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Although it reduced the tax on molasses, it was strictly enforced, so colonists ended up paying more taxes.
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Those who opposed the British taxes called themselves ''Patriots'' and the Sons of Liberty was born with Sam Adams as its leader.
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The tax on printed items was the first direct tax on the colonists. It added a fee to printed materials such as legal documents and newspapers. This action was The Stamp Act.
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Following the French and Indian War, Britain maintained a standing army in the colonies. This act required colonial assemblies to house and provision soldiers.
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A mob tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector.
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This act repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament's right to rule the colonies as saw fit.
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Import taxes on a variety of goods were collected to support royal officials in the colonies, removing the responsibility from the colonial assemblies. The Townsend Acts were so unpopular that all the taxes were repealed, except the one on tea.
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A group of colonists hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists.
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The Tea Act was created to save the East India Tea Company. Although it lowered the price of tea, it gave the company a monopoly and threatened the business of colonial importers.
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Boston Patriots dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships laden with tea and dumped the tea into the harbor.
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The Intolerable Act officially called the Coercive Acts, these laws were meant to force Massachusetts to pay for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The laws closed Boston Harbor and forced colonists to house British soldiers in their homes.
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The First Continental Congress meets. Agree to boycott British goods.
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Congress sends an ''Olive Branch'' to King George lll. He rejected the petition and sent more troops to Boston.
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Patrick Henry, gives his most famous speech, in the House of Burgess. ''Give me liberty or give me death''
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700 British troops were headed to Concord. 70 minutemen were lined up on the village green. Someone fired their weapon, and the British sent shots into the militia. As the British started to line up to march back to Boston, 3,000 to 4,000 minutemen fired on the marching troops. The remaining British soldiers marched their way back to Boston with a colonist defeat.
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Second Continental Congress meets. Congress names George Washington commander of Continental Army.
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The deadliest battle of the war. General Thomas Gage decided to strike at militiamen on Breed's Hill. Colonists held fire until last minute. 450 colonists lots, and over 1,000 casualties suffered by British.
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Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense.
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Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence was approved.
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Baron Von Steuben trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Penn.
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Patriots win in Saratoga.
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France signs an alliance with the United States.
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General Clinton captures 3000 patriot soldiers as he takes Charlestown, South Carolina.
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General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown.
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Treaty of Paris was signed.
