Stamp Act - 1765Stamp Act - 1765

• British ActionBritish Action– Britain Passes the Britain Passes the

Stamp Act, a tax law Stamp Act, a tax law requiring colonists to requiring colonists to purchase special purchase special stamped paper for stamped paper for printed items.printed items.

• Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction– Colonists harass stamp Colonists harass stamp

distributors, boycott distributors, boycott British goods, and British goods, and prepare a Declaration prepare a Declaration of rights and of rights and grievances.grievances.

Townshend Acts - 1767Townshend Acts - 1767

• British ActionBritish Action– Britain taxes certain Britain taxes certain

colonial imports and colonial imports and stations troops at major stations troops at major colonial ports to colonial ports to protect customs protect customs officers.officers.

• Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction– Colonists protest Colonists protest

“taxation without “taxation without representation” and representation” and organize new boycott organize new boycott of imported goods.of imported goods.

Boston Massacre - 1770

• British Action– British troops stationed

in Boston are taunted by an angry mob. The troops fire into the crowd, killing five men.

• Colonial Reaction– Colonial agitators label

the conflict a “massacre” and publish a dramatic engraving depicting the violence

Tea Act - 1773Tea Act - 1773

• British ActionBritish Action– Britain gives the East Britain gives the East

India Company special India Company special concession in the concession in the colonial tea business colonial tea business and shuts out colonial and shuts out colonial tea merchants.tea merchants.

• Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction– Colonists in Boston Colonists in Boston

rebel, dumping 15,000 rebel, dumping 15,000 pounds of East India pounds of East India Company tea into Company tea into Boston Harbor. Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts - 1774Intolerable Acts - 1774

• British ActionBritish Action– King George tightens King George tightens

control over control over Massachusetts by Massachusetts by closing Boston Harbor closing Boston Harbor and quartering troops.and quartering troops.

• Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction– Colonial Leaders form Colonial Leaders form

the First Continental the First Continental Congress and draw up Congress and draw up a declaration of a declaration of colonial rights. colonial rights.

Lexington & Concord - 1775

• British ActionBritish Action– General Gage orders General Gage orders

troops to march to troops to march to Concord, Concord, Massachusetts, and Massachusetts, and seize colonial seize colonial weapons.weapons.

• Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction– Minutemen intercept Minutemen intercept

the British and engage the British and engage in battle - first at in battle - first at lexington, and then at lexington, and then at Concord.Concord.

You decide.

Background: You are a wealthy Boston Merchant during the 1770s. Business is

good. You are an active and popular member of the social scene. You know that

if you join the Patriot cause of independence, you could be accused of

Treason and lose everything.Question: Would you support the Patriots

in their cause of independence? Why or why not?