American Revolution: Major Events Leading to Declaration of Independence

Stamp Act

Answer explanation

1765-1766; Tax introduced on legal documents to pay for defense of colonies. americans boycotted British goods: they were angry as the were the only colonies who needed to pay for this tax tax Collectors like Andrew Oliver were threatened by death to leave their jobs and protest the stamp act. - mob destroyed buildings taht would house stamps and threatened Oliver by beheading a likeness 1766: Stamp act repealed after merchants protesting due to their goods not being bout and officials being threatened.

Townsend Acts

Answer explanation

1767; Tax on products colonies needed- glass,lead, paints, paper,and tea. The Americans boycotted, and British eventually repealed all taxes except the one on tea. (1770) In response to sometimes violent protests, British sent more troops to America

Boston Massacre

Answer explanation

1770; 5 colonists killed after mob on one lone guard. The guard had called for help, someone shouted "fire" & British men shot down 5 colonists. this event was viewed as an example of British cruelty and used as propaganda, especially by Paul Revere Preston, general, did not want his men to fire. He was judged as innocent by John Adams (sams Adam's cousin).

Tea Act

Answer explanation

1773; British lowered the price of tea extremely. Led to the Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party

Answer explanation

1773; colonists dressed as indians stormed into the boston harbor and dumped 23 thousand pounds of tea into the harbor. British ships were bruned. The americans believed (because of the Tea Act) that the British were trying to creep in slowly and steal their independence and freedom.

Gaspée Affair

Answer explanation

1774; A british warship, named the Gaspée, burned, and the captain was terribly wounded

The Intolerable Acts

Answer explanation

1744; - King closed Boston harbour to everything but British ships - he sent lots of British troops to Boston. the colonists had to house and feed the troops. (if the colonists didn't do this, they would be shot) - British officials could only be tried in Britain for crimes, which left the british free to do whatever they wanted in the colonies - British Governor was in charge of all meetings in Boston; there would be no more self- government - The Quebec act extended to Canadian borders to cut off western colonies of Conneticut, Virginia, and Massachusetts.

First Continental Congress

Answer explanation

September, 1774; brought together Representstives from each colony, except Georgia, to discuss their response to the British "Intolerable Acts".

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Answer explanation

April 19th, 1775; colonists send troops to Boston -1st shots were fired for the revolution stale mate ensued in Boston Peninsula with the Brits Paul Revere, silversmith, rides to warn Sam Adams and Hancock of the British arriving in Lexingtkon to find hidden arms caches Americans fought british before they arrived in concord, without honour, and shot them in the backs This then transformed into the american revolution.

Battle of Bunker Hill

Answer explanation

June 17th, 1775; Am. General Petna was good in combat. He was going to steal canon and set up a forteress which would destroy all the british ships in the B. Harbour. British troops sent to the fort were shot down one by one, even though the americans had close to no powder, and the british were down by half their men