Road to Revolution

Sugar Act

1764

Indirect tax. Tax on molasses.

Stamp Act

1765

Tax on all paper products. Official stamp seal on all paper items. ( proof the tax was paid. ) Purchased with only silver coins. If not purchased you were fined or imprisoned.

Townshend Act

1767

Tax on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. Searched for smuggled goods.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

Crowd gathers and they hassle the soldiers, throwing snowballs, and shouting insults
More troops arrive, colonists get more angry.
“Shoot if you dare”

Tea Act

1773

Passed in 1773 and allowed the British East India Company (BEIC) to sell tea directly to colonists.
Lower prices than colonist merchant prices
Tax Tea cheaper than smuggled tea
Less smuggling = more tax money

Boston Tea Party

1773

Members of Sons of Liberty dump over 340 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.
Caused problems for loyalists/Tories

Intolerable Acts

1774

Passed to punish Boston Tea Party
Boston Harbor closed until tea was paid for
Massachusetts charter canceled
Quartering Act required colonists to house soldiers
“If a soldier comes knocking at the door…. You’re sleeping on the floor.”
General Thomas Gage became new governor of MA.

Quartering Act

1774

Quartering Act required colonists to house soldiers
“If a soldier comes knocking at the door…. You’re sleeping on the floor.”

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

The first Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 British Colonies, that met to deal with the Intolerable Acts. Georgia was the only colony that did not send a representative to the Congress. They agreed to boycott British goods at first, if Parliament would not repeal the Intolerable Acts. Patrick Henry - VA rep. urged colonists to unit against Britain.

1000'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 and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

The battle of Lexington was the 1st battle of the American Revolutionary war. Referred to the shot heard around the world. British victory.
The battle of concord Americans stop the British and force them to retreat back to Boston.
AMERICAN victory.

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort.
Get all supplies in the fort including cannons.
American victory.

Second Continental Congress meeting

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

Declaratory Act

1776

Declare they protest from the British.

“Common Sense” published by Thomas Paine

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

Second Continental Congress meet again

Jun 15, 1776

Debate on declaring independence
Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

Second Continental Congress votes for Independence

Jul 2, 1776

All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence

The Declaration of Independence is signed.

Jul 4, 1776

We get freedom.