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End of French and Indian War
The Treaty of Paris was signed which ultimately ended the war. After the war France had given up their territory to the British. Then colonist started to feel resentment towards the British because the British were trying to tax them because they felt like the colonist owed them for fighting the war. -
Proclamation of 1763
After Indian tribes captured most of the British forts in the Ohio River valley and along the Great Lakes and raided settlements of western Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia during what was known as Pontiac's Rebellion, the British tried to enforce the Proclamation of 1763 to avoid further conflicts between the Indians and the colonists. The Proclamation of 1763 ordered the colonial settlers to remain east of the Appalachian Mountains. This irritated colonists, who continued to push westward. -
Sugar Act
The sugar act was passed os one of the ways for Britain to pay for the Seven Year's War. It taxed sugar and decreased the taxes on molasseses. It was put in place to stop the smuggling of molasses. This act led to the protest in the colonies. -
The Quartering Act is passed
After Parliament decided that the colonists could and should pay more to help the Empire, the unpopular law, the Quartering Act, was passed in early 1765. The Quartering Act required colonists to provide housing and supplies for the British troops stationed there after the French and Indian War. The Quartering Act caused colonists to complain; however, since they accepted Parliament's right to regulate trade and provide for defense, they went along with the changes. -
The Stamp Act is passed
Parliament imposed the Stamp Act, the first direct tax on the British colonies, to raise money from the colonists. The Stamp Act required colonists to pay a tax on almost all printed materials such as newspapers, books, court documents, contracts, and land deeds. Out of anger, Patriot leaders emerged, and some associations such as the Sons of Liberties formed to protest the tax. On top of protests, leaders also organized boycotts, which caused Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act in 1766. -
The Townshend Acts are passed
Parliament passed the Townshend Acts in 1767. These acts levied new import duties on everyday items, including glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. The colonists argued that they would not pay any new taxes to Parliament and resented Townshend's plans that would limit their financial control. As a response to the acts, the colonists brought back their protests, boycotts, and street violence. The largest riots occurred in Boston, where many British custom officials often abused their power. -
Boston Massacre
A group of British soldiers were harassed while guarding the Customs House. They then got nervous and fired into the crowd of people killing 5 people.This event was given the name the Boston Massacre. The British later withdrew their troops from Boston after the colonist form committees of correspondence in result to the massacre. -
Boston Tea Party
Due to the taxes being informed on the colonist they decided to boycott tea. This upset the British because the east India company was already struggling. The parliament allowed the British to sell directly to the colonist so the tea would be cheaper. The colonist felt like they were being trick and took matters into their own hands. They dressed up as Indians and dumped tea off of British ships into the harbor. -
The intolerable Acts
These were punitive laws passed by the parliament after the Boston Tea Party. These laws were put in act to punish the colonist for their disobedience. The people in Massachusetts were outraged by these laws and responded with violence, they ended up forcing the courts to shut down. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
War had erupted at Lexington and Concord, two towns in Boston. The war was provoked when Gage went to arrest Hancock and Adams in Lexington. By morning about 70 Patriots had gathered on the Lexington Green. The British commander order his militia to disperse, and a shot was fired, leaving eight Patriots dead. The British troops began their marched to concord and were stunned when they arrived. Patriots killed 200 British soldiers. Exhausted, the British reached the safety of Boston.