10 Events Leading Up To The Revolutionary War

  • The French and Indian War

    The French and their Indian allies were both enemies of the English. The French claimed more territory in North America than the English did which sparked a bit of conflict between the two countries. This Seven Year War pushed the British into debt, but conquored a larger influence of power in North America.
  • Proclaimation of 1763

    King George III passed the Proclaimation of 1763 after the French and Indian War. It forbid settlers from traveling westward past a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains. Great Britain wished to stabilize their new North American empire and repair relations with Native Americans through regulation of trade, settlement, and western land purchases.
  • The Stamp Act

    The stamp act was passed along as a part of the Intolerable Acts to raise money for the wars england was involved in. The Stamp Act served as on of the final straws to break the camels back and caused the colonist to taxes they were forced to pay without their consent. The colonist proclaimed " no taxation without representation!"
  • Boston Massacre

    The Boston Massacre was the murder of five colonists by British soldiers on March 5, 1770 in front of the Old State House . A culmination of tensions in the American colonies that had grown since Red Coat arrival to enforce the heavy tax and caused a mob of citizens to intimidate several soldiers. When shots rang out, 5 ended up dead.
  • The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party

    In responce to the Tea Act, a bill passed along with the Intolerable Acts that put an extremely high tax on British tea, sparked the Boston Tea Party. Angry colonist disgused as Indians boarded British trading ships loaded with tea and dumped the packages into the sea. This act lead to a British blockade of Boston's ports.
  • The Sugar Act

    This act had the biggest affect on merchants and caused controversial conversation about Britain's treatment for its American colony. The sugar act represented a significant change in policial reasons for taxation. The tax on sugar was to refill parliament's empty treasury.
  • Paul Revere's Ride

    Paul Revere, instructed to ride to Lexington, Massachusetts to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were marching to arrest them, famously proclaimed the arrivals of the Regulars, the Red Coats in the country-side. His midnight ride that warned of the advancing British troops lead to his arrest, but saved important Revolutionary figures from capture.
  • George Washington Named Commander And Cheif

    George Washington was the one necessary person, whose calm, unswerving, determined sense of patriotic duty to lead the eight years of the Revolutionary war. His faith and his devotion made him America's symbol for freedom.
  • Thomas Paine's Common Sence

    Thomas Paine's pamphlet favoring American Independence, "Common Sense," spread of ideas of rebeling against Britain. The pamphlet was read at street corners and in homes and sparked a rally of American belief in a revolution. It is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history.
  • Declaration of Independence and the Continental Congress

    The final draft of the Declaration of Indepence gave birth to our nation and slapped King George III into the reality of loosing an important English colony to freedom. The members of the Continental Congress took a risk when taking a stance for Independence. If America had lost the war, they would have all been hung for treason against the Bristish crown.