Causes of the American Revolution

British win French and Indian War

Jul 9, 1763

The British win the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War, which caused a lot of debt for Great Britain. They, in turn, taxed the colonists.

Townshend Acts

Sep 5, 1767

These were more invasive taxes on the colonists. They were repealed in 1770, except for the tax on tea, which would later induce the Boston Tea Party.
Sugar Act 1764~ sugar, molasses, silk, wine, coffee, and indigo,
Stamp Act, 1765 ~ First direct tax on colonists, caused outrage. Sons of Liberty organized mass meetings and demonstration against taxes. Petitioning for the King to repeal act. Repealed in 1767

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists as unrest grew.

Burning of the Gaspee

Sep 5, 1772

Taken to Britain to be tried, considered this unfair since they were not in the presence of their peers. This was later put into the American Bill of Rights.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

American colonists dress up as Native Americans and dump British tea into the harbor.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 24, 1774

Coercive Acts, Quebec Act

Battles of Lexington and Concord

Apr 18, 1775

George Washington appointed general

Jun 15, 1775

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 17, 1775

First Continental Congress held

Sep 5, 1775

It was then that they decided to boycott British goods.

Common Sense pamphlet published

Jan 10, 1776

by Thomas Paine. Spoke about natural rights of man.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776