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Put a three-cent tax on foreign refined sugar and increased taxes on coffee, indigo, and certain kinds of wine. It banned importation of rum and French wines. These taxes affected only a certain part of the population, but the affected merchants were very vocal.
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This was the first direct British tax on American colonists. Every newspaper, pamphlet, and other public and legal document had to have a Stamp (British seal) on it. The Stamp, of course, cost money. The colonists didn't think they should have to pay for something they had been doing for free for many years
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These laws placed new taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. Colonial reaction to these taxes was the same as to the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, and Britain eventually repealed all the taxes except the one on tea.
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Five American colonists were shot by British troops.
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American colonists dumped 342 containers of tea into the Boston harbor protesting taxes
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The First Continental Congress declared its opposition to the Acts of British Parliament, saying they are "not to be obeyed," and also promoted the formation of local militia units.
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St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia.
Patrick Henry presented resolutions to raise a militia, and to put Virginia in a posture of defense. -
Famous silversmith who rode through the countryside to warn the American colonists that the British were coming.
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Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It was
first published anonymously. -
Richard Henry Lee proposes an independent country
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On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved
the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson.
With this stirring political document, the American
Revolution had formally begun. -
As a show of force, two British frigates sail up the Hudson River blasting their guns.
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British Gen. Howe leads 15,000 soldiers against Washington's army in the Battle of Long Island. Washington, outnumbered two to one, suffers a severe defeat
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After he is caught spying on British troops on Long Island, Nathan Hale is executed without a trial, his last words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
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George Washington takes 2400 of his men and recrosses the Delaware River. Washington then conducts a surprise raid on 1500 British-Hessiansat Trenton, New Jersey.
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Flag Resolution flag possibly designed by Hopkinson, likely sewn by Betsy Ross
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United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of
Paris. This treaty recognized the independence of the American colonies, and granted the Americans control of the western territory from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River. -
General George Washington resigns his commission as the
Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.