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Committee of Correspondence
The Committee of Correspondence was an clandestine organization of revolutionary patriots who wanted to overthrow the monarchy in America. They encouraged boycotts on British items and helped to bring a revolution to America. The Committee also helped to inform the colonists of happenings in the colonies. -
Sugar Act
Passed on April 5, 1764, by Parliament, the Sugar Act was intended to help pay for the French and Indian War by taxing sugar, wine, and other British imports. -
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Pre-Revolutionary War
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Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty, founded in 1765 by Samuel Adams, was responsible for the Boston Tea Party in 1773. They were an organization that protected the rights and liberties of the colonists and opposed the treatment of the colonies by Britain. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed in November of 1765 by Parliament. This was used to help pay for the French and Indian war. The Stamp Act required all colonists to pay for a separate stamp on all paper documents. -
Townshed Acts
The Townshend Acts, including the Revenue Act of 1767, the Indemnity Act, the New York Restraining Act, the Commisioners of Customs Act, and the Vice Admiralty Court Act, was passed by Parliament in 1767. The tax was named after Charles Townshend, the Chancellor of Exchequer. These acts were used to raise revenue and pay off debts from the French and Indian War. -
Boston Massacre
On March 10, 1770, Private John White called for assistance from the Boston barracks after being verbally assaulted. Captain Preston arrived with seven other troops and, later in the evening, was hit with a club. After what ws recorded as several seconds to two minutes, the eight soldiers fired into the crowd. A total of five men were killed as a result of the massacre and six were seriously injured. The soldiers, Captain Preston, and four civillians were charged with murder and put on trial. -
Tea Act
Parliament, led by Lord North in March of 1773, passed the Tea Act to save the East India Company and raise revenue for England by taxing tea products from Eurpoe. -
Boston Tea Party
In 1773, in response to the Tea Act, the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans and dumped tea into Boston Harbor. As a result, England blockaded Boston Harbor (one of the Intolerable Acts), one of the busiest harbors in America. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a series of taxes and laws passed by Parliament beginning in 1774. The Intolerable Acts included the Quebec Act, the Administation of Justice Act, Massachussetts Government Act, the Boston Port Act, and the Quartering Act. These acts were considered a violation of the liberty of the colonies. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was the gathering of revolutionary leaders/politicians in Philidelphia on September 5, 1774. The meeting of the First Continental Congress was a response to the Intolerable Acts.
