Events leading up to the Declaration of Independence #1-5

Proclamation of 1763  What happened: British barred settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to keep settlers from fighting with natives

Result/reaction:  difficult to enforce; colonists get mad, move west anyway

Sugar Act, 1764 What happened: Britain put a tax on sugar and molasses entering colonies to raise $ What happened: Britain put a tax on sugar and molasses entering colonies to raise $

Result/reaction Colonists are angry because England enforces this law, unlike earlier laws

Stamp Act, 1765

What happened England placed a tax on all printed matter; ads, newspapers, playing cards, etc. had to have special stamps to show tax had been paid England placed a tax on all printed matter; ads, newspapers, playing cards, etc. had to have special stamps to show tax had been paid

Result/reaction colonists claimed there should be colonists claimed there should be “no taxation without representation,” signed non- importation agreements “no taxation without representation,” signed non- importation agreements

Non-importation agreements Date: ongoing; mainly after Stamp Act Date: ongoing; mainly after Stamp Act What happened: merchants signed agreements promising not to buy or import British goods What happened: merchants signed agreements promising not to buy or import British goods

Result/reaction Not all merchants honored the agreement Not all merchants honored the agreement Some mass demonstrations got violent Some mass demonstrations got violent

Sons of Liberty When: ongoing What happened: committees of lawyers, merchants, artisans, politicians formed; used pamphlets, petitions, meeting and violence (tarring and feathering tax collectors)

Result/reaction Revolutionary spirit is getting stronger; important colonists, such as Samuel Adams, participate

Stamp Act Congress, 1765  What happened: after a lot of protests in the streets, delegates from 9 colonies gathered to voice objections to the Stamp Act

Result/reaction:  more colonial unity; Britain repealed the Stamp Act

Declaratory Act, 1766 What happened: English Parliament asserted full power and authority to make laws for the colonies in all cases What happened: English Parliament asserted full power and authority to make laws for the colonies in all cases

Result/reaction Colonists did not pay much attention to this act, but it was clear that England still intended to tax the colonies

Townshend Acts, 1767 What happened: England placed import duties (taxes) on tea, lead, glass, and dyes for paint What happened: England placed import duties (taxes) on tea, lead, glass, and dyes for paint

Result/reaction Colonists were very angry, especially because writs of assistance (special search warrants) were used to enforce this law Colonists were very angry, especially because writs of assistance (special search warrants) were used to enforce this law

Quartering Act, 1765  What happened: colonists were required to provide money to quarter (house and supply) British troops

Result/reaction  Colonists increasingly refused to provide money and became angrier at taxation

Boston Massacre, 1770

Does Paul Revere’s engraving tell the truth? What happened: Five colonists (including Crispus Attucks, an African- American) were killed when shots were fired by the British What happened: Five colonists (including Crispus Attucks, an African- American) were killed when shots were fired by the British Reaction/result: Sons of Liberty gave the event the name “massacre,” and poems, songs, visuals were produced to get colonists to support the war Reaction/result: Sons of Liberty gave the event the name “massacre,” and poems, songs, visuals were produced to get colonists to support the war

Other views of the massacre

Committees of Correspondence  1772 and later  What happened: Samuel Adams and other Bostonians created such committees to keep colonists informed about ways England had tried to limit their rights  Result/reaction: colonists were better informed

Tea Act, 1773 What happened: the English Parliament tried to save the British East India Company from bankruptcy by letting it sell tea directly to the colonies at a lower price

Result/reaction Even though prices on tea were lower, colonists feared that the company would have a monopolyEven though prices on tea were lower, colonists feared that the company would have a monopoly Boycotts, protests, Boston Tea PartyBoycotts, protests, Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party, 1773  What happened: colonists dressed as Indians and threw 342 chests of tea into Boston harbor

Result/reaction  Some colonists cheered while others were horrified  Britain was extremely angry and passed the Intolerable Acts

Intolerable Acts, 1774 What happened: England passed 4 acts 1) closed the port of Boston 2) took away Massachusetts charter and stopped town meetings 3) allowed British officials charged with crimes in the colonies to be tried in England 4) created a new Quartering Act THIS DEEPENED COLONIAL HOSTILITY

Quebec Act, 1774  What happened: England extended Quebec’s boundary south to the Ohio River and granted full religious rights to French Roman Catholics

Result/reaction  Colonists were angry because they wanted that land; Protestant colonists were upset because they did not like Catholics having more rights

First Continental Congress, 1774

BIG STEP TOWARD COLONIAL COMMUNICATION What happened: delegates from every colony except Georgia met What happened: delegates from every colony except Georgia met Result/reaction: some favored independence, while others wanted the colonies to stay with England; issued Declaration of Resolves pledging loyalty but demanding more rights Result/reaction: some favored independence, while others wanted the colonies to stay with England; issued Declaration of Resolves pledging loyalty but demanding more rights Pledged to meet again in May 1775 if demands were not met Pledged to meet again in May 1775 if demands were not met

Lexington and Concord, 1775  What happened: first shots were fired between the British and colonial minutemen

Result/reaction  A lot of debate between PATRIOTS and LOYALISTS at the Second Continental Congress

2 nd Continental Congress What happened: met in Philadelphia in May 1775 What happened: met in Philadelphia in May 1775 Result/reaction: elected George Washington as commander of a new army to defend the colonists Result/reaction: elected George Washington as commander of a new army to defend the colonists

Battle of Bunker Hill, June 1775 What happened: the colonists lost control of two hills by Boston Harbor when they ran out of ammunition

Result/reaction British took the hills, but suffered a lot of casualties Colonists were undecided about independence and some still tried to make peace with England

Olive Branch Petition  What happened: colonists send a petition to the King pledging loyalty and asking for his help in ending the conflict  Reaction/result: the king rejected the petition and sent Hessians (German mercenaries) to help defeat the Americans