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April 5th
Although it reduced the tax on molasses, The Sugar Act was strictly enforced, so colonist ended up paying for more taxes -
April
Those who opposed the British taxes called themselves "Patriots" and the Sons of Liberty was born with Sam Adams as its leader -
Stamp Act
Tax on printed items, first direct tax on the colonists, added a fee to printed materials such as legal documents and newspapers -
Quartering Act
required colonial assembles to house and provision soldiers. -
Aug. 13th
A Mob led by the Sons of Liberty tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector. -
Declaratory Act
Repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament's right to rule the colonies as saw fit. -
Import taxes
Import taxes on a variety of goods were collected to support royal officials in the colonies, removing the responsibility from the colonial assemblies. The Townsend Acts were so unpopular that all the taxes were repealed, except the one on tea. -
March 5th, 1770
A group of colonist hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was created to save the East India Tea Company. Although it lowered the price of tea, it gave the company a monopoly and threatened the business of colonial importers. -
Boston Tea Party
Boston Patriots dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships laden with tea and Dumped the tea into the harbor. -
Coercive Acts
he Intolerable Act officially called the Coercive Acts, these laws were meant to force Massachusetts to pay for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The laws closed Boston Harbor and forced colonists to house British soldiers in their homes. -
Sept. 5th, 1774
The First Continental Congress meets. Agree to boycott British goods. -
Patrick Henry speech
Patrick Henry, gives his most famous speech, in the House of Burgesses. “Give me Liberty or give me Death” -
July 1775
Congress sends an “Olive Branch” to King George III. He rejected the petition and sent more troops to Boston. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
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2nd Continental Congress meets
Congress names George Washington commander of Continental Army -
Battle of Bunker Hill
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Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
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Declaration of Independence is published
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson -
Period: to
winter
Baron Von Steuben trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Penn. -
Patriots win Saratoga
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Feb. 6th 1778
France signs an alliance with United States -
May
General Clinton captures 3000 Patriot soldiers as he takes Charleston, South Carolina. -
General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown.
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Treaty of Paris signed
