Road to Revolution

Navigation Act

1650

The Navigation Acts were laws enforcing the colonists to sell their goods to England and only England.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

The sugar act is a law enforcing colonists to pay a tax for all sugar products.

Stamp Act

1765

The Stamp Act is a law enforcing all colonists to pay a tax for all paper products.

Declaratory Act

1766

Parliament declares they have power to make laws for the colonies, "in all cases whatsoever".

Townshend Acts

1767

The Townshend Acts is a law enforcing that the colonist had to pay a tax for paint, lead, glass, paper, and tea. This angered the colonist so they started smuggling, the colonist got searched and they were guilty until proven innocent. Sons of liberty started to harm the tax collectors, soldiers showed up to protect them.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

~March 5 1770: soldier strikes colonist.
-crowd gathers and hassles soldier, throwing snowballs and shouting insults.
-More troops arrive, colonists get more and more angry.
-”Fire if you dare!”

Tea Act

May 10, 1773

The Tea Act allowed British East India Company to sell tea directly to colonists.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

~Members of Sons of Liberty dump over 340 chests of tea in Boston harbor.
~”Boston harbor is a teapot tonight!”
~Caused problems for loyalist/Tories
-Loyalist/Tory = a person in the Colony who remains “loyal” to the King and Great Britain.

Intolerable Act

1774

The Intolerable Act punished Boston for Tea Party and Boston Harbor closed until Tea was paid for.

Quartering Act

1774

The Quartering Act enforced the colonists to let the soldiers stay at their house whenever they wanted to. ”if a soldier comes knocking at the door…. You’re sleeping on the floor.”

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 and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

Battle of Lexington was the 1st battle of American Revolutionary War. It was the "Shot heard around the world." said by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It was a British Victory.
Battle of Concord- Americans stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston.

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

May 10, 1775

~Print $$$$
~Set up post office
~Created Continental Army led by George Washington .
~Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
-Kings hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response. (05/10/1775)

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 at 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.
(01/10/1776)

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.

Votes for Independence

Jul 2, 1776

Declaration of Independence signed.

Jul 4, 1776