Road to Revolution
By: Erica WErther
EVENTS
THE SUGAR ACT
A law was passed by the British on April 5th, 1764. This law stated that there would be an extra tax for sugar and molasses. Also, there was a greater tax on foreign goods. This law impacted the colonies manufacturing of rum, which was a way the colonists made money. The Sugar Act was started by the colonists because they wanted to lower the tax on sugar and molasses from 6 to 3 cents. Also, they wanted to reduce the avoidance of paying taxes. This act was designed to stop trade between the Middle Colonies and New England. The Sugar Act took place before the Quartering Act and after the Stamp Act. My inference for this event influencing the beginning of the war is that the taxes being forced upon the colonists were impacting the manufacturing, so they were getting less money and they wanted more.
THE STAMP ACT
This act was passed by the British Pariliament on March 22nd, 1765. A new tax stating that the colonists had to pay for EVERY paper product they used was forced upon the colonies. The money collected was used to pay the costs of defending and protecting the colonies by stationing 10,000 troops. There were still people who rebelled against this. In July of 1765, The Sons of Liberty rebelled against this. The Stamp Act took place before the Sugar Act and after the Sons of Liberty formed. My inference for this event influencing the beginning of the war is that the colonists were paying more taxes than needed.
THE INTOLERABLE ACT
The Intolerable Act started in 1774. It was one reasoning behind the FIrst Continental Congress. It was also one thing they discussed. During this time, Birtish merchants lost a lot of money because of destroyed shipped goods. In the colonies, the government spent mass amounts of money on troops and equiptment. They did this with the goal of controlling Massachusetts. Lastly, The colonists were faced with rising taxes after the French & Indian war as a benifit for Britain. This eventually lead to the Boston Tea Party. My inference for this event influencing the beginning of the war is that more money was being spent in the colonies, and the colonists were in need of more.
CONFLICT
BOYCOTTS
This was multiple events in which the colonists boycotted British goods. The colonists were growing angry at Britian because that´s where their extra money went. The colonists boycotted many times. The Stamp Act was a big impact on this because it was the first large, direct tax given to the colonies by Britain. These boycotts took place before the Daughters of Liberty formed and after the Boston Massacre. My inference for this event influencing the beginning of the war is that the colonists being angry at Britain was a problem and that they needed more money.
COOPERATION
THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
The first meeting took place on September 5th-October 26th of 1774 in Carpenter´s Hall, Pennsylvania. Every colony, ecxept for Gerogia, had a representative come to this meeting. At this meeting, they discussed their responses to the Intolerable Act and their relationship with Britain. Their relationship with Britain was growing weaker during this time. They wanted to show Britain that they were united in the colonies. The Congress had 3 objectives: Create Colonial rights, Identify British Parliaments of these rights, and provide a plan convincing Britain to restore their rights. This group was considered a cooperation because of the representatives. They all gathered in one place to create laws together. Also, the impact they had on the British was that they ¨rebelled¨ against their rules and created new ones on their own. My inference for this event influencing the beginning of the war is because of them making new rights, they thought theirs were better than Britains.
CONCLUSION
These events all tied together because they were all caused by financial issues. This includes money loss and rising taxes. With this, the colonies were becoming independent and rebellious against Britain.
WORKS CITED
"First Continental Congress." First Continental Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
Garcia, Elizabeth. "Boycott of British Goods." Blogspot. N.p., 15 Sept. 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
Hartnett, Kevin. "Boycott British Goods! (Protest Pledges from 1767)." Boston.com. The New York Times, 15 July 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
"History.org: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History and Citizenship Website." A Summary of the 1765 Stamp Act : The Colonial Williamsburg Official History & Citizenship Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
"The Intolerable Acts." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
"Sugar Act." Of 1764 ***. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.