Acts and Events Revolutionary War

Sugar Act First tax imposed on colonists Trying to reduce illegal smuggling of molasses Writ of Assistance- Right to search ships and houses

Sugar Act, Cont. Colonists were angry about the act, but did not take significant action British continued to impose the tax

Stamp Act Required a special stamp on legal documents, papers, etc. Colonists disobeyed the act, Samuel Adams formed the Sons of Liberty, Boycott of British Goods

Stamp Act, Cont. Colonists sent the King a Declaration of Rights British ended the Act after the Colonial Boycott

Declaratory Act Parliament could take whatever action they saw fit, for the good of the Empire This allowed Parliament to pass additional Acts and Taxes

Townshend Acts New method of gaining revenue All imports to colonies were taxed 3 penny tax on tea Colonists protested leading to the Boston Massacre

Townshend Acts, Cont. British sent 2000 troops to Boston Tension between the Colonists and Great Britain increased

Tea Act British East India Company agrees to sell tea tax free, making it cheaper than what the colonial merchants could sell it for, and undercutting their profits. Colonists organize the Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party Colonists dressed as Natives and dumped tea from British ships into Boston Harbor The British passed the Intolerable Acts in response.

Intolerable Acts Shut down Boston Harbor Set up Quartering Act Put Boston under Martial Law Colonists organized the 1 st Continental Congress to discuss how to deal with Britain