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Sugar and Molasses Act
Under the Molasses and Sugar Act colonial merchants were required to pay a tax on the importation of foreign molasses and sugar. The colonists were angry due to economic consequences. -
The Sugar Act
Parliament passed a modified version of the Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733, which was about to expire. The Sugar Act reduced the rate of tax on molasses from 6 pence per gallon to 3 pence per gallon. The situation disrupted the colonial economy. -
The Currency Act
This act was a British law passed by the Parliament of Great Britain that prohibited the publishing of new bills and republishing of existing currency. The colonist were very angry and protested forcefully against it. -
The Quatering Act
In 1765, Parliament passed the Quatering Act that required the colonies to to house and feed British soldiers who were serving in North America. With this act the British angered the colonists. The act further enraged tensions between the colonist and the British. -
The Stamp Act
The British parliament passed stamp act to help pay for the British troops stationed in the colonies during the Seven Years' War. This act required all American colonist to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. -
The Declaratory Act
A British Law, passed by the Parliament of Great Britain. This act stated that Parliament's authority was the same in America as it was in Britain, and declared Parliament's authority to pass laws that were secured on the American colonies. The was the British's response to the repeal of the Stamp Act. -
The Townsend Act
The Townsend Act imposed duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea brought into the colonies. Many Americans viewed the taxation as an abuse of power. The British agreed with this act. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between a patriot mob and British soldiers. When about 50 citizens attacked a British sentinel, the British called additional soldiers, which were attacked too. The soldiers fired into the mob killing 3 and wounding 8 others. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act was an act imposed on the American colonies by the British Government. The acts purpose was to bail out the floundering East India Company. This angered the colonists and led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of Massachusetts colonists, disguised as Mohawk Indians, boarded 3 ships in the Boston Harbor and threw 342 chests of tea overboard. They were lead by Samuel Adams, who was against the Tea Act. After the British found out about this, they shut down the Boston Harbor until all 342 chests were paid for. -
1st Continental Congress
In response to British Parliament's enactment of the Coercive Acts in the American colonies, the first session of the Continental Congress summoned at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. -
The Boston Port Act
The Boston Port Act was designed to punish the inhabitants of Boston. The Act was one of a series of British laws, known as the Intolerable Acts, that was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain in 1774. The 13 colonies were deeply disturbed by the act. -
The Quebec Act
The Quebec Act was passed by British Parliament and was designed to extend the boundaries of Quebec and guarantee religious freedom to Catholic Canadians. The Act was perceived as a new model for British Colonial administration. As a result of the Act, the American revolutionaries failed to gain the support of the Canadians. -
Edenton Tea Party
Mrs. Penelope Baker brought together 51 women and formed an alliance to support the American cause against "taxation without representation." The women drew up resolves to declare their intention to boycott British tea and cloth, this was a momentous step for colonist. The British did not take this seriously because it was led by women. -
Paul Revere's Ride
Paul Revere was summoned and given the task of riding to Lexington, with news that troops were about to March into the country side. Paul Revere's Ride was a very important part of history. -
Shot Heard Around The World
This was the first shot of the American Revolutionary War. No one really knows who fired the shot, but many more shots were fired after that. The Colonist and the British were both very angry. -
Common Sense
Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The language that Paine used, spoke to the common people of America and was the first work that openly asked for independence from Great Britain. -
2nd Continental Congress
The 2nd Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that started meeting in 1775. The committee consisted of 5 men, but the declaration was mostly the work of Thomas Jefferson. The Congress made several revisions to Jefferson's draft removing some things and keeping others. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence established the US as a new nation. This document declared the colonies separate from England. Following this King George III officially declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777, but the ratification of the Articles, by all 13 colonies, didn't occur until March 1, 1781. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government.
