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Seven Years War
French and Great Britain went to war over the Ohio River Valley. Great Britian won. The victory made them look like a dominant power, but the win came with a severe price- they went into a huge debt, which made them look to tax the colonies to help cure the defecit. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the first direct tax to the colonies, and the new act caused many protests within them. The "Sons of Liberty" (a patriot organization) were created because of the stamp act. 9 Colonies asked for a repeal of the Stamp Act and were granted it in 1766. -
The Townshend Acts
Yet another tax on the colonies came in 1767, with the Townshend Acts. These acts placed severe taxes on glass, lead, paper, pain, and tea. It also had a goal of stopping the self government by taxation. It did not work however, and was repealed on July 2nd, less than a month after it had been passed. -
The Boston Massacre
After some civilians were harassing a member of the British Army, 9 soldiers opened fire against the civilians, killing 5 and injuring 6. One of the earliest signs of violence in the colonies, this was a key moment in the process of the revolution, which would start 5 years later. -
The Gaspee Incident
The Gaspee was set sail by a man named William Dudingston, who had taken over many ships that had sailed those waters. On June 9, 1772, the Gaspee stopped to search another boat ashore. Alerted by a fellow friend, John Brown and 59 others ran aboard the ship and burned it to pieces, with fires and explosions everywhere. The ship had been destroyed. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were passed in 1774 and took away many rights from the colonies. They took away the right to trial among peers, they allowed soldies to move into other homes, limited town meetings to only one per year, and gave more territory to Quebec (so that if colonies moved west, they would be living in a no-elected assembly). -
The Boycott
On September 5, 1774, 55 delegates boycotted british materials to display protest, and made the choice to hold another Continental Congress. -
Continental Army
Congress had decided to form a militia army around Boston, and made George Washington, a man with some military experience who had fought in the seven years' war, the leader. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill occured on June 17, 1775. Although the British were victorious, they did not route the colonists and they suffered 800 injuries and 226 deaths. This showed the colonists that they could stand up to the British forces, and it boosted their morale. -
Olive Branch Peition
In July of 1775, the colonists composed a letter to King George, asking for compromise. Around the same time, an attack was ordered on the British Troops. This showed the King that there was no way a compromise could be made. The American Revolution had begin.
