Revolutionary War Timeline

The Sugar Act was a tax on every type of sugar. This tax caused the price of imported molasses to lower. However since the colonists did not have anyone to represent them in Parliament, they didn't want to pay the new tax, and would rather pay double the money from a third party just so that Parliament wouldn't get the money. This was the first time the colonists said to Parliament how much they wanted to be taxed, and on what. The Sugar Act caused the amount of smuggling to go up in the colonies.

The Stamp Act placed taxes on all legal documents and after awhile, on everything, ex. wills, diplomas, marriage papers, newspapers, playing cards, and even dice. All of these items had to carry a stamp on it saying that the tax on this item had already been paid.

The Declaratory Act, passed at the same time as the Stamp Act and Sugar Act were repealed, said that Britain could make and pass any law that they wanted in the colonies. The Americans were so happy with the Acts being repealed, they didn't notice the Declaratory Act. This was not going to bode well with the colonists.

Colonists boycotted English imports to oppose the Stamp Act. England felt the effects of the boycott almost instantly. This boycott effected the merchants too. Because merchants buy goods and then sell them to the colonists for a higher price, if the colonists don't buy the goods, the merchants go broke. Not only was the Parliament hurting, so were their merchants.

The Boston Massacre was the result over dispute of the Quartering Act. That night, a large crowd gathered and stared throwing insults at a British guard. After awhile, the guard's comrades came to help him. As the nights progressed, there were seven British soldiers and about 100 Boston citizens. The citizens started throwing snowballs and canes and other things. Once a cane hit a British soldier, he fired. One citizen went down. The mob continued. The soldiers fired. Again. By the time the citizens realized what was happening, there were five citizens dead. Then the citizens ran away into the safety of their own homes.

The Tea Act was an tax on tea, which was a popular drink amongst colonist and Englishmen. Because of this, it was obvious that there was going to be a tax on it some time. When this time came, Parliament actually LOWERED the price of tea, but the colonists revolted. The colonists refused to buy the tea now that Parliament lowered the price and tax on tea.

The Boston Tea Party was the result of dispute over the Tea Act. Some colonists dressed up like Mohawk Indians and boarded English ships to throw over 300 cans of tea over the side and into Boston Harbor. In their anger, Britain closed Boston Harbor. This was a big blow to the colonists since Boston was a big spot for trade.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first skirmishes between Britain and the colonists. First came Lexington. There, the colonists had many guns and arms stored- arms that they had stolen from England. When the first shot was fired, no one knows who, everyone else started firing. The colonists were forced to retreat, but succeeded in slowing the army down. When Britain had finally gotten to Concord, there was an American army waiting for them. This time, the Americans had finally gotten the Redcoats to retreat, harassing them with militiamen all the way back to where they were supposed to be.

George Washington was a commander during the French and Indian War, and he was good at being one. This is a reason that the colonists put Washington in charge, mostly because he has battle experience. Washington was commander after the battles of Lexington and Concord, when the colonists realized that war was coming and they needed a commander.

The Declaration of Independence was an official document sent to England saying that they have officially broken off of the British country and have formed their own. They named themselves the United States of America. After Britain got the Declaration, they declared war on America.