The Declaration of Independence

French and Indian War

From 1754 to to 1763 the French, British and Native American Allies fought over control of land and trade in North America, mainly by the Ohio River Valley, the Great Lakes region, and parts of Canada. They did this because they wanted more land for fur trading. They concluded the war with the Treaty of Paris because the British won.

Patriots, Loyalists and Neutralists

During the 1760’s and the 1770’s the Patriots protested against Great Britain, the Loyalists stayed loyal to Great Britain’s King, and the Neutralists didn’t want to take sides. The Patriots did this because they wanted lower taxes, freedom from the King, and the British Army gone. However, the Loyalists did this because they wanted to stay a colony undef the King. The Neutralists did this because they didn’t want to get involved in the war. The colonists did this by boycotting, protesting, and eventually a war.

The Stamp Act

In 1765 the British Parliament and King George the 3rd created a law that required colonists to purchase a special stamped paper that the 13 colonies had to use on any paper work such as playing cards, newspapers, legal documents, letters, and ,so much more. The British did this, because they were in debt from The French and Indian war. The British did this by passing the law without representation from the colonies.

Tea Act and Boston Tea Party

On December 16, 1773 in Boston, Massachusetts the members of the Sons of Liberty and other colonists protested against the Tea Act by, dumping chests of British tea into the Boston harbor because the British Parliament passed the law without letting the colonists have any representation and with the new law the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies at a lower price, but with a tax still attached to it. The Sons of Liberty did this by disguising as Mohawk Indians, boarding ships and dumping 342 chests of tea into the Harbor.

The Intolerable Acts

In 1774, the British Parliament passed the Coercive Acts without representation from the colonists. This act allowed the British to punish the colonists for their resistance to the British rule, and mainly for colonists of Boston to be put into place.

The First Continental Congress

In the fall of 1774 from September 5th to October 26th the First Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with delegates from 12 out of 13 colonies, so they could discuss a unified response to the Intolerable acts, and protect colonial freedoms. They did this by debating proposals, and sending a petition tho King George the 3rd.

Lexington and Concord

About 5 am on April 19th in 1775 the British regulars and the colonists militias started the Revolutionary War with a shot in Concord, Massachusetts. The British regulars did this because they were done the colonists boycotting and their disobeying of laws. The Patriots did this because they saw it as an opportunity of freedom.

Thomas Paine and Common Sense

On January 10th in 1776 Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, “Common Sense” was published to persuade people to declare Independence from Great Britain. It became one of the most popular readings of the century, because of its clear English making it legable for anyone to read.

Second Continental Congress

In 1775 and 1776 representatives from the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the Second Continental Congress to coordinate a resistance, and plan independence from Britain. They did this so, they could respond to growing tensions, and conflicts with Britain. They resolved those conflicts by debating issues, forming a Continental Congress, sending a petition to Great Britain called the “ Olive Branch Petition” which King George dined and eventually declaring Independence.

Declaration of Independence

On July 4th, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania delegates from the Second Continental Congress, and mainly Thomas Jefferson wrote and sent the Declaration of Independence to Great Britain announcing that the 13 colonies want to split apart from them. The delegates did this because they wanted to justify independence by listing grievances and expressing belief in natural rights. The 2nd Continental Congress did this by drafting Thomas Jefferson, reversing and voting.