Key Events Leading to the American Revolution

The Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

The French and Indian War was very expensive for Great Britain. To collect more money, British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act called for taxes on paper goods in the American colonies (newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents). This taxation was highly opposed by colonists.
https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Stamp-Act/598934#:~:text=The%20act%20said%20that%20people,and%20they%20held%20violent%20demonstrations.

The Quartering Act

Mar 24, 1765

The Quartering Act required colonists to house British soldiers in barracks provided by each colony. If these barracks became full, British soldiers were to be accommodated in inns, stables, and taverns. This enraged colonists. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/parliament-passes-the-quartering-act

The Townshend Acts

1767

The Townshend Acts is a collection of four acts that heavily taxed colonists and detailed how England was to collect the taxes. The Townshend Acts placed taxes on tea, paint, lead, paper, and glass. Colonists detested these taxes and many refused to follow them. Some colonists also resorted to violence in protest of these laws. https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Townshend-Acts/601074

The Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

The Boston Massacre was a riot that led to the deaths of five colonists. In Boston, a group of colonists began heckling and brawling a British soldier. This escalated to a large mob of British soldiers and colonists in the street. Eventually, the British soldiers panicked and fired into the crowd. This event led to rising tensions against the British. https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre

The Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

To protest the unjust taxes on tea and other goods, a group of about sixty men disguised themselves as indigenous people and snuck onto British ships that were delivering crates of tea to the colonies. The colonists dumped the tea chests into Boston harbor. This event became inspirational to the colonists and helped people realize that action could be taken to protest the taxation. https://www.britannica.com/event/Boston-Tea-Party

First Continental Congress

1774

In 1774, 56 delegates from 12 colonies came together in Philadelphia to discuss the grievances of the colonists and rising tensions with Great Britain. There were several weeks of discussion and debate. Delegates included John Adams, John Jay, Samuel Adams, and George Washington. https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/congress.html

Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

The battles of Lexington and Concord began the American Revolutionary War. On the evening of April 18, British troops were ordered to march from Boston to Concord to destroy weapons and ammunition held by the colonists. However, patriots and minutemen were ready and the two sides met in Lexington on the morning of April 19th. This battle marked the beginning of war. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/lexington-and-concord