George III became King of Great Britain in 1760 during the Seven Years' War
He saw the loss of the American colonies in the War of Independence
George III took the throne at the age of 22.
His abilities were limited and he was poorly suited for the rigorous demands of being the king.
It is believed that he suffered from a hereditary disease which would cause long periods of insanity which lasted until his death in 1820.
FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS
May 18, 1756, the British declare war on the French
Was the source of much resentment and controversy between England and the American colonists.
England's debt was greatly enlarged by the war.
England set plans in motion to gain more control over the American colonists.
PROCLAMATION OF 1763
Provided an end to the French and Indian War in 1763.
The Proclamation closed off the western frontier for colonial expansion.
The Proclamation was presented by the King and his council as a measure to calm the fears of the Indians.
The colonists felt a strong sense of resentment. They felt as though they were trapped and they thought they could be controlled more easily and regulated by England.
The Proclamation provided that all of the lands west of the heads of all rivers which flowed into the Atlantic Ocean from the west or northwest were off-limits to the American colonists.
This meant that the rich Ohio Valley and all territory from the Ohio to the Mississippi Rivers from settlement.
THE STAMP ACT
Passed on March 22, 1765
This act would grant and apply stamp duties both in the British colonies and plantation of America.
These duties were to help compensate for the expenses that were incurred by defending, protecting and securing the colonists.
This Act required that the colonists had to purchase printed documents such as:
Deeds
Legal Documents
Marriage License (Licenses in general)
Newspapers
Bills
Almanacs
Pamphlets
Dice and Playing Cards
These items would be issued on specially stamped paper that had to be purchased from stamp distributors.
These items would be issued on specially stamped paper that had to be purchased from stamp distributors.
The colonist were outraged by the imposition of this tax.
Colonists reactions were on occasion riotous. This was seen in a popular tactic used by the colonists in which they would threaten or attack the court appointed stamp commissioners (collectors).
Many were also threatened to be tarred and feathered, but none of the collectors were ever harmed in this way.
By November 1, 1765, the day the Stamp Act was to go into effect, there were no stamp commissioners left in the colonies.
SUGAR ACT
Passed by Parliament in 1764.
To be used to offset the war debt brought on by the French and Indian War.
Also would be used for expenses of running the new colonies.
The Sugar Act would increase duties on the following items:
Imported Sugar
Coffee
Wines
Textiles
Indigo (Dye)
It also doubled duties on foreign goods.
It also forbid the import of foreign rum and French wines.
CURRENCY ACT
In 1764, the Currency Act prohibited the colonists from issuing any legal tender paper money.
This Act unified the industrial North with the agricultural South once again.
The Currency Act threatened to destabilize the colonial economy.
QUARTERING ACT
In May 1765, the Quartering Act went into effect.
This Act required that the colonists had to house British troops and supply them with food.
Underground organization formed by a number of colonial towns in opposition to the Stamp Act.
Violence and intimidation was used by its members to force the British stamp agents to resign and stop American merchants from ordering British goods.
STAMP ACT CONGRESS
Covens in New York City in October 1765.
Congress prepares resolution to be sent to King George III and Parliament.
Petition requests repeal of the Stamp Act and Acts of 1764.
The Petition asserted that only colonial legislation could tax colonial residents and taxation without representation was a violation of the colonists basic civil rights.
STAMP ACT - REPEALED
March 18, 1766, the Stamp Act is repealed.
DECLATORY ACT
March 18, 1776, Parliament passes the Declaratory Act.
This Act stated that British government had power to legislate laws governing the colonies.
TOWNSHEND REVENUE ACTS
June 1767, Parliament passes the Townshend Revenue Acts.
Imposition of a new series of taxes or the colonists to offset costs of administering and protecting the American colonies.
Taxed items included:
Paper
Glass
Paints
Tea
Lead
THE BOSTON MASSACRE
Occurred on March 5, 1770.
Mob harassed soldiers.
Soldiers fired muskets point blank into the crowd.
Captain Thomas Preston was arrested along with eight (8) of his men.
TOWNSHEND ACTS - REPEALED
Repealed in April 1770.
Duties on imports were eliminated on everything except for tea.
THE TEA ACT
Went into effect on May 10, 1773.
A 3 penny per pound import tax on tax was imposed.
British East India Company had a tea monopoly and were underselling American merchants.
THE BOSTON TEA PARTY
Occurred on December 16, 1773.
