Road to revolution

sugar act

1764

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

stamp act

1765

• tax on all paper products -official stamp/seal on all paper items ( proof tax was paid)

Declaratory acts

1766

• Parliament declares it has power to make laws for the colonies " in all cases what so ever"
• Parliament passed this to save face

townshend acts

1767

• taxes on glass , leads , paints, paper, and tea
• searched for smuggled goods

Tea act

1773

• Passed 1773 and allowed british East India company (BEIC) to sell tea directly to colonists
  • lower prices than colonists merchant prices
  • tax tea cheaper than smuggled tea
  • less smuggled = more tax money

Boston tea party

Dec 16, 1773

• members of sons of liberty Dump over 340 chests of tea into Boston Harbor -caused problems for loyalists / Tories
  • loyalists / Tory = a person in the colony who remains "loyal" to the king & Great britain

Intolerable acts

1774

• passed to punish Boston fpr tea party
  • Boston Harbor closed until tea paid for
  • Massachusetts charter cancelled
  • Quartering acts requires colonist to house soldiers
    • "if a soldier come knocking at the door... you're sleeping on the floor"
• General Thomas Gage became new governor of MA

Quarting act

1774

first continental congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

All colonies but Georgia have representatives.
Voted to send a " statement of grievance"
voted to boycott all British trade.
Patrick Henry - VA rep. urged colonists to unite against Britiain

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-
  • !st battle of American Revolutionary war
  • 'Shot heard round the world '- Ralph waldo Emerson
  • British
• Battle of concord- -Americans stop the British and force them to retreat back to Boston
• AMERICAN VICTORY

Capture a fort ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

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

The second continental congress

May 10, 1775

• The print money
• set up post office
• created continental army led by George Washington
• Sent olive branch asking king to protect their rights
  • King hires 300,00 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" published by thomas paine

Jan 10, 1776

• Pamphlet inspires more colonists to come patriots
• "every this that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries," Tis time to parts"- 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

fireworks