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Committees of Correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence plaed a huge role in starting the revolution. It was by a shadow government organized by American Patriots. They coordinated responses to Britain and share their plans that they had. The Committees of Correspondence were the beginning of a formal political union among the colonies. -
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Pre-Revolutionary War
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Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was enforced by the British Parliament on April 5, 1764. These laws angered the colonists becuse it put a tax on one of the most important items that tye used a lot. This law taxed sugar along with wine and other important items. Britain said that they needed the money in order to help protect the colonists and their colonies. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act was enforced on November 1, 1765. This law was enforced toward further destroying expenses of defending and protecting the nation. The Stamp Act placed duties on stamps that were needed on documents and other various items. This act, enforced by the Parliament, angered the Colonists just like the other acts. -
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were formed on November 6, 1765. There main goal was to protest the Stamp Act. They were American Patriots who wanted to protect the rights of the colonies. The Sons of Liberty also undertook the Boston Tea Party, a key point that led up to the American Revolution. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were passed by the British Parliament and were enforced on June 15, 1767. The Townshend Acts were named after Charles Townshend. They placed duties on paper, tea, glass, and other items. They were passed in order to pay for governors and judges. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an incident on March 5, 1770 where British troops shot and killed five men and wounded six others. The British troops had been stationed in Boston in order to enforce unpopular Parliamentary legislation. Tensions were growing between the colonists and the British soldiers because the colonists did not like having the British soldiers so close to them. When a mob gathered near British soldiers, the British fired after one of the colonists threw a club at a soldier. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was enforced by the British Parliament on May 10,1773. One of its goals was to reduce the massive amount of tea held by the British East India Company. This law put tax on all the tea the colonists bought. This act led to the colonists throwing the tea overboard. Another big part was that it allowed Britain to ship tea without paying taxes. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was on December 16, 1773. It was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty. Samuel Adams and a few other members of the Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawk Indians and raided the ship. It took them nearly three hours to empty the chests into the harbor. They threw over one million dollars worthof tea overboard. This angered Britain and was a big part of starting the American Revolution. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a series of punitive laws passed in 1774. The laws stripped Massachusetts of self government. Many colonists believed this took away the rights that every colony should have. These acts triggered outrage in the colonies. The Intolerable Acts also closed down Boston Harbor after the colonists dumped the tea overboard. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of twelve of the colonies. It was established on September 5, 1774. It was held in Carpenter's Hall and the only colony not present was Georgia. Many important people of American History were present, including George Washington. They decided to revolt and they basically started the American Revolution.
