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Causes of the American Revolution
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Stamp Act Passed
The Stamp Act was created by the British Parliament so colonists in America could help pay for the cost of the French and Indian War. All paper goods in the colonies had a stamp tax attached to it. Colonist Response: Colonists disliked this tax on things they used as part of their daily lives. Elected representatives of the colonists sent messages and letters voicing their concerns to parliament. British Response: The parliament ended the tax due to the opposition from colonists. -
Townshend Acts Passed
The Townshend Acts created taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea, among other things. Colonists Response: They declared a boycott on these items so that the British Parliament would not be able to collect enough taxes to make them worthwhile. British Response: The British governnment made so little money off the tax that they ended all of the taxes except the one on tea, which was a success. -
Boston Massacre
The British sent troops to Boston because they were concerned about how the colonists were responding to the Townshend Acts. The colonists harrassed the troops by throwing rocks, snowballs, and insults at the soldiers. Suddenly, soldiers turned and shot into the crowd, killing 5 and wounding 9. Colonists Response: The soldiers were put on trial for their actions. British Response to Colonists: The Townshend Acts were repealed, which ended the tax on all items except for tea. -
Tea Act Passes
This act allowed the British East India Company to sell tea right to the public without duty, making their tea cheper than any other. Colonial Response: This led to the colonists involvement in the Boston Tea Party. They were upset because it caused other tea sellers to lose a lot of money. British Response to the Colonists: The British become concerned that the colonists are so agressive in their opposition to the taxes. -
Boston Tea Party
The people of Boston decide to protest the Tea Act by throwing a shipload of tea into the Boston Harbor. British Response to the Action: They pass the Intolerable or Coercive Acts that are designed to punish the people of Massachusetts for their role in the Boston Tea Party and the destruction of private property. Colonists Response to the British: The first units of minuemen are created in Massachusetts are created. They are so called because they can be ready to fight in a minute. -
Intolerable Acts Pass
These laws were passed by the British Parliament in retaliation for the events at the Boston Tea Party. The most important part of it closed Boston Harbor until the colonists paid for the tea they destroyed. Colonial Response: The colonists were angered by this action, and it set the colonists on a collision course with the British. British Response to the Colonists: They continued to send soldiers over to the colonies in anticipation of a conflict, the American Revolution.