Colonial activists dresses as Mohawk Indians and boarded the ships docked in Boston Harbor.
All 342 tea containers were dumped into the Boston Harbor.
COERCIVE ACTS (INTOLERABLE ACTS)
March 1774, Parliament passes the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts).
The Coercive Acts were in response to the Boston Tea Party.
The Boston Port Bill closed all commercial shipping in the Boston Harbor until Massachusetts agreed to pay taxes on the tea that was dumped into Boston Harbor.
The Coercive Act also required reimbursement to the East India Company for the loss of the tea.
December 26, 1779, British sail from New York and head toward Charleston, South Carolina.
December 26, 1779, British sail from New York and head toward Charleston, South Carolina.
April 8, 1780, the British attack Charleston.
May 6, 1780, the British capture Fort Moultrie in Charleston.
May 12, 1780, America suffers the worst defeat of the Revolutionary War when the British capture Charleston.
June 23, 1780, American forces defeat the British in the Battle of Springfield.
June 23, 1780, American forces defeat the British in the Battle of Springfield.
September 28, 1781, General Washington begins siege against Yorktown.
October 17, 1781, as Yorktown is about to be taken, the British send out a flag of truce.
Washington and Cornwallis workout the terms of surrender.
October 19, 1781, the British march out in formation and surrenders Yorktown to Washington.
British hopes for a victory against America are gone.
January 1, 1782, Loyalists leave America.
January 1, 1782, Loyalists leave America.
March 20, 1782, British Prime Minister, Lord North resigns.
Lord Rockingham will succeed him.
June 11, 1782, the British evacuate Savannah.
November 10, 1782, the final battle of the Revolutionary War occurs.
Americans retaliate against loyalists and Indian forces.
November 30, 1782, preliminary peace treaty is signed in Paris.
November 30, 1782, preliminary peace treaty is signed in Paris.
February 4, 1783, England declares an end to hostilities in America.
April 11, 1783, the Treaty of Paris is signed by the United States and Britain.
November 2, 1783, Washington delivers his farewell address to his army.
January 14, 1784, the Treaty of Paris is ratified by Congress. The Revolutionary War officially ends.
August 31, 1786, Ex-Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shay's (now a bankrupt farmer), leads an armed mob to the Northhampton Courthouse in order to prevent the court from holding session. They mobbed the courthouse so that debtors would not be tried and put in prison.
August 31, 1786, Ex-Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shay's (now a bankrupt farmer), leads an armed mob to the Northhampton Courthouse in order to prevent the court from holding session. They mobbed the courthouse so that debtors would not be tried and put in prison.
September 26, 1786, Shay's rebels, fearing being tried for treason, forced the Massachusetts Supreme Court to adjourn.
January 26, 1787, Shay's rebels attack a federal arsenal and is unsuccessful.
January 26, 1787, Shay's rebels attack a federal arsenal and is unsuccessful.
February 4, 1787, Shay's rebels are attacked by General Lincoln's troops.
150 rebels are captured
Shay flees north to Vermont
June 19, 1787, delegates at the Constitutional Convention vote to create a new form of national government which will be separated into the following 3 branches:
June 19, 1787, delegates at the Constitutional Convention vote to create a new form of national government which will be separated into the following 3 branches:
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
July 13, 1787, the Northwest Ordinance is enacted by Congress.
July 13, 1787, the Northwest Ordinance is enacted by Congress.
These are the formal procedures for transforming territories into states.
Includes a Bill of Rights that guarantees freedom of religion, right to trial by jury, public education and a ban on slavery in the Northwest.
September 17, 1787, 39 delegates vote to approve and sign the final draft of the new Constitution.
September 17, 1787, 39 delegates vote to approve and sign the final draft of the new Constitution.
Legislative - will consist of two (2) houses: the upper house (Senate) which will be selected by the state assemblies and they will serve six (6) year terms;
Executive - is headed by the President and elected every four (4) years by president; electors from the states;
Judicial - consists of a Supreme Court headed by a Chief Justice. The court has implied powers to review laws that conflict with the Constitution.
September 25, 1789, Congress submits twelve (12) proposed Constitutional Amendments. Only ten (10) will be ratified and added to the Constitution as the Bill of Rights in 1791.
September 25, 1789, Congress submits twelve (12) proposed Constitutional Amendments. Only ten (10) will be ratified and added to the Constitution as the Bill of Rights in 1791.
