Revolution

Events Leading to the American Revolution

By bejorgensen

  • The Sugar Act

    The Sugar Act
    The Sugar Act - Video The Sugar Act was passed by Parliament in 1764 and put a 3 pence per gallon tax on molasses. The colonists rebelled against the act and Parliament was forced to repeal it due to their inability to enforce it.

  • The Stamp Act

    The Stamp Act
    The Stamp Act - Video The Stamp Act was passed by Parliament in 1765. The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. Stamp Act riots broke out in opposition to the new tax and Parliament was forced to repeal it a year later.

  • Townshend Acts

    Townshend Acts
    The Townshend Acts - Video The Townshend Acts were passed by Parliament shortly after the repeal of the Stamp Act. They were designed to collect revenue from the colonists in America by putting customs duties on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The colonists opposed these new taxes and British troops were sent to enforce the laws.

  • The Boston Massacre

    The Boston Massacre
    The Boston Massacre (excerpt from "America: The Story of Us") The Boston Massacre occurred in 1770 as a result of the British troops enforcing the Townshend Acts in the colonies. The British troops, contstantly tormented by gangs and rebellious groups, fired into a rioting crowd and killed 5 men.

  • The Boston Tea Party

    The Boston Tea Party
    The Boston Tea Party (excerpt from "America: The Story of Us") The Boston Tea Party occurred in 1773. After colonists rebelled against the Townshend Acts, Parliament was forced to retract the taxes with the exception of the duty on tea. The colonists were unhappy with this tax and decided to force 3 ships to leave the harbor without collecting the duty fee. The ships refused to leave so a group of men dumped their tea into the harbor.

  • First Continental Congress Meets

    First Continental Congress Meets
    First Continental Congress (excerpt from "America: The Story of Us") In response to the Intolerable Acts, all colonies except Georgia sent delegates to Philadelphia to discuss the colonies' issues with Great Britain and status of their own colonies. This group of delegates would become known as the First Continental Congress. This would eventually form the governing body for the colonies during the American Revolution.