Road to the American Revolution BY DAVID RILEY

Events Sugar Acts Sugar Acts Stamp Act Stamp Act Townshend Act Townshend Act Boston Massacre Boston Massacre Boston Tea Party Boston Tea Party Intolerable act Intolerable act First Continental Congress First Continental Congress Lexington and Cord Lexington and Cord Second Continental Second Continental Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence

Sugar Act CAUSE CAUSE The Sugar Act was passed by Parliament on April 5, 1764 The Sugar Act was passed by Parliament on April 5, 1764 it arrived in the colonies at a time of economic depression it arrived in the colonies at a time of economic depression It was an indirect tax It was an indirect tax EFFECT EFFECT The stricter enforcement made smuggling more dangerous and risky, and the profit margin on rum, so the colonists argued, was too small to support any tax. The stricter enforcement made smuggling more dangerous and risky, and the profit margin on rum, so the colonists argued, was too small to support any tax. there was not an immediate high level of protest over the Sugar Act either in New England or the rest of the colonies. there was not an immediate high level of protest over the Sugar Act either in New England or the rest of the colonies. The Sugar Act was repealed in 1766 The Sugar Act was repealed in 1766

Stamp Act CAUSE CAUSE Stamp Act of 1765 Stamp Act of 1765 the fourth Stamp Act to be passed the fourth Stamp Act to be passed the first attempt to impose such a direct tax on its American Colonies the first attempt to impose such a direct tax on its American Colonies The act required all legal documents in the colonies to carry a tax stamp The act required all legal documents in the colonies to carry a tax stamp EFFECT EFFECT All colonial assemblies sent petitions of protests and the Stamp Act Congress All colonial assemblies sent petitions of protests and the Stamp Act Congress British merchants and manufacturers, whose exports to the colonies were threatened by colonial economic problems exacerbated by the tax, also pressured Parliament British merchants and manufacturers, whose exports to the colonies were threatened by colonial economic problems exacerbated by the tax, also pressured Parliament The Act was repealed on March The Act was repealed on March

Townshend Act CAUSE CAUSE 29 June June 1767 originally proposed by Charles Townshend originally proposed by Charles Townshend British governors and other officials that were normally paid by town assemblies British governors and other officials that were normally paid by town assemblies The Townshend Acts also created three new admiralty courts The Townshend Acts also created three new admiralty courts EFFECT EFFECT the Acts provoked only further outrage among American colonists the Acts provoked only further outrage among American colonists helped spark the Liberty seizure and riots of 1768 helped spark the Liberty seizure and riots of 1768 April 1770, this Act was repealed April 1770, this Act was repealed

Boston Massacre CAUSE CAUSE March 5, 1770 March 5, 1770 first appeared in Massachusetts in October 1768 first appeared in Massachusetts in October 1768 enforce the heavy tax burden imposed by the Townshend Acts enforce the heavy tax burden imposed by the Townshend Acts EFFECT EFFECT The Boston Massacre trials ended quietly The Boston Massacre trials ended quietly Defended by John Adams, Captain Preston was acquitted during the trial. Defended by John Adams, Captain Preston was acquitted during the trial.

Boston Tea Party CAUSE CAUSE The Boston Tea Party, 1773 The Boston Tea Party, 1773 Victory in the French and Indian War was costly for the British Victory in the French and Indian War was costly for the British government looked to taxing the American colonies as a way of recouping their war costs government looked to taxing the American colonies as a way of recouping their war costs EFFECT EFFECT The colonies refused to pay the levies required by the Townsend Acts The colonies refused to pay the levies required by the Townsend Acts In response, Parliament retracted the taxes with the exception of a duty on tea In response, Parliament retracted the taxes with the exception of a duty on tea it was discovered that very considerable quantities of it were floating upon the surface of the water it was discovered that very considerable quantities of it were floating upon the surface of the water

Intolerable act CAUSE CAUSE a series of laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 a series of laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 the British government hoped these punitive measures would, by making an example of Massachusetts the British government hoped these punitive measures would, by making an example of Massachusetts EFFECT EFFECT Many colonists viewed the acts as an arbitrary violation of their rights Many colonists viewed the acts as an arbitrary violation of their rights They viewed the acts as a threat to the liberties of all of British America They viewed the acts as a threat to the liberties of all of British America The Congress also pledged to support Massachusetts in case of attack, which meant that all of the colonies would become involved when the American Revolutionary War began at Lexington and Concord. The Congress also pledged to support Massachusetts in case of attack, which meant that all of the colonies would become involved when the American Revolutionary War began at Lexington and Concord.

First Continental Congress CAUSE CAUSE a convention of delegates from twelve British North American colonies that met in 1774 a convention of delegates from twelve British North American colonies that met in 1774 Congress was held in Philadelphia Congress was held in Philadelphia The Congress also called for another Continental Congress in the event that their petition was unsuccessful The Congress also called for another Continental Congress in the event that their petition was unsuccessful EFFECT EFFECT The Congress had two primary accomplishments The Congress had two primary accomplishments the Congress created the Continental Association on 20 October 1774 the Congress created the Continental Association on 20 October 1774 The boycott was successfully implemented, but its potential for altering British colonial policy was cut off by the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in The boycott was successfully implemented, but its potential for altering British colonial policy was cut off by the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775.

Lexington and Cord CAUSE CAUSE were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County The battles marked the outbreak of open armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in the mainland of British North America The battles marked the outbreak of open armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in the mainland of British North America EFFECT EFFECT In the morning, Gage awoke to find Boston besieged by a huge militia army, numbering over 15,000, which had marched from throughout New England In the morning, Gage awoke to find Boston besieged by a huge militia army, numbering over 15,000, which had marched from throughout New England In terms of accomplishments and casualties this was not a major battle In terms of accomplishments and casualties this was not a major battle

Second Continental CAUSE CAUSE was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies It succeeded the First Continental Congress It succeeded the First Continental Congress The second Congress managed the colonial war effort, and moved slowly towards independence, adopting the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, The second Congress managed the colonial war effort, and moved slowly towards independence, adopting the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, EFFECT EFFECT Finally, on March 1, 1781, the Articles of Confederation were signed by delegates of Maryland Finally, on March 1, 1781, the Articles of Confederation were signed by delegates of Maryland which then declared the Articles ratified which then declared the Articles ratified

Declaration of Independence CAUSE CAUSE a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson EFFECT EFFECT the Declaration is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain the Declaration is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain The birthday of the United States of America Independence Day—is celebrated on July 4 The birthday of the United States of America Independence Day—is celebrated on July 4 the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress. the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress.