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The Sugar Act
Although it reduced the tax on molasses, it was strictly enforced, so colonists ended up paying more taxes. -
The Patriots and Sam Adams
Those who opposed the British taxes called themselves ''Patriots'' and the Sons of Liberty was born with Sam Adams as its leader. -
The Stamp Act
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. -
The Quartering Act
Following the French and Indian War, Britain maintained a standing army in the colonies. This act required colonial assemblies to house and provision soldiers. -
Sons of Liberty
A mob tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector. -
The Declaratory Act
This act repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament's right to rule the colonies as saw fit. -
Import Taxes and the Townsend Acts
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 The Townsend Acts were so unpopular that all the taxes were repealed, except the one on tea. -
The Incident on King Street
A group of colonists hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists. -
The Tea Act
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. -
The Boston Tea Party
Boston Patriots dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships laden with tea and dumped the tea into the harbor. -
The Intolerable Act
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. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress meets. Agree to boycott British goods. -
''Olive Branch''
Congress sends an ''Olive Branch'' to King George lll. He rejected the petition and sent more troops to Boston. -
Patrick Henry's Speech
Patrick Henry, gives his most famous speech, in the House of Burgess. ''Give me liberty or give me death'' -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
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. -
Second Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress meets. Congress names George Washington commander of Continental Army. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
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. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense. -
Declaration of Independence
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence was approved. -
Period: to
Valley Forge
Baron Von Steuben trains the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Penn. -
Patriots defeat British
Patriots win in Saratoga. -
France and the United States
France signs an alliance with the United States. -
Charlestown
General Clinton captures 3000 patriot soldiers as he takes Charlestown, South Carolina. -
Yorktown
General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris was signed.
