2. 13 Colonies were established during the Age of Exploration England established the colonies along the Atlantic Coastline The 13 Colonies created lots of wealth for England

3. Colonists are able to rule themselves in most matters because of the distance between England and the colonies Colonists get used to being left alone and enjoy this freedom Things will take a turn after the French and Indian War

4. French and Indian War – 1754-1763 War between England and France over land England Wins War is expensive and England is now in debt England needs more money to pay off war debt England believes that the colonists should pay with taxes

5. England will begin to pass a series of taxes on the colonists to cover the cost of the war The Colonists will not respond positively to the taxes and many times things will get violent

6. Any legal document had to have a British stamp on it “No Taxation Without Representation” – if colonists aren’t represented in Parliament then they can’t be taxed by the King Colonists boycott this act Colonists attacked British tax collectors Britain did away with the tax

7. Taxed goods coming into the 13 Colonies Colonists not happy about paying the tax Colonists often attacked British Tax Collectors Caused the Boston Massacre

8. British soldiers were in the 13 colonies to collect taxes and maintain order Colonists began to aggravate the soldiers in Boston Soldiers retaliated by open firing into the crowd 5 colonists were killed

9. Taxed all tea except for East India Tea Made English tea cheapest to buy Colonists unhappy because they are losing money Sons of Liberty – group of Patriot males who helped organize protest of various taxes and acts of British Organize protest of the Tea Act – Boston Tea Party

10. Sons of Liberty dressed up like Native Americans Boarded English ships that held English Tea Threw tea into Boston Harbor – destroying all the English tea Forced England to pass Intolerable Acts

11. England closed Boston Harbor Shut down Massachusetts government Hoped to force colonists to stop protest and behave Doesn’t work – colonists furious and form First Continental Congress

12. Colonists meet to decide what to do next Write a letter to king with their complaints and what they want King ignores the letter and nothing changes Colonists call for Second Continental Congress

13. Before Second Continental Congress can meet fighting breaks out between British and Colonists Battle occurs at Lexington and Concord Shot heard around the world Go ahead with Second Continental Congress before declaring war

14. Meet to discuss what to do about England Decide only thing to do is go to war George Washington as military leader Write Declaration of Independence

15. Thomas Jefferson - July 4, 1776 Declares the 13 Colonies free of Britain’s Rule

16. The Colonists win the American Revolutionary War Britain grants the colonists their independence The United States of America becomes an official country

17. Work on Review Questions1-16. I will be coming to check for them