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The end of the French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a dispute between The Britsh and the French over the Ohio River Valley. After many British defeats, they eventually blockaded French ships which led the French to become vulnerable. In the end, the British won the war. The war led to British having a major debt. This debt led to the colonists to pay taxes on certain goods. These changes angered the colonists who wanted to preserve the little power that they had. -
The Sugar Acts
The prime minister, George Grenville proposed raising money by collecting duties. He decided to form the Stamp Act. The Stamp Acts forced colonists to pay a 3 cent tax on sugar. Because of this act, the price of sugar in general was lowered but the colonists still had to pay the tax on sugar. This angered the colonists because even though the price of sugar was cheaper, there was still a tax on sugar without their consent. This lead to many boycotts caused by the colonists. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was pased by the Brithish Parliament. This tax required all American colonists to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. The colonists angrily protested the Stamp Act. They argued that Parliament had no right to tax the because the colonies had no representation in Parliament. They were afraid that if they accepted this tax then Parliament would add even more taxes, stripping their properties and politcal rights. -
The Quartering Acts
The Quartering Acts was an act that required the colonists to open up their homes and provide housing and any other care to the British Troops. This law was enacted by Parliment. The colonists complained but many of them accepted it because they respected Parliments rights to regulate trade and provide protection. In some cases, the British troops who came into the colonists homes would not treat them right. This act increased tensions between the British and its colonitsts. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act was introduced into Parliament by Charles Townshend. This act taxed glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea that was imported into the colonies. Many of the colonists believed that Parliament had no right to impose any tax on the them because it was an abuse of Britain's constiutional relation with the colonies. In 1770, the Townshend Act was repealed but tea was still taxed which led to a short truce between Britain and the colonists. -
Boston Massacre
In response to the Townshend Acts, the colonists preotested and boycotted. The largest riots occured in Boston, where many British customs abused their power. One night a group of colonists were throwing rocks and snowballs at British soldiers. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists. Under the leadership of Samuel Adams, Patriots called the killing the Boston Massacre. Parliament backed down and withdrew the british troops and dropped most of the Townshend duties. -
Boston Tea Party
The British East India Company was already struggling, but the tea boycott made their financial problem worse. Parliament passed a law allowing the company to sell directly to the colonists. This made the tea cheaper even with tax. Instead of buying tea, the colonists protested that they were trying to trick them into paying tax. On the night of December 16, the Boston Patriots dressed up as Indians, boarded three British ships, and dumped the tea into the harbor. -
Coercive Acts
The Bostonian's actions made Parliament and the Crown very angry. To punish Boston, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts. This closed the port to trade until the inhabitants paid for the destroyed tea, inlcuding the tax. This also increased the power of the governor. To pressure Parliament to withdraw this act, delegates from the First Continental Congress announced a boycott of all British imports. -
Intolerable Acts
The colonists were outraged. The acts forced colonists to house British troops and allowed British officials to be tried inn Britain for crimes commited in the colonies. Quebec Act extended Canada's southern border, cutting off lands claimed by many colonies. The scared colonists called this the Intolerable Acts. They didn't like the idea that the British could change colonial government at will. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
In the battle of Lexington and Concord it kicked off the revolutionary war. Tensions between the colonists and the British had been rising for many years due to all of the taxation without consent. Hundreds of British troops moved from Boston to near Concord to start the fight. British troops and colonial militias started fighting and the battle broke out. The colonists have had enough and it was time for them to end their truce.
