Elements of the American Revolution

The Navigation Acts

Oct 9, 1651

These acts were passed by Parlament to restrict the colonies to trading with only England. This is an example of the element differences because the colonies believed that trading with countries other than England would boost their economy, while England believed that it would be an economic threat to them. Some of the colonists resented the fact that England was trying to limit their trading options. This resentment eventually led to the birth of smuggling in the colonies.

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

This proclamation by King George III decreed that no one was to settle to the west of a line drawn through the Appalachian mountain range. This is an example of the element distrust because England had decreed this in order to keep the colonist penned up by the atlantic seaboard and to keep them from spreading west. The colonist didn’t like this proclamation because they were eagre to settl the western land after the war and so they ignored the order and went west anyway.

The Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

The sugar act was passed by parliment in order to raise money to defend the kingdom. This is an example of differences because the colonists believed that England had no right to tax them whie the Brittish saw this tax as a way to raise money for troops. The colonists unhappy with the tax and the state of economic depression they were in started to protest the sugar tax that they were forced to pay.

The Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

This act placed a tax on the printed paper materials used in the colonies to help pay for the troops stationed in North America after the war. This is an example of differences because the Brittish saw it as necessary to help pay for the troops stationed there while the colonists only saw it as another tax that they would have to pay. The colonists were unhappy that they were being taxed directly by parliment without being represented and many colonists started protesting in the streets.

The Quartering Act

May 3, 1765

This act required the colonists to provide any housing and food that the Brittish soldiers may need.This act is an example of violence because in responce to the act the colonists actualy killed several of the brittish soldiers, threatened to kill the King, and refused to comply with the act.

The Townshend Acts

Jul 2, 1767

This was a serise of acts passed taxing many products including tea. These acts were immediately met with protests from the colonists and were partialy repealed. This is an example of differences because the Brittish believed that they had the right to ta the colonies and the colonists beleved that they couldn't be taxed without being represented in Parliment.

The Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

This was an event in which several soldiers fired on and killed some of the colonists. This is an example of violence because the soldiers killed 5 of the colonists. In responce to the shooting the colonists called or the death of all of the soldiers who were later aquitted of any wrongdoing.

The Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

This is an eent in which a group of colonists dressed p as indians and threw all of the tea that was being imported to the colonies overboard as a protest on the tax on their tea. This is an example of violence because the colonist destroyed many crates of England's tea. In responce to this England closed boston harbor until the colonists paid for all of the destroyed tea.

The Intolerable Acts

Mar 24, 1774

This was a series of acts that were in direct responce to the boston tea party including an act that removed the self-government and historical rights of Massachussets. The colonists were angry at these acts and formed the first continental congress to coordinate protests. This is an example of unity because the colonies united together to protest against these acts.

Lexington And Concord

Apr 19, 1775

These were the firs military battles of the American Revolution. The colonists got word that the brittis planed to capture colonial leaders and seize the gunpowder, so they organized militias to resist the brittish troops. This is an exampl of violence because the brittish and the colonists were both shooting at and killing each other resulting in bloodshed.