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End of French and Indian War
The French and Indian War, a struggle for control of North America between the British and French, concluded in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris. Colonists were initially pleased, as the British victory eliminated French threats in North America, but their joy soon soured with the Proclamation of 1763 and British tax impositions. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act placed a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies which affected the rum industry. Colonists were angry as this act impacted their economy, prompting protests and an increase in smuggling. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies. The Act sparked widespread outrage and led to the formation of the Sons of Liberty, an organization opposed to British rule. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act asserted British authority to make laws binding on the colonies "in all cases whatsoever". Even though the Stamp Act was repealed the same day, colonists were wary of the absolute power the Declaratory Act gave Britain, contributing to ongoing tensions. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act placed duties on various goods imported into the colonies, including tea, glass, lead, paints, and paper. Colonists responded with further protests, boycotting British goods, leading to a cycle of reprisals between the colonies and Britain. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, effectively creating a monopoly. The Act led to the Boston Tea Party, where colonists dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor in protest. -
Start of the Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War, a conflict between Great Britain and thirteen of its North American colonies, which had declared themselves the independent United States, started in 1775. The start of the war marked a turning point for the colonists, as they began to fight for their independence from British rule.