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The Sugar Act
The British were in a great amount of debt, so they created the Sugar Act. The Sugar Act halved taxes on molasses, created new taxes on items that had not been previously taxed, and forced people who violated the act to be tried by a royal judge instead of colonists. This act caused the colonial traders and merchants to be unhappy. They believed that this would lower their profits, and that the Parliament had no right to tax the colonists because the colonists had no representatives. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an act that created taxes for all printed items. These printed items include playing cards, newspapers, legal documents, and licenses. To indicate what items had been paid for, a stamp would be placed on the item. This act was the first time tax that had directly affected all of the colonists. To protest this act, the colonists began boycotting all British imports. The Colonists concluded that the Parliament shouldn't tax the colonies if they don't have a spot in Parliament. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act allowed British soldiers to live in Colonists homes. Also, the commander-in-chief of the British forces was made the Governor of Massachusetts without the colonists agreement. In response to these changes, the Colonists created the First Continental Congress. The First Continental Congress set up military preparations. Thus, the minutemen were created. -
The Boston Massacre
In the 1770s, the tensions were high between British soldiers and the colonists. The British soldiers were stationed in Boston, which was not to the liking of the colonists. This event started because colonists were insulting and throwing objects at the British soldiers. In this event, The British soldiers started firing on the colonists. 3 colonists were killed immediately, and 2 later died. This led to the colonists becoming more mad and the British withdrawing their army from Boston. -
Boston Tea Party
Tensions in Boston were high due to the Boston massacre 3 years prior to this event. A certain group of colonists, the Sons of Liberty, were against the idea of them being taxed without having a voice. To do this event, the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Mohawk Indians and threw boxes of tea overboard. This event cost the East India Company nearly one million dollars in today's money. This event protested taxation without representation and the monopoly of the East India Company. -
Fight at Lexington and Concord
The Fights of Lexington and Concord were the first fights of the Revolutionary War. The battle at Lexington was a small battle between about 80 colonists and the British army. Some of the colonists died, and most retreated. After that battle, the British army marched on to Concord. Before this battle, a few people rode around to alarm the Colonists of the attack. Due to this, the colonists were able to force the British to retreat. This victory showed the colonists that they were able to win. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle took place on Breed's Hill, despite being called the Battle of Bunker Hill. The conflict began when the British Army attacked Breed's Hill, where the Colonists had fortifications set up. The Battle ended up with more than 200 killed and 800 injured British, with 100 killed and 300 wounded for the Colonial Army. Losing this battle gave the British the Charlestown Peninsula, but it also showed them that this was not going to be an easy war. It also raised the colonists morale.
