StampStamp ActAct

Britain doubled its national debt Britain doubled its national debt Who’s going to pay for the

war?...Colonies How?...TAXES!

Parliament passes the Parliament passes the Stamp ActStamp Act A tax law requiring colonists to

purchase special stamped paper for printed items

Stamp Act ProtestsStamp Act Protests

Sons of Liberty – a resistance group Sons of Liberty – a resistance group of Boston shopkeepers, artisans and of Boston shopkeepers, artisans and laborers led by Samuel Adamslaborers led by Samuel Adams Harass stamp distributors Merchants refused to import Britain

manufactured goods (boycott) Prepare a Declaration of Rights and

Grievances

Townshend ActsTownshend Acts

Boycott worked & Stamp Act removedBoycott worked & Stamp Act removed In 1767, In 1767, Townshend Acts are passed are passed

British taxes certain colonial imports (indirect)

Station troops at major colonial ports to protect custom officers

Colonists reaction “Taxation without representation” Organize more boycotts of imported goods

Problems in BostonProblems in Boston

““Red Coats” – British soldiers stationed Red Coats” – British soldiers stationed in Boston taunted by angry mob. in Boston taunted by angry mob. Soldiers fire into crowd killing five Soldiers fire into crowd killing five colonistscolonists

Colonists label it “Boston Massacre”

Boston MassacreBoston Massacre

British soldiers attack defenseless citizens

Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

British East India Company was British East India Company was bankrupting due to colonist boycottbankrupting due to colonist boycott

Tea Act – granted the company the right to sell tea to colonies free of taxes

In 1773, Boston rebels disguised as In 1773, Boston rebels disguised as Native Americans boarded British Native Americans boarded British ships and dumped 18,000 pounds of ships and dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into the waters of Boston Harbor.tea into the waters of Boston Harbor.

Intolerable ActsIntolerable Acts

King George III infuriated by this eventKing George III infuriated by this event Forces Parliament to pass a series of

measures, which colonists referred to as Intolerable Acts: 1 law shut down the Boston harbor Quartering Act – housing of soldiers in

vacant houses/buildings Massachusetts under Martial Law – rule

imposed by military forces

Colonies UniteColonies Unite

Form the 1Form the 1stst Continental Congress in Continental Congress in 17741774 56 delegates met in Philadelphia56 delegates met in Philadelphia Drew up a declaration of colonial rightsDrew up a declaration of colonial rights

Colonists step up military Colonists step up military preparationspreparations Minutemen – civilian soldiers stockpile

firearms and gunpowder

Alert!Alert!

British General Gage sends troops to Concord to seize and destroy all munitions

Joseph Warren (Sons of Liberty) gets word of an attack

Sends Paul Revere to inform colonists “the British are coming”

Battle at LexingtonBattle at Lexington

In April of 1775, British troops reach In April of 1775, British troops reach LexingtonLexington

Met by about 70 minutemenMet by about 70 minutemen Ordered by British commander to Ordered by British commander to

move out but a shot was firedmove out but a shot was fired 8 minutemen killed; 1 injured British 8 minutemen killed; 1 injured British

soldiersoldier Lasted 15 minutesLasted 15 minutes

Battle at LexingtonBattle at Lexington

Battle at ConcordBattle at Concord

British reach Concord to find an empty British reach Concord to find an empty arsenalarsenal

British begin to march back but are British begin to march back but are attacked by 3,000 - 4,000 minutemenattacked by 3,000 - 4,000 minutemen

British soldiers fell by the dozenBritish soldiers fell by the dozen Bloodied and humiliated, the Bloodied and humiliated, the

remaining soldiers made their way remaining soldiers made their way back to Boston.back to Boston.