11.2 Constitutional Foundations (1763 – 1824)

Growing political and economic tensions led the American colonists to declare their independence from Great Britain. Once independent, the new nation confronted the challenge of creating a stable federal republic.

French Indian War

Conflicts between British colonial forces and French troops, along with various Native American tribes, from 1754 to 1763, which ultimately led to British dominance in North America.

The Proclamation of 1763

An act issued by the British government that prohibited American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, aimed at stabilizing relations with Native Americans.

The Stamp Act

A 1765 British law that imposed a direct tax on the colonies requiring all legal documents, newspapers, and other paper products to bear a special tax stamp.

The Townsend Acts

A series of laws enacted in 1767 that imposed taxes on imported goods such as tea, glass, and paper, leading to protests and unrest in the American colonies.

The Tea Act

A 1773 law that granted the British East India Company the right to sell tea to the colonies free of taxes, undermining local merchants and sparking widespread protest.

The Boston Massacre

An incident in 1770 where British troops fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five and escalating tensions between Britain and the American colonies.

The Coercive Acts

A series of punitive measures enacted in 1774 by the British government in response to the Boston Tea Party, which included closing Boston Harbor and revoking Massachusetts' charter.

Revolutionary War

The conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen American colonies from 1775 to 1783, which resulted in American independence.

Declaration of Independence

A statement adopted on July 4, 1776, declaring the thirteen American colonies as independent states, free from British rule.