Decisive Events Which Led to the
American Revolution
*The French and Indian War (1754-1763): The British defeated the
French to dominate North America, but at a significant cost.
*The Proclamation of 1763:
1. Closed off the expansion of
the colonies west of the
Appalachian Mountains;
2. Supposedly to calm the
fears of Indians regarding
possible intrusion on “their”
land; and,
3. Establishment of four new
colonies: Quebec, East and West
Florida, and Grenada.
Taxation Acts
Who? King George III, King
of England
Why? He implemented the
taxes on the colonists
because he believed the
colonists should bear the
burden of maintaining the
colonies.
When? 1764-1775 (Timeline 1 or
Timeline 2)
The Sugar Act
The first act of the
British Parliament
was the Sugar Act of
1764. The objective
of this Act was to
directly raise money
for the colonial
Crown.
This was achieved by
taxing non-British
goods shipped to the
colonies.
The Stamp Act of 1765
The first direct tax on the
colonists, to again, directly
raise money for Britain.
It taxed newspapers,
pamphlets, legal
documents, and
entertainment items like
dice and playing cards.
The stamps were placed on
these items to show the
taxes were paid.
1765 Act
This act
required
colonists to
provide
supplies and
lodging to
British troops.
The Quartering Act
1766
Repeal of The Stamp Act
and
Resistance to The
Quartering Act
(especially in New York City)
1767
Townshend
Acts
To continue to alleviate
the burden of governing
the American colonies,
King George III and the
British Parliament passed
The Townshend Act which
introduced taxes on
paper, paint, tea, glass
and lead.
This act led to similar
hostilities created by The
Stamp Act.
Events of 1768 and 1769
Give and Take
Therefore, the
colonies eased their
boycott of British
imported goods.
In 1770, due to decrease
profits from colonial
boycotts on British
goods, Britain removed
The Townsend Act
except for the tax on
tea.
1770 – The Boston Massacre
On this monumental day, a street
fight occurred between a
“patriot” mob throwing
snowballs, sticks, and stones at a
squad of British soldiers.
Three people were instantly
killed – including a black sailor, a
ropemaker, and a mariner. Eight
were wounded – of those two
later died.
Initially, British captain Preston
and his men were acquitted and
released. Later, two British
soldiers were convicted of lesser
crimes.
1773 – Boston Tea Party
Intolerable or Coercive Acts of 1774
After the Boston Tea Party, the British
Parliament passed several acts to punish
the colonists – especially in
Massachusetts. They were as follows (as
per The Library of Congress):
1. Boston Port Bill: banned import or
export of goods on any ships in Boston
harbor.
2. Administration of Justice Act:
provided a means of protection for royal
officials to transfer all court cases against
them for riot clampdown or revenue
collection to England.
3. The Massachusetts Government
Act: essentially shut down the
colonial/local government - under British
rule and control.
Influential Events of 1774
The Quartering Act was broadened
to any occupied dwelling.
Colonies Protest: Considered reinstating non-importation, but a
number of states preferred a
congress of all the colonies to discuss a unified resistance.
The First Continental Congress formed to meet September 5,
1774 in Philadelphia.
The First Continental Congress: main accomplishment –
urge colonist to ban British goods, form committees to
enforce ban. They agreed to meet, again, if Britain did not
change its policies.
1775 - Final Turn in
Road to Revolution
New England
Restraining Act
New England
Resists
Lexington and
Concord
Exit ticket
After analyzing, discussing, and evaluating
the events that led up to the American
Revolution, formulate a stance and create a
persuasive essay expressing why we should
or should not have fought Britain, based on
the evidence supported in the events
leading up to the Revolution? You must use
five to nine resources from this
presentation to support your opinion.
References
America During the Age of Revolution, 1764-1775 (n.d.). America Memory-Collection
Home. Retrieved March 22, 2012, from The Library of Congress website:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/continental/timeline1f.html
Liberty! (2004). The American Revolution. Retrieved March 22, 2012, from Twin Cities
Public Television website: http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle.html
Rubenstein, D.M. (n.d.). Magna Carta and Its American Legacy. Retrieved March 22,
2012, from National Archives and Record Administration website:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/
Taking action. (2003). Traiters, seamstresses, and generals: voices of the American
revolution. Retrieved March 22, 2011, from Oracle Think Quest USA website:
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/ccf.htmA
Timeline of the revolutionary war. (2011). We hold these truths...the declaration of
independence. Retrieved March 24, 2011, from Independence Hall Association
website: http://www.ushistory.org/ Declaration/revwartimeline.htm