Road to Revolution

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

Overview:
This act stopped colonists from buying land west of the Appalachian mountains so they didn’t get in any fights with the Indians or the French.
Significance:
This angered colonists because the land was already bought east of the Appalachians and they were unable to get to their land. It also increased taxes to colonists to help pay for the French and Indian War.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

Overview:
Britain wanted to stop the smuggling of trade between colonists and other buyers, so they had colonists fill out paperwork on where they’re going and what was on their ship. And they could only trade with Britain. They taxed foreign goods.
Significance: Colonists were angry because of the lack of representation in the parliament and the taxes

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

Overview:
Colonists had to pay a tax on papers like documents, papers, and playing cards. It starts a resistance against the crown. This starts the boycotting.
Significance:
They were mad because of the lack of representation in Parliament, and they were angry because they had to pay to get their ideas out. It was the principle of having to pay to get your ideas out. Big companies that produced a lot of papers hated this law because that is a lot of stamps that they needed to pay for.

Quartering Act

May 3, 1765

Overview:
The Parliament approved an act where the colonies had to set up housing and barracks for the soldiers, but if they were too small they could live with colonists.
Significance:
Colonists were angered because that meant they had to house British soldiers in their homes and give them supplies to survive.

Declaratory Act

Mar 18, 1766

Overview: The Parliament passed an act stating that England can make laws in the colonies.
Significance: Colonists were angered by this because why should they have to listen to rules that were made an ocean away.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

Overview:
British soldiers were getting harassed by colonists. Colonists started throwing snow, and rocks at the soldiers. Supposedly a British soldier screamed ¨dont fire!¨ and a British Soldier misheard the order and fired. After a soldier fired the rest of them fired at the colonists.

Significance:
This got the colonists extremely angry because they thought British soldiers shot them for no reason. This event caused a ton of propaganda to come out against the Soldiers and angered colonists.

Tea Act

Dec 16, 1773

Overview:
British monopolized a company's Tea making Tea more expensive in the colonies.
Significance:
Colonists were angered because they shouldn’t be punished for a company falling. They also thought it was a way to make people agree with the Townshend Acts.