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The Sugar Act
Also known as the "American Revenue Act of 1764, the Sugar Act was a modification of the Sugar and Molasses Act. The Sugar Act reduced the previous tax from the Sugar and Molasses Act to reduce the smuggling of sugar and molasses into the Colonies. Britain wanted to make sure that the Colonies were doing their trading primarily with them.
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The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act required colonists to pay a tax on printed paper. This tax included things such as newspaper, ship papers, licences, and many other day to day items. The Stamp Act was not put in place to regulate commerce so much as it was to raise money, and this is what really upset the colonists. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was passed by Parliament and required colonists to provide British soldiers with housing and food. The housing often included colonial barracks, inns, and even sometimes houses of the locals. The Quartering Act -
The Boston Tea Party
In protest of the Tea Act imposed by Parliament, the Sons of Liberty and Samuel Adams boarded boats in the Boston Harbor and dumped boxes of tea into the Harbor. Boston Tea Party -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle, which was named after Bunker Hill in Charleston, Massachusetts, resulted in over 1000 British casualties. Although the British were victorious at the end of the battle, they were also shocked at the number of casualties the colonists inflicted on them. This came as a huge boost to the colonial militia's confidence in the following battles. The main goal of the battle was to keep the British from gaining control of Boston Harbor. -
The Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, The Declaration of Independence was adopted in the United States. This document came as a formal stating of the United States' Independence from Britain.
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British Surrender
When British reinforcements failed to make it past French troops, General Cornwallis and the British army had no choice but to surrender in Yorktown This marked the end of the fighting in the American Colonies, and was the beginning of the end of the American Revolution. Surrender at Yorktown -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was the document that officially ended the American Revolution. It was signed on September 3, 1783. This document also recognized the United States' independence. The negotiations with Britain happened under representation by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. The Treaty of Paris 1783
