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The Jamestown Settlement was the first colony in America, founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company. These settlers came in seek of religious and governmental freedom. This was the very first step in achieving independence from England.

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The Mayflower Compact was an agreement signed by 41 members of the Mayflower crew in 1620. It's goal was to set up the first form of government in America. This is the first form of a written Democracy in America.

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The colonists began to question political leaders and wanted more liberty. The colonists felt they were treated unequally compared to citizens in England. This began the colonists want of freedom from England.

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The French and Indian War was a conflict between the British and the French. The French felt they owned the sole right to trade with Native's while the British undermined this constantly. This led to a very expensive war and England having massive debts. These debts caused rising tension between the colonists and England.

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In order to save money and reduce conflicts the King ordered no colonial settlements passed the Appalachian Mountain Range. Colonists hated this and few followed it. This continued to build on the rising tensions between colonists and England.

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To repay the debts of the French and Indian War, the King ordered heavy taxes on all products in the colonies. These tax laws were passed without the input of the colonists leading them to rebel.

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The Boston Tea party was a reaction the the Tea Act of 1773. Several colonists dressed as Native Americans boarded a British Tea ship and threw several hundred crates of tea into the Harbor. This led to England enforcing strict rules and forming a costal blockade.

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1st + 2nd Continental Congress (1774 + 1775)

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1st + 2nd Continental Congress (1774 + 1775)

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The first Continental Congress met to discuss the aggression between the colonists and England. The Second Continental Congress met to make a last ditch effort at peace writing the Olive Branch Petition to King George.

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Several rebel colonists formed a militia and confronted a troop of British Redcoats. After a short altercation it appeared the rebels were going to retreat when a shot was fired. This led to a battle and sparked the American Revolution.

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As the American Revolution waged on, the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia on July 4th, 1776. This marked the day that America declared Independence from England.