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Sugar and Molasses Act
The sugar and molasses act forced colonist to pay a tax of six pence per gallon on molasses, nine pence per gallon on rum, and five shillings for ever one hundred on sugar imported from non-British colonies. The American colonist protested the act. -
Sugar Act (Modified Version)
The new, modified sugar act reduced the rate of taxes on molasses but expanded the list of goods the could be taxed. The colonist were very angry about this, and they formed an organization boycott of goods imported from Britain. The sugar act was repealed in 1775 due to overwhelming anger from colonist. But then the British imposed the Stamp Act. -
Currency Act
The colonies suffered a shortage of currency. There weren't any gold or silver mines and the only way to get currency was through trade controlled by Great Britain. On September 1, 1764 Parliament passed the Currency Act. The act banned the use of paper money in all colonies. The sugar act, currency act, and stamp act all led to the colonist protesting "No taxation without representation". The British rejected the idea of "no taxation without representation". -
Stamp Act
This act required colonist to pay a tax on every printed piece of paper they used. Even things like playing cards were taxed. The colonist reactions ranged from boycotts of British goods to even riots and attacks on tax collectors. Some courts were also shut down. Parliament responded to colonist reactions on Stamp Act by repealing it. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was aimed at raising revenue from the British colonies in America. It was two British laws that were designed that forced local colonist to provide food and shelter to any British officer who knocked on their door. The colonist weren't very happy about this. They protested that Parliament was taking away their rights.The act was highly resented in New York, and there were "skirmishes" in the streets. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was passed along with the repeal of the Stamp Act. It was to assert Parliaments authority to rule over the American colonies. The colonist didn't really respond to this act because they were too busy celebrating the repeal of the Stamp Act. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a string of laws passed by Parliament in great Britain. The acts imposed laws on glass, leads, paints, paper, and tea imported into the colonies so Britain could collect revenue. In response, the colonist stopped imports of British goods, protested, and some newspapers attacked British policy. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between a "patriot mob", throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and British soldiers. It began when 50 citizens attacked a British sentinel. A British officer called in additional soldiers, and they were also attacked. The soldiers then fired into the mob and killed 3 instantly, and wounded 8 others. Out of the 8 wounded, 2 died later. Patriots then began celebrating "Massacre Day" to further inflame sentiment against the British. -
Tea Act
The Tea Acts purpose wasn't like most of the other acts that were placed to raise revenue from the colonies. It was to bail out the East India Company, who really helped the British Economy. American colonist couldn't buy any tea unless it was from that company. In response, the colonist refused to unload the tea from the ships. This led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was in protest of the Tea Act of 1773. Members of the "Sons of Liberty" disguised as Mohawk Indians were armed with axes. They boarded three ships carrying British East India Company Tea. In three hours, 340 chest of tea were destroyed and thrown into the Boston Harbor. Over 92,000 pounds of tea was destroyed and thrown in. The British East India Company lost a lot of many for the tea. To punish the colonies, the B -
Boston Port Act
The Boston Port Act was an act passed by Parliament in an effort to regain control of Massachusetts. This act closed port facilities in Boston until the city was fit to "reimburse" the East India company for the cost of the tea that was destroyed during the Boston Tea Party. The people of Boston were also required to "prove to the crown satisfaction" that they were "peaceable subjects". The colonist thought I was unfair that they had to pay for something most of them had no part in. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act was a rule imposed by British Parliament. It was to set to authority to the province of Quebec. It expanded Quebec into the land of the colonies. The British became worried that since the American colonist were becoming aggressive and rebelling, that the French Canadians would do the same so they put that act in place. The Americans became very angered because this stopped their westward expansion and allowed French roman catholic institutions into Quebec. -
1st Continental Congress
Delegates from each of the 13 colonies except for Georgia, met in Philadelphia to organize colonial resistance to Parliaments Coercive Acts. It was structured to promote free debate. The Congress issued a Declaration of Rights and the Articles of Association. The Articles of Association which told colonies to stop importing goods from British Isles if the Coercive Acts were not repealed. The British thought it was outrages and started the war of Bunker Hill. -
Edenton Tea Party
The Edenton Tea Party was a protest in Edenton, North Carolina in response to the Tea Act. Fifty-one women formed an alliance supporting the American cause against "no taxation without representation". The women signed a "statement of protest" vowing to give up tea and other British products. The British didn't take it seriously because it was led by women. -
Ride of Paul Revere
On April 18, 1775 Paul Revere tells his friend to watch and see which way the British will come in. If they come in by land, he says to hang one lantern in the arch of the North Church tower, and two if by sea. Paul awaits on the opposite shore, ready to alert the town after he see's the lanterns. After seeing two lanterns, Paul rides into the town to alert the people. -
Shot Heard Round The World
After Paul Revere alerted the patriots, Captain John Parker began assembling minutemen to meet the British. . Since it took a while for the British to arrive and since the minutemen were early, the captain sent them to wait in nearby taverns. After learning the British were near, the captain assembled his men again. When they arrived, a shot was fired. Who fired first is unknown but 8 Americans were dead and 10 were wounded compared to one wounded British soldier. -
2nd Continental Congress
The second continental congress was a "convention of delegates" from the 13 colonies. They managed the colonial war effort, and helped us move slowly towards independence, adopting the Declaration of Independence. -
Common Sense
The Common Sense was a pamphlet that was written by Thomas Payne that inspired colonist to fight for their independence. It explained the advantages to gaining independence and why they should fight for it. Thousands of colonist read it and caused many colonist to become inspired. -
Common Sense
The Common Sense was a pamphlet that was written by Thomas Payne that inspired colonist to fight for their independence. It explained the advantages to gaining independence and why they should fight for it. Thousands of colonist read it and caused many colonist to become inspired. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is the statement adopted by the Second Continental Congress. Thomas Jefferson composed the original draft of the document. It was an explanation to why Congress voted to be free and independent from Great Britain. After this document was passed the colonies were no longer controlled by the British. They were free. -
Aricles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were the first written constitution of the United States. It established the "functions" of the national government of the United States after it declared its independence from Great Britain. They didn't become effective until March 1, 1781.
