Road To Revolution

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

Indirect tax (out of sight = out of mind)
Duties on molasses and sugar

Stamp Act

Oct 7, 1765

Tax on all paper products
Official stamp/seal on all paper items (proof tax was paid)
Legal Documents
Licenses
Newspapers
Pamphlets
Playing cards
Purchased only with valuables silver coins
If didn’t purchase = fined or jailed
Protested Stamp Act, feeling rights were violated
Direct Tax
(In your face tax)

Declaratory Act

Mar 18, 1766

Parliament declares it has power to make laws for the colonies “In all cases whatsoever”
Parliament passes this to save face

Townshend Acts

Jun 15, 1767

Taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea
Searched for smuggled goods
Sons of liberty start to do violent acts
British Soldiers arrive to protect tax collectors

Tea Act

May 10, 1773

Passed in 1773 and allowed British East India Company (BEIC) to sell tea directly to colonists
Lower Prices than colonist merchants prices
Tax Tea cheaper than smuggled tea
Less smuggling = more tax money
Colonial Merchant feared BEIC would put them out of business

Intolerable Acts

Mar 31, 1774

Passed to punish Boston for Tea Party
Boston Harbor Closed until tea paid for
Massachusetts Charter Canceled
Royal Officials had trial in Britain
Quartering Act required colonists to house soldiers
“ If a soldier comes knocking at your door…. You’re sleeping on the floor “
Large amount of land given to Quebec
General Thomas Gage became new governor of MA

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

All colonies but Georgia have representatives
voted to send a “statement of grievances”
Voted to Boycott all British Trade
Patrick Henry – VA rep. urged colonists to unite against Britain

1,000’s of Redcoats in Boston

Apr 1, 1775

General Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way.

Midnight ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

Paul Revere rides to warn the Sons of Liberty in Lexington and Concord that the "British are coming… The British are coming.."

Battles of Lexington & Concord

Apr 19, 1775

Battle of Lexington -
1st battle of American Revolutionary War
“shot heard round the world” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
BRITISH Victory
Battle of Concord -
Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
AMERICAN Victory

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
AMERICAN Victory

Second Continental Congress meet

May 10, 1775

Print $$$$
Set up post office
Created Continental Army led by George Washington
Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
King hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

fought on Breed’s Hill
“Don’t Fire until you see the whites of their eyes” - William Prescott
BRITISH Victory (Americans ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy.

Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

Jul 15, 1775

Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
Need weapons

Common Sense

Jan 10, 1776

pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
“Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ‘TIS TIME TO PART” -Thomas Paine, Common Sense

British Surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
BRITISH retreat – AMERICAN Victory

The Declaration of Independence is signed!

Jul 4, 1776