On a cold night in March 1770, something happened in the city of Boston that would change the course of American history. A crowd gathered. Angry words were shouted. Snowballs—and maybe more—were thrown. Then suddenly, British soldiers fired their weapons. When the smoke cleared, five colonists were dead. This event became known as the Boston … Read more
Imagine waking up one morning and discovering that you now have to pay extra money for things you use every day—paper, newspapers, cards, even tea. Now imagine that the people making these rules live far away, and you have no say in their decisions. That’s exactly how many American colonists felt in the years after … Read more
Imagine living in the American colonies in the early 1700s. You are British, proud of your connection to a powerful empire, and surrounded by land that seems full of opportunity. But beyond the edge of your settlement lies a world of competing claims, powerful Native American nations, and rival European empires—all struggling for control of … Read more
Unit Overview If you could travel back in time to the early 1700s, the American colonies might not seem very revolutionary at all. They were part of the powerful British Empire, and many colonists considered themselves loyal subjects of the king. They spoke English, followed British laws, and traded goods across the Atlantic Ocean. So … Read more