1.
Albany Plan of Union: Loose confederation proposed by Benjamin Franklin; meant to unite the colonies for defensive purposes as well as for trade
2.
Boston Massacre: Skirmish in which British soldiers fired on a crowd of colonists; used by Paul Revere for anti-British propaganda
3.
Committee of Correspondence: Underground organization which spread anti-British publications through the colonial postal system
4.
Continental Congress: Assembly composed of delegates from the colonies; passed the Declaration of Independence and the Olive Branch Petition
5.
Declaration of Independence: Written by Thomas Jefferson and passed by the Continental Congress; claimed that the United States was free from British rule
6.
Declaratory Act: Passed by Britain with the repeal of the Stamp Act; claimed that Parliament had absolute control over the colonies and had the power to tax them
7.
French and Indian War: Fought between the British, the French, and their Native American allies, mainly over land in the colonies (especially the Ohio River valley)
8.
Loyalists: Pro-British colonists who opposed colonial independence
9.
Olive Branch Petition: Proposed by John Dickinson and passed by the Continental Congress; urged Britain to reconcile; sent after the Declaration of Independence
10.
Proclamation of 1763: Passed by Britain; banned colonists from settling west of the Appalachians
11.
Salutary Neglect: British policy of not enforcing laws and taxes in the colonies before the French and Indian War
12.
Sons of Liberty: Secret colonial society that led protests against British taxes and harassed tax collectors; organized the Boston Tea Party
13.
Stamp Act: Passed by Britain; created a tax on paper goods in the colonies to pay off war debts; later repealed
14.
Sugar Act: Passed by Britain; created a tax on sugar, molasses, and other items to pay off war debts
15.
Tea Act: Passed by Britain to prevent the East India Company from going bankrupt; allowed E.I.C. to sell tea to the colonies without having to pay a duty
