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Events Leading To the Revolutionary War
Project, Mr. Gauthier, due 10/3, Christopher Vaughan -
Proclamation Of 1763
The British released the Proclamation Of 1763, which prevented colonists from settling anywhere West of the Appalachian Mountains. They did this in an attempt to stop the conflicts and issues involving the Native Americans and hoped to create a proper buffer zone between colonists and natives. Colonists disliked the proclamation and grew angry, since the British did not properly enforce the proclamation, colonists continued to move west and ignored the proclamation. -
The Sugar Act
The British Parliament passes the sugar act, which gave an indirect tax on sugar and molasses. It halved the duty of foreign molasses, placed duties on on certain imports into America. Most importantly, it strengthened enforcement of the law allowing prosecutors to try smuggling cases in a vice-admiralty court, which was much less forgiving than the colonial court. Colonists were very unhappy with the act, and this caused the disagreements and anger between Britain and the Colonists to grow. -
The Stamp Act
The British parliament passes the Stamp Act, an act which requires colonists to purchase special stamps to prove payment of tax on an item. This also includes a special tax on cards and dice. Colonists did not like the act, as a result, colonists unite to form the "Sons of Liberty" a protest group, and harass stamp distributors, and even government workers. Colonists then prepared a Declaration of Rights and Grievances. -
The Quartering Act
The British Parliament pass a new act called the Quartering Act(s). The new act gave British commanders the permission to house soldiers in empty private homes and other builders whenever they wished. Colonists were outraged, and the New York assembly refused to comply act. As a result, Parliament suspended the New York government and their decisions. This once again grew the growing tension between the British and the Colonists. -
Patrick Henry's "Treason" Speech
Patrick Henry gave a speech talking about how he thought that only colonial assemblies had the right to impose taxes on the constituents and that right could not be assigned to any other body. He ended his speech with the iconic line, "If this be treason, make the most of it." . He included the Parliament and the king in his speech, and later apologized and pledged his loyalty to the king to avoid punishment. -
The Repeal Of The Stamp Act
The Parliament gives in to the widespread Boycott, and repeals the stamp act. However; soon after it releases a new "Declaratory Act" which gave them the right make laws to "bind the colonies and people of America" whenever they want too. Colonists grew even more angry, and tons of protesting began. -
The Townshend Act/Duties
The Parliament passes the Townshend Act/Duties. This act gives Britain the ability to impose taxes on certain colonial imports and allows them to station troops at major colonial ports to protect customs officers. Colonists protest "Taxation without representation" and organize a new boycott of foreign/imported goods. This is the last major event to take place before the Boston Massacre. -
The Boston Massacre
British troops stationed in Boston are taunted and attacked by an angry mob of protesting colonists. At one point, a troop gets agitated/attacked and fires into the crowd. Thinking this was a que, all the other soldiers follow and fire into the crowd killing a total of 5 colonists. Directly following the event, colonial agitators label the conflict a massacre and publish a dramatic engraving depicting the violence, making it seem much worse then it actually was. -
The Tea Act
The British give the East India company special concessions in the colonial tea business and shuts out colonial tea merchants, basically forcing colonists to purchase tea from the East India company. Colonists in Boston rebel, and throw tons of East India Company tea into the Boston Harbor in an event called the Boston Tea Party. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest held by the Sons Of Liberty. Protesters went down to Boston harbor, some were dressed as native Americans. The protesters picked up all 342 chests of East India Company tea, and over 3 hours, they threw them overboard into the Boston Harbor costs the tea company thousands of dollars. This was in direct protest of the tea act. -
The Intolerable Acts
The British Parliament passes the intolerable acts. These acts closed Boston Harbor and took away Massachusetts's self-government and historical rights. These acts were meant to punish the colonists in Massachusetts for the actions of the Boston Tea Party. Colonists were very angry and outraged by these acts, and the American Revolution would soon come as a result of this growing anger. -
Lexington and Concord
General Gage commands his troops to march into Concord, Massachusetts, and seize all colonial weapons and gear. Minutemen find out about their plan and intercept them and engage in battle. They first battle at Lexington and then at Concord. -
Battle Of Bunker Hill
Gage decided to attack Militiamen at breed's hill. He sent 2,400 troops marching towards breed's hill. The colonists waited to attack until the last possible minute, and then began to shoot at the incoming troops. The soldiers that survived attacked once again, and failed. They tried one last time and were successful, but only because the militiamen ran out of ammunition. -
The Second Continental Congress
A congress created in Philadelphia, Massachusetts, that suggests a sweeping radical plan- that each colony set up its own government and that the congress declare the colonies independent. The congress released the Olive Branch Petition, a petition sent to the king urging for a return to "the former harmony" between Britain and the colonies. The petition was quickly rejected by the king. -
Signing Of The Deceleration Of Independence
On July 4th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson and the Second continental congress signed one of the most notable and important documents known today, The Deceleration of Independence. This document gave colonists hope and something to fight for, and the date on which it was signed was named Independence day. The document talks about individual freedoms and rights and tons of the rights we have today come from this document.
