Road To Revolution

the sugar act

1764

idirect tax (out of sight = out of mind)
duties on molasses and sugar

stamp act

1765

tax on all paper products
official stamp/seal on all paper items
proof taxs was paid -legal documents,licenses,newspaper,pamphlets,playing cards

Declaratory Act

1766

Parliament declares it has power to make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”
Parliament passes this to save face

Townshend Acts

1767

Taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea
Searched for smuggled goods
Sons of Liberty start to do violent acts
British Soldiers arrive to protect tax collectors

Tea Act (not a tax)

1773

Passed in 1773 and allowed British East India Company (BEIC) to sell tea directly to colonists
Lower Prices than colonist merchant prices
Tax Tea cheaper than smuggled tea
Less smuggling = more tax money
Colonial Merchants feared BEIC would put them out of business

boston tea party

Dec 16, 1773

members of the sons of liberty dumped over 340 chest of tea into the boston harbor

Intolerable Acts

1774

Passed to punish Boston for Tea Party
Boston Harbor Closed until tea paid for
Massachusetts Charter cancelled
Royal officials had trial in Britain
Quartering Act required colonists to house soldiers
“If a soldier comes knocking at the door….
you’re sleeping on the floor”
Large amount of land given to Quebec
General Thomas Gage became new governor of MA

continental congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

all colonies but goergia have representative voted to send a statment of grievances voted to boycott all british trade patrick henry va rep urged colonist to untie arganst britain

First Continental Congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

All colonies but Georgia have representatives
voted to send a “statement of grievances”
Voted to Boycott all British Trade
Patrick Henry – VA rep. urged colonists to unite against Britain

Midnight ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

Paul Revere rides to warn the Sons of Liberty in Lexington and Concord that the "British are coming… The British are coming.."

Battles of Lexington & Concord

Apr 19, 1775

Battle of Lexington -
1st battle of American Revolutionary War
“shot heard round the world” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
BRITISH Victory
Battle of Concord -
Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
AMERICAN Victory

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
AMERICAN Victory

Second Continental Congress meet

May 10, 1775

Print money
Set up post office
Created Continental Army led by George Washington
Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
King hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

fought on Breed’s Hill
“Don’t Fire until you see the whites of their eyes” - William Prescott
BRITISH Victory (Americans ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy.

Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

Jul 15, 1775

Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
Need weapons

“Common Sense” published by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
“Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ‘TIS TIME TO PART” -Thomas Paine, Common Sense

British Surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
BRITISH retreat – AMERICAN Victory

Second Continental Congress meet again

Jun 15, 1776

Debate on declaring independence
Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document