Beginnings of Rebellion Colonial Resistance to the British

Albany Plan of Union (1754) written by Benjamin Franklin based on the Iroquois Confederation, was an attempt to unite the colonies rejected by colonies

Stamp Act (1765) In order to generate revenue, Britain forced colonists to buy special “stamped” paper for all legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and others. Sons of Liberty (Sam Adams) – secret resistance group started in Boston, forced many stamp agents to resign Patrick Henry – led the Virginia assembly in passing a resolution which stated that taxes could only be passed by their own representatives Boycotts of British goods began in NY, Boston, and Philadelphia In 1766 Britain repealed the Stamp Act.

More tension between the British and the Colonists Townshend Acts – Indirect taxes levied on producers of goods imported by colonists, including tea -led to more protests and boycotts Boston Massacre (1770) – five colonists were killed in a dispute with Customs House guards  

British/Colonist tension cont. Boston Tea Party (1773) - Hurt by colonial boycotts, the British attempted to sell tea directly to colonial consumers, bypassing colonial merchants. Boston rebels, disguised as Native Americans, raided three British tea ships and dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor. Quartering Act – vacant private homes and other buildings could be used to house British soldiers First Continental Congress (Philadelphia, 1774) -defended colonies rights to run their own affairs -agreed to fight back should Britain use force

Fighting in Lexington and Concord After the First Continental Congress, Minutemen (civilian soldiers) began to gather firearms and ammunition British leaders planned a raid on the munitions stashes in Concord and wanted to capture colonial leaders John Hancock and Sam Adams who were hiding in Lexington Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott received word of the pending raid and rode to Lexington and Concord to warn Hancock, Adams, and the Minutemen. After a successful, relatively resistance free, ride to Concord, the British began to retreat back to Boston. During the retreat the British faced several ambushes from the Minutemen. Dozens of Redcoats were killed.