Road to Revolution

Proclamation of 1763 BRITISH ACTION After the French-Indian War ( ) 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 1763 COLONIAL 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 BRITISH 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 COLONIAL REACTION This law increased the cost of goods coming into the colonies Therefore, their economic opportunities were limited

Quartering Act BRITISH 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 COLONIAL REACTION Obligated to provide shelter to British troops took away individual liberties and violated rights of privacy

Stamp Act BRITISH 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 COLONIAL 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 BRITISH ACTION Put increased taxes (custom duties) on imports (ex. lead, glass, paint, paper) Stationed troops at major ports to protect custom officers

Townshend Acts COLONIAL REACTION The continued economic restrictions prompted protests of “taxation without representation”

Boston Massacre BRITISH ACTION British troops stationed at Boston Customs House Angry colonial mob began to taunt soldiers Soldiers fire into crowd killing 5 colonists

Boston Massacre COLONIAL REACTION Colonial agitators label the event a “massacre” Paul Revere’s engraving published in the colonies

Tea Act BRITISH ACTION Created favorable business terms for the struggling British East India Company

Tea Act COLONIAL REACTION Upset at the unfair and unequal economic conditions Colonial rebels dump 18,000 pounds into Boston Harbor Boston Tea Party

Intolerable Acts BRITISH ACTION King George III attempts to tighten control of the colonies Shut down Boston’s port and Banned town meetings

Intolerable Acts COLONIAL REACTION Restricted economic opportunities (again) and denied political rights Colonial leaders begin to organize and callef for the 1st Continental Congress

Lexington & Concord BRITISH ACTION British General Gage orders troops to Concord to seize colonial weapons

Lexington & Concord COLONIAL REACTION Paul Revere’s Ride Minutemen intercept British “red coats” and engage in battle

2nd Continental Congress 1775 Creates “Continental Army George Washington appointed General Create group of 5 men to draft Declaration of Independence