US History Road to Revolution

British Legislation In order to pay for the French and Indian War debt British Parliament revived mercantilism by enforcing the Navigation Laws and enacting new legislation as shown. Sugar Act Stamp Act Quartering Act Townshend Acts Coercive or “Intolerable” Acts

Sugar Act The act taxed sugar and molasses to raise revenue for Britain. It also stated that smugglers would be tried in admiralty courts instead of colonial courts.

Stamp Act The Stamp Act decreed a tax on all legal and public paper issued in the colonies. This law was later repealed due to pressure brought by a colonial boycott. Funeral for the Stamp Act

Boston Massacre On March 5,1770 British soldiers guarding the Boston customs house fired on a crowd of protesters killing five. The Boston Sons of Liberty used this incident as propaganda in order to gain more support to oppose British taxes.

Townshend Acts The Townshend duties placed additional taxes on lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea. The law included writs of assistance (unlimited search warrants) in order to catch smugglers. This law was also repealed due to the pressure of colonial boycotts. British soldiers serving a writ

Tea Act/Boston Tea Party British Parliament passed the Tea Act in order to save the failing British East India Tea Co. The colonists would rather destroy property than pay tax on it at purchase, thus the Boston Tea Party.

Coercive Acts The Coercive or “Intolerable Acts” were passed to punish the citizens of Boston. Mass. Gov. was suspended and Gen. Gage became governor, the port of Boston was closed and more troops were moved into the city with a stronger Quartering Act. Governor General Thomas Gage

Rising Escalation British Action Stamp Act Quartering Act Townshend Acts Tea Act Coercive(Intolerable) Acts Colonial Reaction Boycott, law repealed Violate privacy, protest Boycott, Boston Massacre, Townshend repealed Boston Tea Party First Continental Congress, organize militia