Road to Revolution

The Acts• Currency Act 1764

• Problem: Britain wanted colonists to pay debt in silver and gold

• Sugar Acts 1764• Importance: 1st act ever passed that specifically

raised revenue for the crown

• Stamp Act 1765• Purpose: raise revenue to support new military

force in colonies• Legacy: possibly the single most important event

leading to war• Declaratory Act 1766

Stamp Act Congress• 9 colonies sent 27 delegates• Demand the king and Parliament repeal

Act• Significance: brought together the

colonies and broke down sectionalism

Sons of Liberty• Led by Samuel Adams• Violently enforced

non-importation agreements

Boston Massacre 1770

Committees of Correspondence• Created by VA House of Burgesses 1772

• Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson

• Samuel Adams organized local committees in MA

• Purpose: warn neighboring colonies about incidents with Britain, also to broaden the resistance movement

More Acts…• Tea Act 1773

• Boston Tea Party (Dec. 16, 1773)

• Intolerable Acts 1774• Aim: to punish Boston• Boston Port Act• Quartering Act

• Quebec Act 1774• Allowed French residents to keep traditional

political and religious institutions• Quebec territory extended to Ohio River in NY and

PA• Colonial reaction: thought it was punishment for

party; French Canadian and Amerindian threat to colonists?