Transcript Events leading to the American Revolution

Events leading to the
American Revolution
French-Indian/Seven
Years War - 1763
 War
Fought in America and in
Europe over land disputes.
 England Wins
 France gives England all land
East of the Mississippi
Led to:
 England
has large war debt.
 Starts to tax American
Colonies.
Proclamation of 1763
 After
more fighting with
Native Americans, England
prohibits any English
settlement west of the
Appalachians.
Led to:
 Colonists
feel like they are
having their rights taken
away.
Sugar Act - 1764
 In
an attempt to offset their
war debt, England increases
taxes on imported goods such
as sugar, coffee, and textiles.
Led to:
 Colonists
are upset about
“taxation without
representation”.
 Begin boycott of British
luxury goods.
Stamp Act - 1765
 First
Direct tax on the
colonists. All printed
materials are taxed
(newspapers, contracts, wills,
bills, playing cards).
Led to:
 Stamp
Act Congress meets.
 Sends a resolution to England
requesting a repeal of the Stamp
Act and declares only the colonies
can tax the colonists.
Quartering Act - 1765
 Requires
colonists to house and
feed British soldiers.
Led to:
 Colonists
the law.
refuse to comply with
Townshend Acts - 1767
A
new series of taxes to help
England pay for protecting the
colonies. Taxes imports such as
paper tea and glass.
Led to:
 Colonists
reinstate a boycott on
British luxury items until act is
repealed. Colonists are urged to
arm themselves
Boston Massacre - 1770
A
mob harasses British soldiers
who then fire into the crowd killing
5.
Led to:
 In
order to appease the colonists
the Townshend Acts are
 repealed. The Quartering Act is
not renewed.
Tea Act - 1773
 Maintains
a tax on tea imported by
the colonies.
 Allows a British company to
monopolize tea industry.
Led to:
 Ships
from the colonies are not
allowed to leave until they pay the
taxes. Colonial activists dump the
tea from the ship. (Boston Tea
Party)
Coercive Acts - 1774
 Shuts
down shipping in the Boston
Harbor until all tea is paid for.
Led to:
 Call
for another boycott of British
imports.
1st Continental Congress
Meets - 1774
 Create
a Declaration and Resolves:
 England
is undermining self-rule.
 England is not recognizing the
colonists rights to Life, liberty, and
property.
 Will not export to England.
Led to:
Colonists
form militias and
begin to prepare for war!
The Declaration
WE hold these Truths to be self-evident
This is the way things should be