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End of French and Indian War
The British and the French fought this war over control of North America. This war lasted from 1756 to 1763 and resulted in British victory. The Treaty of Paris officially ended the war. -
Sugar Act
Parliament passed the Sugar Act, which placed taxes on sugar. The British colonists were angry because they were not asked permission. -
Creation of "Writs of Assistance"
The "writs of assistance" were warrants that authorized officers to conduct searches anywhere presumed to hold illegal items. Many colonists felt that their basic rights were being taken away, which only added to the hatred they felt for British rule. -
Stamp Act
This act put taxes on every piece of printed pacer the American coloniats used. As the British began imposing more taxes, the colonists became more and more angry. -
Townshend Acts
Parliament imposed new taxes on items such as glass, lead, paper, and tea. With every new tax, the colonists grew more and more frustrated. The British would not stop putting taxes on everyday things, making the life for the colonists a lot more expensive. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre consisted of British soldiers killing 5 colonists who were part of a very angry anti-tax mob. The soldiers were tried for murder but eventually acquitted. Many colonists began to believe that the British would go to extreme measures to enforce their unfair tax laws. -
Tea Act
This act forced colonists to buy their tea only from the East India Company. Although it imposed no actual tax on tea, it annoyed the colonists because they were still being controlled. They could not buy tea from anywhere else without paying a significantly higher price. -
Boston Tea Party
In Boston, members of an anti-tax group called the "Sons of Liberty" dumped a large amount of British tea into the Boston Harbor. This was in protest to the Tea Act. This was one of the most major acts of rebellion leading up to the American Revolution. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were passed by Parliament in direct response to the Boston Tea Party. They closed the Boston harbor, made public meetings illegal, and imposed military rule in Massachusetts until the tea was paid for. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
This was the first battle of the American Revolution. The British left Boston in search of weapons and in order to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. As they traveled from Boston to Concord and then back to Boston, they were attacked by colonists. The British suffered 273 casulties, while the Americans suffered 90.
