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French and Indian War
A war which saw British and French Empires go up against each other starting due to a debate on whether or not the upper Ohio River belonged to the British.
The results of this war angered colonists as it limited their ability to take land from the Indians alongside forcing them to deal with heavy war expenses and taxes that they had no say in. -
Sugar Act
Lowered the tax on imports from the Caribbean and granted British courts the right to try colonial smugglers removing power from the colonial courts.
This incited town meetings that sought for united protests throughout the colonies calling against taxation without representation. -
Stamp Act
A tax, represented by a stamp, was required on all printed material.
Colonists responded by boycotting all British goods via the organization of the Stamp Act Congress, the assistance of the Committees of Congress alerting people to these new acts, and The Sons of Liberty organizing direct action which took to the streets and sometimes became violent. -
Declaratory Act
The coordinated action worked with British Parliament repealing the stamp act and declaring via this Act that the British had complete control over the governing of the colonies.
Some colonists feared this Act implied more taxes were soon to be implemented whilst others opted to celebrate for what they saw as a political victory. -
Townshend Act
Great Britain, still in need of money, implemented taxes on goods imported to the colonies and prohibited smuggling with the creation of a new board of customs.
Another boycott ensued from the colonists with the help of the Daughters of Liberty who encouraged homespun clothes that would replace British ones. -
Tea Act
Gave all control of the trade to the East India Tea Company, with tax exemptions and rebates which lowered the price of tea.
Colonists were enraged, boarding the East India company ships and dumping loads of tea overboard as a sign of defiance to tell the British that they could not tax whatever goods they saw fit. -
The Start of the Revolutionary War
A battle broke out between British Soldiers and Massachusetts militiamen at the towns of Lexington and Concord.
Many colonists were weary about becoming an independent nation, specifically the higher class that feared those in the lower class would start to think they deserved to have a say in the political process.