APush Road to Revolution Timeline

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    Road to Revolution

  • Sugar Act

    Indirect tax on sugar products
    Designed to help payoff debt from French & Indian War
    Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Quartering Act added later
  • Boston Massacre

    5 American killed by British Soldiers' open fire
    Truth unclear what really happened
    Causes Britain to back off for a while
  • Tea Act

    Tax on tea
    British East India Co. facing bankruptcy
    Monopoly
    Sons of Liberty assemble to react
    Causes Boston Tea Party
  • Boston Tea Party

    In response to Tea Act
    $1-$3 million in damage
    340 crates of tea dumped in Boston Harbor
    Outrages King George III
  • Intolerable Acts

    Series of acts designed to punish those directly involved in the Boston Tea Party
    Closes Boston Port, shuts down government in MA, sends charged British soldiers to Britain for trial, quarter troops 1:1 ratio, takes away land
    Isolates Boston
  • 1st Continental Congress

    Result of Intolerable Acts
    Discussed rights and how to protect them
    Committees of Correspondence
  • Lexington & Concord

    Militia forming in MA
    Seize leaders and munitions
    American Spy Network - Paul Revere
    King George reacts immediately; poor plan for GB
    Morale boost for Americans; 3:1 death ration
  • 2nd Continental Congress

    Not all believe in independence
    New faces: Franklin, Hancock, Jefferson
    Debate reconciliation or independence
    Olive Branch Petition
  • Olive Branch Petition

    Asks Britain to cease fire in Boston, repeal Acts, refine colonial rights
    Radials and Adams angry
    King George sees it as joke
    Declares colonies in state of rebellion
  • Declaration of Independence

    Written by Thomas Jefferson
    Expresses American mind, rights, justification
    Passes July 4, 1776
    Marks beginning of Revolution