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Events of the revolutionary war
Some main events leading to the revolution. -
The Stamp Act
As a result of the French and Indian war, the colonies were taxed on most common goods such as printed paper. -
Quartering Acts
The Quartering Acts required the colonies to house British soldiers in barracks provided by the colonies. If the barracks were too small to house all the soldiers, then localities were to accommodate the soldiers in local inns, livery stables, ale houses, victualling houses and the houses of sellers of wine. -
The Townshend Acts
Parliament again tried to assert its authority by passing legislation to tax goods that the Americans imported from Great Britain. The Crown made a board of customs commissioners to stop smuggling and corruption among local officials in the colonies. -
The Boston Massacre
Tensions between the British occupiers and Boston residents boiled over one late afternoon, when a disagreement between wigmaker and a British soldier led to a crowd of 200 colonists surrounding seven British troops. When the Americans began taunting the British and throwing things at them, the soldiers apparently lost their cool and began firing into the crowd. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty decided to confront the British head-on. Disguised as Mohawks, they boarded three ships in Boston harbor and destroyed more than 92,000 pounds of British tea by dumping it into the harbor. -
The intolerable Acts
In the spring of 1774, Parliament passed a series of laws which closed Boston Harbor until the cost was paid for the destroyed tea. -
The first Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, from September 5, to October 26, 1774. -
Lexington and Concord
At the battle of Lexington, the British force was confronted by 77 American militiamen, and they began shooting at each other. Seven Americans died, but other militiamen managed to stop the British at Concord, and continued to harass them on their retreat back to Boston. -
Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress ordered the Declaration of Independence to be engrossed—or written out in a large legible hand.
