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End of the French and Indian War
The war comes to an end with the treaty of Paris 1763 and England is now in debt. They desperately need to make up money so they decide to tax the colonies which creates further tension. -
Proclamation of 1763
The English enacted the proclamation of 1763 stating no colonials could settle west of the Appalachian mountains. The colonists were furious they had just fought a war and more than doubled their land but can not live their. -
Sugar Act
The Colonists payed less tax than the British so England decided to tax the colonists with a series of new taxes. The Act encouraged the buying of British sugar and Molasses by making it harder for smugglers and other merchants to sell theirs. The colonists protested these prices and regulations. Much like many later taxes the colonists did not like the idea of a tax from Britain, as was their moto: No taxation without representation. -
Quartering Act
Colonists must provide housing and supplies to British Soldiers after the French and Indian War. The colonists were not too fond of this act but they knew that it was Britain's right to provide defense for the colonists. However those who did opposed complained they were paying taxes for the troops to stay in barracks but still had to let the troops into their home. They felt a standing army was unnecessary for it was during a time of peace. -
Sons of Liberty
A group of colonial patriots who boycotted, threatened, and were sometimes violent towards loyalists and the crown was founded. Samuel Adams and John Hancock were the most note able leaders. The Sons of Liberty carried out several protests against taxes and most notable the Boston tea party. These patriots eventually created enough tension to drag England into war with the colonies. -
Stamp Act
This was the first tax that Britain had directly imposed on the colonists. It was a tax for all printed goods. Colonists felt this imposed their right as English men. Eventually leading to boycotts and protests. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an event when British soldiers shot and killed several people while they were being harassed by a mob of people in Boston, This event was heavily publicized by Patriots like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. -
Boston Tea Party
After the British increased the tax on tea, the colonists protested by dressing up as Indians and would then hijack the ships with shipments of tea and then threw the tea overboard into the harbor. They did this to three British ships that held shipments of tea. This event worsened the already horrible debt that Britain was in. Eventually the British made a deal to have the traders sell directly to the colonies for cheaper, but the colonists thought it was a trick to make them pay the tax. -
The Intolerable Acts
The intolerable Acts were laws placed on the colonists after the Boston tea party. They were the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration Justice Act, Quartering Act of 1774, and the Quebec Act of 1774. Boston port was closed until tea lost was repaid. Massachusetts was completely run by royal governor and no elected officials. British officials had trials in England. Colonists must house and feed soldiers. Quebec was made larger into the claims of the Ohio Company. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from all colonies, except Georgia, met after the Intolerable Acts in Philadelphia. If the taxes were not repealed they would they would no longer import from England on December 1, 1774. They decided they would meet again May 10, 1775 for the second continental congress where soon after they would stop exports to Britain. Britain did not comply eventually leading to the second continental congress and the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
War is declared. British troops are sent to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams, and to take any patriot weapons along the way. The colonists rallied their militia and pushed the British back to Boston.
