Road to Revolution Timeline

By 20hhersey

  • Proclamation Line

    • Stopped Westward expansion, took land from colonists gave it back to natives which helped Native relations.
    • Colonists forced east of Appalachian Mountains and Britain took the Ohio River Valley away from the colonists.
    • Colonists were angered by their right to land being taken away.

  • Sugar Act

    -Lowers taxes from the molasses act with the goal of decreasing smuggling.
    - Put taxes on all sugary goods.
    - Writs of Assistance were being issued, and upset the colonists more than the actual tax.

  • Stamp Act

    • Taxes on all printed goods.
    • Colonists felt rights were being violated, so the Stamp Act was met with resistance and thus the Stamp Act Congress formed as a result.
    • The colonists continued smuggling and protesting - which sometimes turned violent or illegal methods were used (ex. tarring and feathering).

  • Quartering Act

    • Requires the colonists must house and feed British soldiers in the colonies.
    • Upsets the colonists more because they weren't for the soldiers being in colonial America, and now they had to house and feed the unwanted soldiers along with paying taxes. (Although smuggling persisted).

  • Townshend Acts

    • The Stamp Act was repealed by Britain and replaced with the Townshend Acts.
    • This allows the colonists to believe if they resist, they will get their way.
    • Taxes on goods the colonists cannot directly manufacture (ex. glass, paint, tea).
    • The money raised from taxes were used to finance and pay for the troops in the colonies, colonists opposed because they weren't for the increase in troop presence in the colonies.
    • Repealed after 4 years.

  • Boston Massacre

    • 5, later to be known 6, civilians were murdered by British soldiers in altercation in Boston.
    • This really pushed the colonists to fight back against Britain and started the appeal towards freedom, because the colonists felt their people were being killed on their land.
    • Propaganda and silver presses of a depiction of the massacre spread throughout the colonies.

  • Tea Act/Boston Tea Party

    • The tax on tea from the Townshend Acts stays implemented in the colonies.
    • The British East India Co. is in danger of bankruptcy, but a monopoly goes to the British East India Co.
    • The colonists are angry, so they boycott tea, tar and feather custom officials, and the Boston Tea Party happens.
    • Colonists dump 342 barrels ($1-3 million) of tea into Boston harbor, harbor is brown for a week. -King George III is not happy with how the colonists cost him so much money and continue to rebel

  • Appointment of General Gage as Governor of Boston

    • King George III appoints General Gage as governor of Massachusetts with the goal of arresting the rebels.
    • Increases the troop presence in the colonies.
  • Period: to

    Intolerable Acts/ 1st and 2nd Continental Congress

    • As a result of the Boston Tea Party, King George III implements the Intolerable Acts to punish those involved.
    • More taxes and increased troop presence.
    • The Sons of Liberty form.
    • The 1st and 2nd Continental Congress form in response to the Intolerable Acts. They want to answer the questions, "What are our rights? and "How do we defend them?"
    • Boycotts, non-importations, blacklisting, and committees of correspondence to enforce the colonists beliefs.

  • Lexington and Concord

    • The battle known for "the shot heard round the world"
    • Open rebellion, troop morale increased, Militias in MA take on British with almost 3x the casualties for British than colonists.
    • Hid their weapons before they could be found, spy network intricacy