Road to Revolution

The French and Indian War, also dubbed the Seven Years War in Europe, pitted Britain and France against each other in various locations around the world, making it a truly global conflict. However, in the North American theater, both Britain, their colonists and Iroquois allies fought against the French and their Huron and Algonquin allies. Essentially this war was fought for control of the resource rich Ohio River Valley, but in reality much more was at stake. The winner would reign supreme in North America, giving them unrivaled access to the bountiful resources available within the continent. Despite losing many battles in the initial fighting, Britain, aided considerably by colonial militias, rallied back and won the key battles of Quebec and Montreal. These victories allowed Britain to win the war. The conflict concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, a document that drove the French influence from North America almost entirely. In the end Great Britain gained a tremendous amount of land that stretched from the Appalachian Mountains west to the Mississippi River, but it came at a tremendous cost. Britain, who borrowed tremendous amounts of money to fund the war against their rival was plunged deep into economic debt. To recover these funds, the King and Parliament began a heavy campaign of taxation within the 13 Colonies, a decision that would tarnish the relationship between her and her colonies and eventually lead to the American Revolution.

The Proclamation of 1763 followed the French and Indian War. A boundary down the spine of the Appalachian Mountains was formed. The settlers couldn’t settle or pass this boundary. If they were settled there they needed to move back. They did this to avoid war with the Natives in the Ohio River Valley called Pontiac’s War because Britain couldn’t afford another war. Many colonists were angered that they weren’t aloud to go on the land they fought for though blood and battle. Many settlers ignored the war and settled west of the line.

The Sugar Act or the American Duties Act was passed April 5, 1764 by George Greenville. This law allowed Britain to tax the colonists on sugar. Britain taxed the colonists because after the French and Indian War, Britain was in debt. They poured all of their money into the war so, Britain would win. The Sugar Act made colonists pay six pents for one gallon sugar. If they raised the price of sugar people would buy more molasses. Therefore, Britain would make more money because colonists wouldn't be able to afford sugar so they would make money off of molasses. This would help the British economy immensely. Smuggled molasses was in competition with legal molasses, until the Sugar Act. The colonists were prohibited to follow the Sugar Act. Many colonists opposed to this law.

The Stamp Act occurred in October 1764. Following the Sugar Act was the Stamp Act. George Greenville persuaded the Parliament to pass the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act allowed the British government to tax things such as documents, marriage papers, newspaper, playing cards, dice and cloth. The colonists were angry and riots broke out. The famous quote “No taxation without representation” was amongst all colonists. The Boycott of British Goods occured in 1765. This was a series of boycotts to get revenge on the British for all of the acts they enforced on the colonies. The Stamp Act was crucial to the boycotts as this was the first taxation on the colonies. This caused greater tension between the British and the colonists.

The Stamp Act occurred in October 1764. Following the Sugar Act was the Stamp Act. George Greenville persuaded the Parliament to pass the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act allowed the British government to tax things such as documents, marriage papers, newspaper, playing cards, dice and cloth. The colonists were angry and riots broke out. The famous quote “No taxation without representation” was amongst all colonists. The Boycott of British Goods occured in 1765. This was a series of boycotts to get revenge on the British for all of the acts they enforced on the colonies. The Stamp Act was crucial to the boycotts as this was the first taxation on the colonies. This caused greater tension between the British and the colonists.

The Boston Massacre was a violent battle between Boston troops and British troops in 1768. Boston’s citizens had become increasingly belligerent to British troops stationed in Boston. Many taxes were being added to the colonists products. Colonists didn’t like the way they were being treated by British troops. Some people considered this the first battle of the American Revolution.

In April of 1773 the Tea Act occurred. Britain tool total control over the huge surplus of tea being imported to America. This made it less expensive to smuggle tea. Colonists thought this would eradicate the society. This resulted in the colonists destroying the imported tea.

The Boston Tea Party was in December of 1773. A group of Boston citizens boarded the British ships which had tea being imported on them. They dumped the tea into the harbor as a protest against tax on imported tea. The beginning of this act goes all the way back to the Sugar Act. Britain reacted by making new laws. One law was the Boston Port Act which closed the harbor and made a naval blockade. This blocked off the city until the tea was paid for.

The Intolerable Acts occurred in April of 1774. Britain made 5 new laws to control they colonies after the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. The Massachusetts Government Act suspended democracy in the colony. The Act for the Impartial Administration of Justice allowed the governor to remove any trial of a colonial official for a capital offence to a court in England, but only if the offence took place while the official was putting down a riot or collecting taxes. Lastly, Quebec Act, extended the boundaries of Quebec to the Ohio River,rather than leaving this region open for settlement by eastern colonies. The colonies saw these laws as threats.

Lexington and Concord occurred in April of 1775. The first shots of the Revolutionary war were fired in Concord. Fighting broke out when General Thomas Gage received orders to open fire on the American Patriots. The Americans were outnumbered and lost the battle. In the second battle the Americans arrived early in the morning and opened fire. The british lost 273 men and the Americans lost 95 men. This was the start of the Revolutionary War.