Junior Cert History Blog

1756  The British had continuously protected the colonists from attacks by both the Native Indians and the French. This eventually led to a full-scale war – the French and Indian War – with the British and colonists on one side and the French and Indians on the other.

1763 The French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years war) ends. The British defeat France and acquire the  French empire in North America.

1765  The Stamp Act is introduced which places a tax on all official documents in the colonies (e.g. wills, licences, college degrees, newspapers, playing cards etc.)

1765  The Quartering Act was introduced across the thirteen colonies demanding extra tax money to cover the cost of keeping the Redcoats (British army) in America to protect the colonists.

Protests (some leading to riots) took place across the colonies. The slogan ‘No taxation without representation‘ was used at these protests. The colonists felt that it was completely unfair to impose taxes on them when they didn’t even have the right to elect MPs to the parliament that was making these decisions.

A group called ‘The Sons of Liberty‘ was set up by Samuel Adams in protest at the taxes. They often attacked Tax collectors.

1766 The Stamp Act is repealed. However, a Declaratory Act reiterates Britain’s right to pass laws for and levy taxes on the colonies.

1767 The Townshend Act puts new duties on different goods in the colonies such as glass, paper and tea.

1770 Following riots, the British shoot dead five protesters while injuring seven more in what became known as the Boston Massacre.

1773  Even though the British repeal the Townshend Act, the Tea Act lead to the Boston Tea Party where colonists dumped imported British Tea into the sea in protest.

1774  New harsh laws – called the ‘Intolerable Acts’ by the Americans – were introduced. One of these laws instructed that Boston Harbour would be closed until compensation was paid for the tea destroyed during the Boston Tea Party.

1774  As anger grew towards the British, representatives of all thirteen colonies met as a kind of unofficial parliament at Philadelphia. This was called the First Continental Congress. One of those present to represent the colony of Virginia was a man called George Washington.

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Video Review of the background to The American Revolution

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rZKCegwnCU&feature=related[/youtube]

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History@Banagher College, Coláiste na Sionna.