1776 – Colonists thought of themselves as American

British parliament – Acted in best interest of England – Made it difficult to trade with French and Spanish Colonies – no representation in parliament RESENTMENT!!

England – huge debt Colonies to pay: – Sugar Act: taxed sugar bought from French or Spanish – Stamp Act: all newspapers and legal documents to carry a stamp purchased from Britain

British East India Company – Controlled tea trading between India and the British colonies – Tea tax : Colonists refused to buy British tea Left tea in warehouses British government: – Force colonists to buy tea – Tea Act: allowed British East India Co. to sell directly to colonists – skipping wholesale merchants; made it cheaper than smuggled tea

Colonists: – Demanded removal of tea tax – Refusing to unload tea December 16, 1773 – Group of men “Sons of Liberty” – Boston Harbor – dressed as Mohawk Indians – Boarded British ships and dumped 45 tons of tea