AMERICAN REVOLUTION CAUSES

AND EVENTS

1760

King George III: King of Great

Britain (England)

Parliament: the government in

England

1754-1763

French and Indian War

Pontiac’s Rebellion

Proclamation of 1763

1764

Sugar Act: tax on sugar and molasses (April 5,

1764)

Committees of Correspondence

Colonists said, “No taxation without

representation!”

1765

Stamp Act: tax on paper goods

like newspapers, books, playing

cards, documents (March 22,

1765)

SUMMER 1765

Sons of Liberty: a group of

colonists (men) who thought of

ways to fight back against the

King’s taxes.

Daughters of Liberty: The Daughters of Liberty were a successful Colonial American

 group, established in the year 1765, that consisted of women who displayed their

loyalty by participating in boycotts of British goods following the passage of the 

Townshend Acts. The Daughters of Liberty was a group of 92 women who looked to

rebel against British taxes by making home goods instead of buying them from the

British. Using their feminine skills of the time, they made homespun cloth[and other

goods. To call attention to this effort, they would hold spinning contests in the village

squares. These contests were called "spinning bees" and were widely attended by

females and often males as well. Their name was inspired by the Sons of Liberty, who

were established shortly before the Daughters of Liberty. The Daughters of Liberty were

very important to the colonists. They helped them make their clothes as well as

homemade products when they boycotted British products

1767

Townshend Act: a tax on paper, lead, paint,

and glass

King sent tax collectors to collect money from

the colonists.

Colonists reacted by capturing tax collectors

and tarring and feathering them.

**British soldiers were sent to keep the peace

in Boston. (4,000 soldiers for a population of

20,000 in Boston.)

MARCH 5, 1770

Boston Massacre: Colonists were frustrated over the

King’s new taxes and started to throw “dirty”

snowballs at the soldiers. Soldiers fired into the crowd.

3 people died on the scene, 2 more died later as a

result of their wounds

Crispus Attucks

Captain Preston and British Regulars (soldiers)

1773

Tea Act: May 10, 1773• British East India Company

Boston Tea Party: December 16,

1773

1774

Intolerable Act/Coercive Act: May 20, 1774• King George ordered Boston Harbor to be closed.

He sent warships to blockade the harbor.• He took away the colonists’ right to hold town

meetings.• He told the colonists that they still had to pay for

the tea.• He made the colonists house the British soldiers.• He allowed royal officials who were accused of

crimes to be tried back in England.

1774

First Continental Congress: September 5- October

26, 1774. Delegates met in Philadelphia. They wrote

out a list of complaints against the King and England.

The Declaration of Independence: main author was

Thomas Jefferson. Colonists sent this document to

the King declaring their independence from England.

MARCH 23,1775

Patrick Henry: gave a speech

trying to convince the colonists to

break free from England. Famous

line was “Give me liberty, or give

me death!”

APRIL 18, 1775

Paul Revere’s Ride

Minutemen

Lexington and Concord

The shot heard ‘round the world (April 19, 1775)

Second Continental Congress (May 10, 1775)

George Washington selected Commander in Chief of

Continental Army (June 15, 1775)

Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775)