Road to Revolution
The events that lead to Americas Revolution
Introduction
Have you ever wondered what events sparked the American Revolution? It was a number of separate events that had a domino effect and ended in one ultimatum.
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a law passed by the British Parliament that stated all colonists had to pay tax on all paper goods. It was the first attempt by the British to make money of the colonies. They were trying to raise money to pay their debt from the French and Indian war.
Important Events
The Boston Tea Party
The British Parliament passed the Tea Act on May 10, 1773. It was the second form of taxation the parliament passed to try and make money off the colonies. They were trying to make money to pay off their debt from the French and Indian War. On December 16, 1773 Sam Adams and a group called The Sons of Liberty boarded 3 ships in Boston Harbor and destroyed 342 chests of tea imported from Britain. They were disguised as Mohawk Native Americans. This was the first action colonists that was considered extreme protest of the British control.
Intolerable Acts
After the Boston tea party the British were mad because they saw it as destruction of their goods. Their response was known as the coercive acts. They even closed off Boston Harbor until the owners of the tea that was destroyed were compensated. The Intolerable Acts were 4 separate acts that were passed in the aftermath of The Stamp Act and The Boston Tea Party.
Boston Massacre
March 5, 1770 a group of patriots in Boston square threw rocks at soldiers which started a dispute. The fight began after some colonists attacked a British Sentinel Officer. Captain Thomas Preston called in for additional soldiers. After a court hearing two soldiers were found guilty of the massacre. (note the picture isn't an accurate description of the event)
The Start of The War
Lexington and Concord
General Gage of the British Army planned to send soldiers to Lexington to capture patriot leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock on April 19,1775. He then planned to send them to Concord to steal gunpowder. His plans were foiled however by colonial spies. This was when the storied ride by Paul Revere took place. The tale goes he rode on horseback along the countryside warning colonists that the British were coming.
Key Collaborations
Daughters of Liberty
The term Daughters of Liberty refers to woman patriots of any social class. The Sons and Daughters of Liberty were formed in response to the British passing the Stamp Act. The Daughters of Liberty were known to use many different techniques to get tax collectors to leave town. They would ransack and search British officers' houses. While the Sons of Liberty did more of the field work the Daughters of Liberty were responsible for continuing the boycott of British goods. The daughters also wouldn't take interest in a man unless he supported the patriot cause. Even though some might remember the Sons and Daughters of Liberty as a band of thugs they played a big role in the revolution and were very important to obtaining our freedom.
Militia/Minutemen
The Militia and the Minutemen often confused as the same thing, but were different. The Militia were men who were armed and protected their towns. Minutemen were an elite form of Militia usually 25 years or younger. They were picked for their attitude and strength. The Militia was established in 1645 and was a big part of the French and Indian War. By the time the revolution was happening the Militia/Minutemen were well trained. There was no central leadership and were loyal to their town. The Minutemen were a big part of the battle of Bunker Hill. Some Minutemen were better trained then parts of the actual military.
Conclusion
In conclusion I hope you learned something you didn't know about the American Revolution. It was comprised of many different events. Without just one of these events the outcome may be very different. The key collaborations also played a big part of expressing the colonists feelings towards the British's unjust taxation.
Work Cited
"Boston Tea Party." Www.history.com. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, n.d. Web.
"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. 07 Oct. 2015.
"Lexington and Concord." Www.ushistory.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Minutemen." Www.ushistory.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
"The Boston Massacre." Www.ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web.
"The Intolerable Acts." Www.ushistory.org. N.p., n.d. Web.