Causes of the Revolution Timeline
By. Caitlyn Presley
Proclamation of 1763
It was a problem on October 7, 1763 was passed by King George when Great Britain got the French territory in North America after the French and Indian War. It did not allow settlement passed the appalachian mountians.
Stamp Act of 1763
The British government continued to search for new ways to tax the American colonies, further angering many colonists. The Prime Minister Grenville proposed the Stamp Act of 1765. This act required colonist to pay for an official stamp or seal, when they bought paper items. If they didn't pay on legal documents. licenses, newspapers, pamphlets, and even playing cards. If they refused to buy stamps could be fined or sent to jail. Samuel Adams helped organize the group in Boston. In May 1765 a Virginia lawyar named Patrick Henry presented a series of resolution to the Virginia House of Burgesses. Henry speech in support of the resolution convinced the assembly to support some of his ideas. Colonist formed a secret society called the Sons of Liberty.
The Townshend Acts of 1767
In June 1767 Parliament passed the Townshend Acts. These acts placed on duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The British officials used writs of assistance. These allowed tax collectors to search for smuggled goods. In February 1768 Samuel Adams wrote a letter arguing that the laws violated the legal rights of the colonists' legislatures.Tax collectors in Massachusetts seized the ship Liberty. They attacked the owner and the Sons of Liberty. They also attacked the house of customs officials in protest. The governor broke up the Massachusetts legislature, he also asked troop to restore orders. The colonist responded to the Townshend Acts by once again boycotting many British goods. Colonist hated the new laws because they took power away from colonial governments.
The Boston Massacre
Many Bostonians saw the presence of British troops as a threat by the British government against its critics in Massachusetts. Some colonists agreed with what Samuel Adams, who said , " I look upon [British soldiers] as foreign enemies." The soldiers knew that they where not welcome. Both sides resented each other like name-calling, arguments, and fights between Bostonian and the soldiers. The tension exploded on March 5,1770. A British soldier standing guard had an argument with a colonist and struck him.A crowd gather around the solider, throwing small snowballs and shouting insults. Then a small number of troops arrived. The crowd grew louder and angrier and some yelled "Come on you rascals...Fire if you dare!" Then the soldiers fired at the crowd, instantly killing three men, including sailor Crispus Attucks. Samuel Adams and other protesters quickly spread the story of the shooting. Colonists called the shooting the Boston Massacre. Paul Revere created elaborate color print title "The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street." Thomas Preston, were charged with murder. Two Boston lawyers, Josiah Quincy and John Adams agreed to defend the soldiers. The Boston jury agreed, finding Preston and six soldiers not guilty. Many where still angry at the British.
The Tea Act, 1773
Parliament repealed almost all of the Townshend Acts But, it kept the tax on tea. They had a huge amount of tea but was not allowed to directly sell it to the colonist. Cheaper tea might encourage colonists to stop smuggling. Parliament agreed and passed the Tea Act in 1773, which allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonists but they kept the tax on the tea. The Sons of Liberty demanded that the ships leave, but the governor of Massachusetts would not let the ships leave without paying the duty. unsure what to do the captains waited in the harbor. On the night of December 16, 1773, colonists disgusting as Indians sneaked onto the three tea-filled ships and dumped over 340 tea chests in Boston Harbor . This became to know as the Boston Tea Party.
The Boston Tea Party, 1773
Three ships where loaded and arrived in Boston Harbor in 1773. The Sons of Liberty demanded that the ships leave, but the governor of Massachusetts would not let the ships leave without paying the duty. unsure what to do the captains waited in the harbor. On the night of December 16, 1773, colonists disgusting as Indians sneaked onto the three tea-filled ships and dumped over 340 tea chests in Boston Harbor . This became to know as the Boston Tea Party
The Intolerable Act of 1774
In 1774 Parliament passed the Coercive Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party, the colonist call these act the Intolerable Acts. Royal officials accused of crimes were sent to Britain for trial. A new Quertering Act required colonist to house British soldiers. Boston Harbor was closed until Boston paid for the ruined tea. Massachusetts's charter was canceled. The governor decided if and when the legislature could meet. The Quebec Act gave a large amount of land to the colony of Quebec. General Thomas Gage became the new governor of Massachusetts. The British hoped that these steps would bring back order in the colonies. Instead they simply increased peoples anger at Britain.
Battles at Lexington and Concord, April 19
At dawn on April 19, the British troops arrived at the town of Lexington, near Concord and about 15 miles from Boston, where 70 armed minutemen waited. Patriot captain John Parker yelled " Don't fire unless fired upon." To this day no one knows who fired the first shot. The battles where over in minutes 8 men were dead and 10 were wounded. Only on British soldier were wounded. They marched on to Concord.