Weighted: 10-17% °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 1754-1800
As you can see, the weighted percentage has increased substantially! That means this unit is more likely to appear on your AP exam compared to the last two. To be honest, you probably didn't even need to know the percentage to know this WILL be on your MCQ's and especially writing prompts. That's because unit 3 is the most foundational unit as this era turned the American colonies to the official United States of America. The time period begins in 1754 as this was the year the British and French entangled themselves into the French and Indian War.
The French and Indian war was a part of a larger global conflict called the Seven Year War that involved numerous other countries. However, as this is US history, we can get away with just focusing on the French and Indian war aspect. Conflict began due to territorial disputes westward of the Ohio River Valley. With British having a lengthy history of defeats against the French, they called their American colonies to form a plan that'd better prevent French expansion. As this entire war was fought on American soil, the colonists had an advantage of proximity and land familiarity. In 1754, delegates from 7 colonies met and Benjamin Franklin proposed a union called the "Albany Plan of the Union" that aimed to promote a more centralized government to better equip and unite against the French and Native population. However, due to concerns over state defense and taxation, the union was never adopted. Nonetheless, it set a precedent for future colonial alliances. In 1763, the British won and both nations signed the Treaty of Paris of 1763, which resulted in France ceding most of their North American colonies to the British; most importantly, the British gained all land east of the Mississippi River. However, just because the French gave up ownership of their territory does not mean the Native population, who've already been established there, would also agree to leave.
As a result, American colonists and Native tribes fought heavily over land. Due to so much conflict, this led to the Pontiac rebellion: a Native America uprising led by leader of the Ottawa tribe, Pontiac with assistance from nearby tribes. To suppress the rebellion, Great Britian sent out British troops as the American militia, as seen in the French and Indian war, proved to be insufficient for serious battles. To prevent further conflict, the British Parliament established the Proclamation line of 1763 which banned American settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. This enraged the colonists as they felt they deserved the land after helping win the war. In addition, the colonists dealt with increased taxation due to large war debts, further exacerbating tension between the American colonies and Great Britian. Moreover, in unit 2 it was discussed how the colonists enacted something called salutary neglect where they disobeyed policies depicted in the Navigation Act without serious consequences. This gesture gave the American colonies a bigger sense of freedom and independence. However, as Britain became increasingly deeper in debt, they became far stricter. In fact, they passed a series of policies directed to the American colonies such as the:
⋆ Quartering act of 1765: The requirement for colonies to house and feed British soldiers residing there
⋆ Sugar act of 1764: Tax on imported sugar and molasses outside of Great Britain
⋆ Stamp act of 1765: Most importantly, the tax on all printed paper
The stamp act was so controversial because it was the first directly imposed tax, meaning it affected the majority, if not all, of colonists. In turn, the colonists argued that the British could not impose such taxes without any sort of American representation in the government. To that, the British Parliament disagreed, saying that the colonies did have representation through something called virtual representation where members in the Parliament represented the American colonies instead of direct representation more commonly seen in local governments. Unsatisfied, they began joining together and created two significant groups: the Sons and Daughters of Liberty and the Stamp Act Congress, both dedicated to ending this restrictive policy. This is where the phrase "No Taxation Without Representation" was born, arguing that the British Parliament could not impose such taxes without true American representation in higher authority. They simply wanted the same liberties and rights as British subjects. About a year later, the British listened and repealed the Stamp Act. However, in return, they appointed the Declaratory Act of 1766 which asserted that the British Parliament could pass any policies they wanted for the American colonies. Overall, the colonists were content with these results. That was until the British then passed the Townshend Acts of 1767 that levied taxes on tea, glass, and paper (ok stamp act part 2). From there on, far more rebellion broke out. Organized boycotts were upheld against British goods and many protested in groups on the streets. Most famously, British soldiers stationed in America got entangled with American colonists and shots broke out on the streets. This violent event was recognized as the Boston Massacre and was one of the first widespread indicators of abusive British tyranny all over America. Later on, the Sons of Liberty organized a historical event where they dressed up as Native Americans and dumped about 92,000 lbs of tea into the Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea Act of 1772 — now known as the Boston Tea Party. In response, Great Britain passed the Coercive Acts which closed down the port and trade until the tea was paid off, further enforced Quartering Acts, ect. The colonists called these pieces of legislation the Intolerable Acts.
Colonists who opposed British tyranny and rule were called Patriots and those who still supported Great Britain were called Loyalists. In 1774, patriots from all over the colonies met together at the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Some of these significant historical figures like John Adams, John Jay, and George Washington met and discussed how the American colonies needed more liberties and freedom from Britain. These meetings were largely influenced by Enlightenment ideas established in unit 2 such as John Locke's natural rights, social construct, and separation of powers. From there, members of the continental congress decided the only way for the American colony to truly obtain these ideas and liberties was by departing from British rule entirely. Although, the rest of America was still skeptical and even after the first battle, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the majority were still not convinced of independence. It wasn't until Thomas Paine published "Common Sense", a book written in easy-to-understand language that argued for independence based on biblical and Enlightenment principals. The book grew widespread major popularity very quickly and by 1776 Thomas Jefferson, appointed by the Second Continental Congress wrote and published the Declaration of Independence, the American Colonies' formal declaration of separation from British rule.
"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
— The Declaration of Independence, 1776
Author's Note: I love that quote so much and if you couldn't already tell this is my fav unit. Also, everything here is linked to the Enlightenment so use that for your context people!
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