3.2.3 Revolution & Independence

Lesson 3.2.3

Revolution & Independence

Trouble in the Colonies

• In the 1760s, the British government passed laws taxing the colonists

• tax: a fee demanded by the government to pay for public services

• These taxes angered the colonists, who had no representation in British government’t

• The colonists protested British control → protested: objected to

• Boston Tea Party: Angry colonists dumped a shipment of tea in the Boston Harbor because they felt the tea was unfairly taxed

The American Revolution

• April 19, 1775 - violence erupted in Lexington & Concord, Massachusetts when British soldiers were sent to destroy military supplies of colonial rebel groups

• Paul Revere was on the lookout and saw the British, then alerted the minutemen → minutemen : colonists who were ready to fight

• The trouble between Patriots & Britain was now an armed conflict

• patriot: colonist who wanted American independence

• loyalist: colonist who wanted to stay loyal to Britain