-
Navigation Law of 1650
The Navigation Law of 1650 was aimed at the French Dutch shippers trying to elbow their way into the American Carrying Trade. After this Act was passed, all commerce to and from the colonies could only be transported only in Britain vessels. Other laws under this act stated that European goods sent to America had to land in Britain so they could collect taxes. This was the first of many laws that would be passed by the British to control the colonies. -
Sugar Act of 1764
Passed by Prime Minister George Grenville, the Sugar Act was the first law ever passed by Parliament to raise taxes and revenue in the colonies, It increases the duty on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies. The duties were lowered after bitter protests from the colonists. However, Grenville soon passed the Quartering Act of 1765 after that and resentment was kept burning. -
Stamp Act of 1765
Considered the most odious tax of all, this tax required the affixing of stamps on commercial and leagal documents, playing cards, pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas, bills of lading, and marriage licenses. The revenue produced from this tax was used to support the new military force. Grenville saw these acts as reasonable since the British were required to pay a Stamp Tax higher than the one in the colonies for many years. Many colonists were resentful of all the taxes being placed on them. -
Townshend Tea Tax
Charles Townshend, the new prime minister, passed the Townshend Acts which included the hated tax on imported tea. the tax on tea was especially irksome because an estimated 1 million colonists drank tea at least twice a day. However many colonists did not take this tax as seriously as the Stamp Tax because they found that they could buy smuggled tea at a cheap price. -
The Boston Massacre
Previously the British sent in troops to restore some form of law and order however the troops proved to be ineffective becuase many of the soldiers proved to be druken and profane characters. A clash was inevitable and on Mar.5, 1770 a crowd of 60 townspeople started to set upon 10 redcoats. The squad was hit by rocks and clubs and opened fire without orders. In the end about 11 colonists were wounded or killed. These were considered the first shots fired between the colonists and the British. -
Boston Tea Party
When the British East India Company tried to ship tea to the colonies, not a single ship reached the ports and unloaded their cargo. In Boston, however, the British official refused to be thwarted by the colonists. When the ships docked in Boston, the officials ordered the ships not to leave until they had unloaded all their cargo. That night a group of Bostonians disguised as Indians, boarded the ship and dumped 342 chests of tea in the Boston Harbor. This prompted a response from Parliament. -
Boston Port Act
Part of the Intolerable Acts passed by Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party. This act closed off the harbor until damages were paid and order could be ensured. Nothing could be imported and nothing could be exported from Boston. Many chartered rigths of colonial Massachussetts were taken away as well. -
First Continental Congress
Summoned in Philadelphia in response to the Intolerable Acts passed by Parliament. Twelve colonies sent a total of 55 delegates. This congress was a consultative body and at this point still wanted to reconcile with their mother country. No thoughts of Indepence were started at all. -
Lexington And Concord
Brtisih troops were deployed to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock. At Lexington about 8 Americans were killed and several more were wounded and at Concord the militia men were able to keep the British from taking over. After this battle the British had about 70 killed and 300 casualties. This was the "first battle"of the American Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
One month after the battle at Lexington and Concord the Second Continental Congress and this time all 13 were in attendance. At this congress the delegates once again sent a request to Parliament pleading for reconciliation but they were ignored and King George declared that they were in rebellion. The delegates also started to raise money to create an army and a navy. This congress put the colonies and the British on the brink of all-out warfare.
