Explanation:
Boston Massacre
1770; 5 colonists killed after mob on one lone guard. The guard had called for help, someone shouted "fire" & British men shot down 5 colonists.
this event was viewed as an example of British cruelty and used as propaganda, especially by Paul Revere
Preston, general, did not want his men to fire. He was judged as innocent by John Adams (sams Adam's cousin).
Tea Act
1773; British lowered the price of tea extremely. Led to the Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
1773; colonists dressed as indians stormed into the boston harbor and dumped 23 thousand pounds of tea into the harbor. British ships were burned.
The americans believed (because of the Tea Act) that the British were trying to creep in slowly and steal their independence and freedom.
Gaspée Affair
1774; A british warship, named the Gaspée, burned, and the captain was terribly wounded
The Intolerable Acts
1744;
- King closed Boston harbour to everything but British ships
- he sent lots of British troops to Boston. the colonists had to house and feed the troops. (if the colonists didn't do this, they would be shot)
- British officials could only be tried in Britain for crimes, which left the british free to do whatever they wanted in the colonies
- British Governor was in charge of all meetings in Boston; there would be no more self- government
- The Quebec act extended to Canadian borders to cut off western colonies of Connecticut, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
First Continental Congress
September, 1774;
brought together Representstives from each colony, except Georgia, to discuss their response to the British "Intolerable Acts".
Battle of Lexington and Concord
April 19th, 1775; colonists send troops to Boston
-1st shots were fired for the revolution
a stalemate ensued in Boston Peninsula with the Brits
Paul Revere, silversmith, rides to warn Sam Adams and Hancock of the British arriving in Lexington to find hidden arms caches
Americans fought british before they arrived in concord, without honour, and shot them in the backs
This then transformed into the american revolution.
Battle of Bunker Hill
June 17th, 1775; Am. General Patna was good in combat. He was going to steal canon and set up a fortress that would destroy all the british ships in the B. Harbour.
British troops sent to the fort were shot down one by one, even though the americans had close to no powder, and the british were down by half their men
2nd Continental Congress
1775; Delegates of the 13 colonies gathered in Philadelphia and sent an olive branch to King George.
king G. Refused and proclaimed the colonies in rebellion
Tom Paine's "Common Sense"
january 1776; book published about republicanism & independence
Declaration of Independence
July 4th, 1776; 50 men signed the declaration of freedom from britain
