Road to Revolution

Proclamation of 1763BRITISH ACTION

• After the French-Indian War (1754-1763) land west of the 13 original colonies was open for settlement

• To avoid conflict with Native Americans, Great Britain passed a law that stopped colonial expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains

Proclamation of 1763COLONIAL REACTION

• The colonists who fought in the war wanted access to the land in the Ohio River Valley

• Thus, the law limited colonial liberties and opportunities to move west

Sugar Act - 1764BRITISH ACTION

• To pay off the debts from the war England raised revenue through taxation

• The Sugar Act raised taxes on imports of sugar and molasses

• And placed new taxes on silk, wine, coffee, and indigo

Sugar Act - 1764COLONIAL REACTION

• This law increased the cost of goods coming into the colonies

• Therefore, their economic opportunities were limited

Quartering Act- 1765BRITISH ACTION

• After the war, Great Britain left military troops in the colonies for protection

• The Quartering Act forced colonists to house British troops

Quartering Act- 1765COLONIAL REACTION

• Obligated to provide shelter to British troops took away individual liberties and violated rights of privacy

Stamp Act - 1765BRITISH ACTION

• In response to an increase in colonial smuggling (to avoid the Sugar Act)

• British law that required stamps to be bought on most printed materials

Stamp Act - 1765COLONIAL REACTION

• These taxes further restricted the economic opportunities

• Colonists began to protest by…– Harassing Tax

Collectors– Boycotting British goods– Organizing protest

groups like the “Sons of Liberty”

Townshend Acts - 1767BRITISH ACTION

• Put increased taxes (custom duties) on imports (ex. lead, glass, paint, paper)

• Stationed troops at major ports to protect custom officers

Townshend Acts - 1767COLONIAL REACTION

• The continued economic restrictions prompted protests of “taxation without representation”

Boston Massacre - 1770BRITISH ACTION

• British troops stationed at Boston Customs House

• Angry colonial mob began to taunt soldiers

• Soldiers fire into crowd killing 5 colonists

Boston Massacre - 1770COLONIAL REACTION

• Colonial agitators label the event a “massacre”

• Paul Revere’s engraving published in the colonies

Tea Act - 1773BRITISH ACTION

• Created favorable business terms for the struggling British East India Company

Tea Act - 1773COLONIAL REACTION

• Upset at the unfair and unequal economic conditions Colonial rebels dump 18,000 pounds into Boston Harbor

• Boston Tea Party

Intolerable Acts - 1774BRITISH ACTION

• King George III attempts to tighten control of the colonies

• Shut down Boston’s port and

• Banned town meetings

Intolerable Acts - 1774COLONIAL REACTION

• Restricted economic opportunities (again) and denied political rights

• Colonial leaders begin to organize and callef for the 1st Continental Congress

Lexington & Concord - 1775BRITISH ACTION

• British General Gage orders troops to Concord to seize colonial weapons

Lexington & Concord - 1775COLONIAL REACTION

• Paul Revere’s Ride

• Minutemen intercept British “red coats” and engage in battle

2nd Continental Congress1775

• Creates “Continental Army• George Washington appointed General• Create group of 5 men to draft

Declaration of Independence