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Currency Act
The Currency Act was the name given to several acts passed by Great Britain to control paper money issued by American Colonists. Under this act, colonists could issue paper money in limited circumstances only. It was meant to protect British merchants from inflation when colonial money depreciated. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a direct tax imposed on the American Colonies by the British. It required printed material in the colonies to be on stamped paper from London. These were things like newspapers, magazines, legal documents, and more. The direct tax had to be paid in British currency, and not colonial paper money. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was a policy requiring American colonists to house and feed British troops. -
Refusal of Quartering Act
In January of 1766, the New York Assembly refused to enforce the Quartering Act. In August of the same year, violence breaks out in New York because of colonist's defiance of the Quartering Act. -
The Townsend Act
To raise money, Great Britain passed taxes on glass, paper and other items shipped to the colonies. Colonist met this act with a refusal to buy British goods. -
The Boston Massacre
Building tension between colonists and British soldiers exploded into violence when soldiers shot and killed 5 townspeople. 6 more were wounded in the incident. -
British Ship Attacked
During this time, British Royal Navy ships were assigned to patrol the waters off the coast of the colonies to examine the cargo on merchant ships. One of these Navy ships, called the Gaspee, was attacked by colonists in 1772. The lieutenant was wounded and the ship was set on fire. This incident was met with more backlash from the British. -
The Tea Act
This act gave a monopoly on tea to the East India company and undermined colonial merchants. It also angered Colonists because they felt it was another example of "taxation without representation." -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists in Boston who called themselves "The Sons of Liberty" boarded three British ships and dumped the full cargo of tea into the harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts
These acts were a group of four laws passed by Great Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party. The laws replaced the government of Massachusettes with appointed officials from England. They required colonists charged with violent crimes to be tried in England. The laws also expanded and strengthened the Quartering Act, and expanded the Canadian border in an effort to stop colonists from claiming new land. -
Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, bringing together representatives from each of the colonies (except Georgia). They discuss the colonies' relationship with Great Britain. The members announced their rights, and decided to boycott British goods. -
Common Sense is Published
Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense", which outlined the need for American independence. -
Declaration of Independence
On this day, the thirteen American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain.
