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Sugar Act
The sugar act placed a tax on things that previously were not taxed, lowered the tax on molasses, and made offenders be tried by a judge instead of a jury. The significance of this is that it was the start of the British attempting to take control of the colonist's actions. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act made colonists pay a tax for all documents and books, and then place a stamp on them to show that they paid it. The significance of this event is that it was the first time that the colonists joined together to all boycott the British rule, and attempt to proclaim their self rule. -
The Boston Massacre
A mob gathered in front of the Boston Customs House and began taunting soldiers until five people were shot and either killed or wounded. The importance of this was that it increased tensions between colonists and the British. -
The Boston Tea Party
The colonist rebels dressed as Native Americans, and dumped about 18,000 pounds of tea into the harbor in an act of defiance against the Tea Act. The significance of this was that it caused the King to place very restrictive laws on Boston and the rest of Massachusetts. -
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a set of acts that shut down the Boston harbor, placed royal control over Massachusetts, and increased the housing of British soldiers. The importance of this was that in response to it, the colonists formed the First Continental Congress, and stated that if the British used force against them, they would fight back. -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Paine's 50-page pamphlet was widely read throughout the colonies, including by George Washington, and it stated that America's independance from Britain would allow for free trade and a life free of tyranny and where all people are equal. The importance of this pamphlet was that it included ideas that were used in the founding of the US, and helped shape it's principles.
