road to revolution

sugar act

Apr 5, 1764

indirect tax(of of sight =out of mind)
duties on molasses and sugar smuggling
British crackdown on smuggling of goods smugglers
enforced by writs of assistance (search warrant)

stamp act

1765

purchased only with value silvers coins if didn't purchase=fined or jailed protester stamp act, feeling rights were violated direct tax

Quaterin act

Mar 24, 1765

when soldiers come into your house and sleep in your bed

declaratory act

1766

parliament declares it has power to make laws for colonies in all cases whatsoever
parliament passes this to save face

towshend act

Jun 29, 1767

taxes on glass.lead,paints,paper,and tea
searched for smuggled goods
sons of liberty start to do violents acts
British solders arrive protect tax collectors
colonist anger

boston massacre

Mar 5, 1770

the crowd gathers and hassles soldiers ,throwing snowballs and shouting insults.
More troops arrive, the colonists get more and more angry.
"Fire if you dare!"

Tea Act

1773

Passed in 1773 and allowed British East India Company to sell directly to colonists

Boston tea party

Dec 16, 1773

members of sons of liberty dump over 30 chests of tea into Boston harbor
Boston harbor is a teapot tonight
caused problem for loyalist/Tories
loyal/troy= a person in the colony who remains "loyal' to the king and great Britain

Intolerable Acts

1774

Passed to punish Boston for Tea Party

continental congress meets

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 out 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

Battle 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

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 Congress Army led by George Washington
Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their right
King hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response

battle of bunker hill

Jun 16, 1775

fought on breed's hill
dont 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
"Everything 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

2nd Continental congress

Jun 15, 1776

debate on declaring Independence Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

Votes for Independence

Jul 2, 1776

The Second Continental Congress, assembled in Philadelphia, formally adopts Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence from Great Britain.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

There 56 signers on the Declaration of Independence