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Molasses Act of 1733
The Sugar Act of 1733 declared that imported molasses, sugar, and rum had a tax on it. The colonists protested that they alone could not produce enough of these goods. The act was amended with the Sugar Act of 1764. -
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Albany Congress
The Albany Congress was a conference held in Albany, New York with delegates from 7 different colonies. The delegates were trying come up with defense mechanisms and secure an alliance with the Five Colonies. -
Sugar Act of 1764
The Sugar Act reduced the tax on molasses, but added tax to other some other imported goods. The Patriots protested the act by refusing to buy some imported British goods, violent fights, and increased colonial manufacturing. In response, the British eventually repealed the act. -
Currency Act
Colonist's currency rules were getting out of hand, so the British rule stepped in by putting in to place the currency act. The act put the British in control of the colonists' money system. The colonists didn't like this, and rebelled. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an act that put tax on all the paper used by colonists. The tax was small, it was more the level that the act brought the colonists down to that offended them. The colonists viewed the tax as a fundraiser for England that was put upon them without their permission. Few colonists did anything, until the Virginia Stamp Act Resolves was approved. -
Quartering Act of 1765
The Quartering Act of 1765 required the colonies to house the British soldiers. The headstrong colonies didn't like being ordered to do something, they liked to be asked and then give permission. Most pictures perceive the soldiers taking over homes, but this wasn't the case most of the time. Some soldiers had to stay in tents on public areas because of this, which strained their patience with the Patriots. They began getting in fights, and eventually this led up to the Boston Massacre. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was an Act that the British passed to make up for the repeal of the Stamp Act. It stated the British's complete power to tax and make laws. The colonists didn't like this, and some saw it as a sign that more taxes and laws were to come. -
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Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were four acts made by the British to assert authority over the unruly colonists. The act threatened the continuance of self-governing for the colonists.Therefore, the colonists responded with acts of violence and smuggled goods. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre happened in Boston. British troops came to assist a soldier who was being pelted by snowballs from a crowd of Patriots. People were wounded and killed, and both the Patriots and the British were angry. The famous Paul Revere engraved an image called "The Bloody Massacre", which depicts the fight. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was an attempt made by the British to help the British East India Company sell tea. The act made it easier for the company to undersell its competition. The act led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an act of defiance from the Patriots. The Patriots (disguised as Indians) threw large amounts of English tea from British ships into the sea. The British responded by the Intolerable Acts to punish the colonies. -
Boston Port Act
The Boston Port Act was an act passed to punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party. It was one of the Intolerable Acts. The act closed the port until all of the fees were paid from the Boston Tea Party. Of course, the colonies didn't like this. They protested. This act raised tensions even more. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act was an act passed by the British that made the practice of the Roman Catholic religion allowed and made the French colony of Canada a part of the British Empire. The act was seen to be threatening. This act was a cause of the American Revolution. -
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First Continental Congress
Delegates from all the colonies, except Georgia, met as a result of the Intolerable Acts. They met in Philadelphia to organize resistance against the British. The congress passed the Declaration of Rights and the Articles of Association. The Congress raised tensions between the British and the Colonies, but not many responses came from British, because it was conducted in a private manner -
Edenton Tea Party
This was one of the earliest women's political actions in history, held at Mrs. Elizabeth King's home, with 51 women attending. They were supporting taxation without representation. The British were shocked because women's movements weren't common. The Tea Party wasn't taken seriously by most of the British. -
Paul Revere's Ride
Paul Revere was an express rider. On the day of his ride, he was summoned to give news about the British troops. After he had delivered his message, he and two others warned the towns. One man was able to change history. -
Shot Heard Round the World
After Paul Revere warned the country folk, a battle began in Lexington to stop the British from seizing guns. The British continued on to Concord, not realizing that most of the weapons had been relocated. When they did, they angrily burned what there was. The Red-Coats were chased back to Boston after reaching Concord's North Bridge, and it marks the start of the American Revolution. -
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Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress had many of our Founding Fathers attending. They made many important political decisions, such as The Declaration of Independence. -
Common Sense
"Common Sense" is a pamphlet by Thomas Paine. It presented the idea that Patriots shouldn't be fighting for taxation without representation, they should be fighting for freedom. Obviously, the British didn't like it. But the Patriots did. It arguably was one of the most contributing factors to the idea of The Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a document declaring America's independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote it, and the Founding Fathers signed it. It ended the American Revolution. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were adopted on November 15, 1777, but it wasn't ratified by the states until March 1st, 1781. The document was designed to create a government completely different from the British government. The government was a good idea in theory, but in reality, it gave Congress no power to get money or request troops. However, it demonstrated what no government is like, the same way that the British demonstrated too much government.
