The Problem of Empire

The Sugar Act added more taxes to some goods like sugar. George Grenville won parliamentary approval of this act to replace the Molasses Act. This helped lead to the revolution because many colonists objected to this act. They thought that they were losing their rights as British subjects, and they did not want that.

The first formal complaints began with Virginia's House of Burgesses. Patrick Henry did not like the laws that Grenville made, so he attacked George the Third for supporting those laws. This helped lead to the American Revolution because it was the start of protests against the British laws.

The Stamp Act was another tax added that Grenville thought would raise money. This new tax started the first great imperial crisis. It was added to help with the cost of keeping British troops in America. This helped lead to the American Revolution because Americans wanted representation in Parliament if they were having to be taxed. The British rejected Benjamin Frankin's idea for representation anyways.

Charles Townshend created this new act as a source of revenue for America. The Townshend Act was new tax legislation that affected colonial imports. The money from it was used to pay governors, judges, and other imperial officials. This helped lead to the American Revolution because it revived the debate over taxes.

American resistance caused the British to send General Thomas Gage and 2,000 troops to Boston. They were trying to stop the resistance to the new taxes from Britain. This helped lead to the American Revolution because Americans were opposing the British.

Boston and New York merchants began the first boycott of British goods. Public officials began to discourage buying foreign things. They protested by producing their own necessities. The "true Daughters of Liberty" celebrated American products. This helped lead to the American Revolution because they were starting to protest Britain.

Nine British redcoats killed five townspeople by firing into a crowd. Ten percent of the population in Boston was troops. They were there to control conflict and violence. This helped lead to the American Revolution because it rallied sentiment against imperial power.

Samuel Adams and other radical Patriots convinced the town meeting to set up this committee to state the rights of the colonists. Several other committees like this one were formed later. They allowed Patriots to communicate with leaders in other colonies when there were threats to liberty. This helped lead to the American Revolution because every colony but Pennsylvania would have one when they declared independence.

This act provided financial relief for the East India Company. They were in debt, so they received a government loan. The import duties on tea the company exported were also canceled. Radical Patriots thought that Britain was trying to bribe Americans with cheaper tea so they would not be opposed to the tea tax. This helped lead to the American Revolution because they protested this and it added to their hope for independence.

The Sons of Liberty stopped the East India Company from delivering cargo in New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston. Royal Governor Hutchinson wanted to deliver the tea and receive the tax from them. Artisans and laborers disguised as Indians boarded the three ships and broke into the 342 chests of tea. They threw them into the harbor to foil the governor's plan. Parliament passed 4 Coercive Acts to make Massachusetts pay for the tea and submit to their authority. Other colonies supported Massachusetts. This helped lead to the American Revolution because the British lost support and the colonies were against them.