Events Preceding the Revolutionary War

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

May 28, 1754

The British wished to settle in the Ohio RIver Valley and trade with the Native Americans who lived there. In response the French built forts to protect and conserve their trade with Indians. Britain sent troops in retaliation.

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

A royal decree prohibiting settlement past the Appalachian mountains. They did this to conciliate the Native population and to concentrate settlements on the coast where they could be an active part of British trade.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

The act put a tax on sugar and molasses that was imported into the colonies which had an impact on various industries especially the New England rum industry.

Stamp Act

Mar 2, 1765

Put taxes on newspapers, legal and commercial documents by interjecting a stamp duty. Due to opposition it was repealed in 1766.

Quartering Act

Mar 24, 1765

Forced American colonists to house and provide any accommodations necessary to the British forces. The Quartering Act was an invasion of privacy and was used to spy on colonists to get an insight on the rebellion. Just as the Patriot Act allows the U.S. government to spy on our private lives.

Townshend Act

Jun 29, 1767

Imposed duties on paper, tea, paint, lead and glass. The acts were put in place by parliament in hopes to control the imperial cost of the colonies.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

British soldiers came to support fellow officers who were being snowballed by a heckling crowd. Officer fired into the crowd killing 5 people. The eight officers involved were found not guilty on all charges.
A connection can be made between this event and a Tulsa police shooting. An African-American male was unarmed and was shot and killed by a police officer. Just as in a Boston Massacre unarmed citizens were shot by armed officials.

Tea Act

May 10, 1773

Was imposed to bail out the East India Company, a key component to the British economy. Parliament gave the company control over importation and sale of the tea in colonies.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Colonists dumped chests of tea into the Boston Harbor in response to tax on tea.
Protists have occurred most recently in Charlotte, NC in response to the killing of an African-American by police officers. Police forces were sent in to contain these events just as red coats were sent to the harbor after the tea party.

Coercive Acts

Mar 25, 1774

Acts passed in direct response to the rebellion that was occurring within the colonies put in place in hopes to restore order. These include the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Quartering Act and the Quebec Act.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

Composed of delegates from the colonies in reaction to the Coercive Acts. They drafted a list of grievances and rights.

Shot Heard Round the World

Apr 19, 1775

Phrase that refers to the first shot of the American revolution and is considered the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

Managed the colonial war efforts and helped move America towards independence.

Common Sense

Jan 10, 1776

Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine stating the reasons that America should separate from England. Paine's Common Sense exposed the inhumane acts of England's parliament just as Sinclair exposed the horrendous conditions of the work force in the Industrial Revolution.

Declaration of Independance

Jul 4, 1776

Adopted by the Second Continental Congress. A written document declaring the United States as a free nation.