What caused the American Revolution?

▶Timeline

In 1764, the British began to impose new laws and taxes. They were met with ire by the colonists. The Sugar Act, Currency Act, Quartering Act, and the Stamp Act were only a few that gave way to the motto, "No Taxation Without Representation."

▪The Stamp Act (March 22, 1765)
Britain imposes a tax requiring a stamp on things like newspapers and legal documents. This led to unrest and the Stamp Act Congress (October 1765).

▪The Boston Massacre (March 5, 1770)
Colonists began to protest against these new British taxes and laws. The Sons of Liberty formed in 1765 in Boston and began to spread rapidly throughout the colonies. One protest in Boston, resulted in several colonists being shot and killed by British soldiers.

▪The Boston Tea Party (Dec. 16, 1773)
In 1773, a new tax was imposed on tea. Patriots in Boston protested this act by dumping tea into the water from moored boats. This protest became known as the Boston Tea Party.

◼ Intolerable Acts
The British decided that the colonies needed to be punished for the Boston Tea Party. New laws were enacted which the colonists called the Intolerable Acts.

▪Boston Blockade
One of the Intolerable Acts was the Boston Port Act. British ships blockaded Boston Harbor, punishing everyone who lived in Boston, both patriots and loyalists.

▪Growing Unity Among the Colonies
The increased laws did little to control the colonies, but actually had the opposite effect. The laws caused the colonies to become more united against the British. More and more colonists throughout the Americas joined up with the Sons of Liberty.

▪First Continental Congress (Sept. 1774)
In 1774, twelve of the thirteen colonies sent representatives to the First Continental Congress in response to the Intolerable Acts. A petition was sent to King George III for him to repeal the Intolerable Acts. There was no response.

▪Paul Revere's Ride (April 18, 1775)
"The British are coming". Paul Revere makes his famous ride.
 
▪Revolutionary War Begins (April 19, 1775)
British soldiers in Massachusetts were ordered to disarm the American rebels and to arrest their leaders. Fighting broke out between the two sides at the Battles of Lexington and Concord marking the beginning of the American Revolution.

▶What say you?
I say we are under heavier tyrannical rule now, then in the colonial times.

Is it time for action?

Are you a Son or Daughter of Liberty?