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Seven years’ war

Also known as the French and Indian war (1754-1763), it was a conflict between the British and the French over colonial expansion resulting in British control of Canada and territories east of the Mississippi Valley.

Albany Plan of Union

Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754, it was an intercolonial government and taxation system for defense, rejected by colonies not wanting to relinquish self-taxation or unite.

Pontiacs Rebellion

An uprising led by Ottawa war chief Pontiac after the Seven Years’ War, in which Native American tribes attacked colonial outposts in response to English expansionism and changes in trade practices.

Sugar Act of 1764

British law that lowered the duty on molasses but aimed to deter smuggling through stricter enforcement and trials in vice-admiralty courts without juries, causing colonial discontent.

Stamp Act of 1765

A British Parliament Act that imposed a broad-based tax on all legal documents and licenses within the colonies, intended to raise revenue and sparking significant colonial opposition.

“No Taxation Without Representation”

A central argument by colonists, notably James Otis, asserting that parliament could not justly tax them without granting them direct representation in parliament or a greater degree of self-government.

Sons of Liberty

Protest groups formed throughout the colonies in opposition to the Stamp Act, known for organizing resistance and making it impossible for duty collectors to do their jobs.

Declaratory Act

Passed in 1766 along with the repeal of the Stamp Act, this asserted the British Governments right to tax and legislate in all cases anywhere in the colonies.

Townshend Acts

Drafted by Charles Townshend, these acts taxed goods directly imported from Britain, set aside parts of the tax for payment of tax collectors, and suspended the New York legislature for non-compliance.

Boston Massacre

An incident on March 5th 1770, where British soldiers fired into a crowd of angry colonists, killing five, which was subsequently used as a propaganda by colonial leaders.

Committees of Correspondence

Groups set up by colonists starting in 1772 to trade ideas and inform one another about the political mood and British actions, fostering intercolonial unity.

First Continental Congress

Convened in late 1774, delegates from all colonies except for Georgia met to enumerate American grievances, develop a strategy to address them, and formulate the colonial position on the relationship with the royal government.

“Shot heard round’ the world”

Refers to the battle of concord in 1775, following a skirmish in Lexington which marked the beginning of an armed conflict in the American Revolution.

Common Sense

A pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in January 1776 that powerfully advocated for colonial independence and republicanism, helping to swing public support to the patriot cause.

Declaration of Independence

Commissioned by congress in June 1776 and primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, it enumerated the colonies’ grievances against the Crown and articulated the principles of individual liberty and government’s responsibility to serve the people.

Salutary Neglect

Britains unofficial policy of loosely enforcing laws in the American colonies (1607-1763) allowing them significant self-governance, especially regarding trade.