Albany Plan of Union 1754 | Summary, Purpose, Significance
The Albany Plan of Union was a 1754 proposal to create a central government for the Thirteen Colonies in North America, spearheaded by Benjamin Franklin. Context In the early 1750s,…
Leadup to Revolution
Learn about the leadup to the American Revolution, and how the conflict started.
Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763-1766) | Summary, Significance, Effects
Pontiac’s Rebellion, also known as Pontiac’s War, was an uprising of the Native American population against settlers in the Thirteen Colonies, which lasted from 1763 to 1766. Context and causes…
Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676 | Summary, Significance, Causes
Bacon’s Rebellion was the first major uprising by American colonists against colonial leadership in the Thirteen Colonies, a hundred years prior to the beginning of the American Revolution. Context and…
Salutary Neglect | Beginning, End, Explanation, Effects
Salutary neglect was an unofficial policy of Great Britain in the 18th century, whereby its American colonies were largely left to govern themselves, and British laws and regulations, especially those…
The Pine Tree Riot of 1772 | Summary & Explanation
The Pine Tree Riot was one of the earliest significant acts of rebellion against British authorities in the Thirteen Colonies, preceding much more well-known acts of resistance such as the…
The Enlightenment’s Role in the American Revolution
The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that originated in Europe in the mid-to-late 17th century, lasting until the early 19th century. The Age of Enlightenment, or the Age…
The Great Awakening’s Role in the American Revolution
The Great Awakening (also known as the First Great Awakening) was a Christian spiritual revival that occurred in the Thirteen Colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. What was the Great…
The French and Indian War’s Role in the American Revolution
The French and Indian War was a conflict fought by the Thirteen Colonies and the British Army against the French, with different Native American tribes supporting both sides, from 1754…
Causes of the American Revolution | Political, Economic, Social
The American Revolution was primarily caused by an erosion in the relationship between the British government and the Thirteen Colonies of America. There were a number of reasons why this…
Sons of Liberty Explained | Who They Were & What They Did
The Sons of Liberty was an underground Patriot political organization that formed in the Thirteen Colonies in the lead-up to the American Revolution. From 1765 until the start of the…
Powder Alarm of 1774 | Summary, Significance, Facts
The Powder Alarm was a false alarm for the start of the American Revolution. It occurred on September 1, 1774 in what is now Somerville, Massachusetts. In this article, we’ve…
First Continental Congress | Summary, Outcomes, Facts
The First Continental Congress, which occurred in Philadelphia in September and October 1774, was the first major unified colonial response to British overreach in America. In this article, we’ve summarized…
Burning of the Gaspee | Summary of the 1772 Gaspee Affair
The Burning of the Gaspee, also known as the Gaspee Affair, was an act of colonial resistance against British customs officials. The incident occurred off the coast of Warwick, Rhode Island, on the night…
Boston Tea Party Explained | Summary, Effects, Facts
The Boston Tea Party was an act of rebellion against the British government that occurred in Boston on December 16, 1773. In this article, we’ve explained what happened during the…
Boston Massacre of 1770 | Summary, Causes, Effects, Facts
The Boston Massacre was an incident that occurred on March 5, 1770, where a group of British soldiers fired into a crowd of civilians on King Street in Boston. In…
Quebec Act of 1774 | Summary, Effects, Facts
The Quebec Act was a law passed by British parliament in 1774, which expanded the territory of the Province of Quebec, and opened up religious freedoms for citizens of the…
Proclamation Line of 1763 | Summary, Effects, Facts
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was a decree issued by King George III of Great Britain, defining new restrictions on colonial settlement in America. In this article, we’ve explained the…
Navigation Acts | Summary, Effects, Facts
The Navigation Acts were a series of laws that regulated foreign trade across the British Empire during the 17th and 18th centuries. In this guide, we’ve explained what the Navigation…
Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) | Summary, Effects, Facts
The Intolerable Acts, also known as the Coercive Acts, were a series of controversial laws passed in the Thirteen Colonies in America by the British parliament. In this guide, we’ve…
Tea Act of 1773 Explained For Kids
What was the Tea Act? The Tea Act was a new law implemented by the British parliament on May 10, 1773. The new law stated that: The East India Company…
Tea Act of 1773 | Context, Purpose, Effects, Facts
The Tea Act of 1773 was a law implemented by the British parliament, which gave the British East India Company an effective monopoly on tea sold in the Thirteen Colonies.…
Townshend Acts of 1767-68 | Summary, Facts, Reaction
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws enacted by the British parliament between 1767 and 1768, which imposed a range of new taxes and restrictions on the Thirteen Colonies…
Quartering Acts of 1765 and 1774 | Summary, Facts, Reaction
The Quartering Acts were a series of laws implemented by the British parliament. The laws stated that the Thirteen Colonies in America had to provide housing and other supplies to…
Sugar Act of 1764 | Summary, Effects, Facts, Reaction
The Sugar Act of 1764 was a law passed by the British parliament on the Thirteen Colonies. The act imposed stricter trade controls and updated tax rules, making it harder…
Stamp Act of 1765 | Meaning, Reaction, Facts
The Stamp Act of 1765 was a law implemented in the Thirteen Colonies by the British government, which introduced a new tax payable on most printed media. In this guide,…
Declaratory Act of 1766 | Definition, Purpose, & Reaction
The Declaratory Act was a law implemented by the British parliament in 1766. It stated that the British government had the complete authority to pass laws in the Thirteen Colonies,…
No Taxation Without Representation – Meaning, Origins & More
“No taxation without representation” was a political slogan used by American Patriots in the Thirteen Colonies. In this article, we’ve explained the meaning and origins of this slogan, and its…
Was the American Revolution Avoidable?
Given the attitude of the British towards their colonies in America, the Revolutionary War was not avoidable. The British raised taxes on the Thirteen Colonies at a time when they…
William Pitt’s Stamp Act Speech
“ Editor’s note No one knew whether William Pitt would speak for or against the Stamp Act in the House of Parliament. In fact when he finally spoke he did…
Paul Revere’s Account of the Start of the American Revolution
“ Editor’s note The following is Paul Revere’s account of the night of April 18th, 1775, the night before the start of the Revolutionary War. ” I, PAUL REVERE, of…