate but strictly enforced) → colonists saw it as unfair overreach.

Quartering Act (1765)

Required colonies to house and supply British soldiers → seen as an invasion of privacy.

Stamp Act (1765)

Direct tax on printed materials → caused boycotts, protests, and 'No taxation without representation!'

Sons of Liberty

Secret colonial group protesting British taxes → organized boycotts and protests.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Parliament said it could tax colonies 'in all cases whatsoever' → angered colonists.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Taxes on imports like glass, paper, tea → led to boycotts and violence.

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers fired into a crowd → 5 colonists killed → used as propaganda by Patriots.

Tea Act (1773)

Gave British East India Company monopoly on tea → hurt colonial merchants → led to Boston Tea Party.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Sons of Liberty dumped British tea into harbor → Britain responds with Intolerable Acts.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Punishment for Tea Party — closed Boston Harbor, reduced self-rule → united colonies.

First Continental Congress (1774)

12 colonies met in Philadelphia → boycott, prepare militias, list grievances to King.

Lexington & Concord (1775)

'Shot heard 'round the world' → first battles of Revolution → war begins.

Cause of British taxation

Debt from the French & Indian War.

Effect of the Boston Tea Party

Britain passed the Intolerable Acts.

Reason for Proclamation of 1763

To avoid conflict with Native Americans after Pontiac's Rebellion.

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Meeting of delegates from the colonies to manage the colonial war effort.

Continental Army

Formed under Washington after Lexington & Concord.

George Washington

Commander of Continental Army → brought unity, discipline, and trust.

Battle of Bunker Hill (1775)

Costly British victory → proved colonists could fight British troops.

Olive Branch Petition (1775)

Last peace attempt → King George III rejected it and declared colonies in rebellion.

Common Sense (1776)

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine → argued for independence, inspired colonists.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Written by Jefferson → declared independence and listed grievances → adopted July 4, 1776.

Patriots vs. Loyalists

Patriots supported independence; Loyalists supported Britain.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Turning point → convinced France to ally with America.

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Final major battle → Cornwallis surrenders → war ends.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Officially ends the war → Britain recognizes U.S. independence; U.S. gains land to Mississippi river

Importance of Common Sense

Convinced many undecided colonists to support independence.

King George's rejection of Olive Branch Petition

He saw colonies as being in rebellion.

Articles of Confederation (1781)

First U.S. government → weak national government; no power to tax or enforce laws.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Organized western land sales → money went to fund schools.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Set rules for new states → banned slavery in Northwest Territory.

Shays's Rebellion (1786)

Farmers' revolt in Massachusetts over taxes → showed Articles were too weak.

Annapolis Convention (1786)

Meeting to discuss trade issues → led to Constitutional Convention.

Philadelphia Convention (1787)

Delegates met to revise Articles → created the U.S. Constitution.

Weakness of Articles of Confederation

Congress couldn't tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.

Leader of Shays's Rebellion

Daniel Shays, a farmer and veteran.

Importance of Shays's Rebellion

Showed the need for a stronger central government.

Accomplishments of Northwest Ordinance

Created process for new states and banned slavery in new territories.

Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation

Fear of tyranny → too much state power, not enough federal.