1770
The Boston Massacre
In 1770, the colonists grew more unhappy with the way the British government treated them. They did not like the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, or Townshend Acts of 1767, which had placed taxes on common items coming into the colonies. In addition, the arrival of more British soldiers made tension between the two groups high. Colonists and British soldiers often fought in the streets of Boston and other cities. Colonists who did not agree with the British were called Patriots. Those who did support the British were called Loyalists.
On March 5, 1770, a colonist accused a British soldier of not paying a barber’s bill. Some angry words were exchanged. A large protest began, with colonists shouting and throwing things at British soldiers. The crowd of angry locals grew, and more soldiers arrived. A British soldier was thrown to the ground and yelled, “Fire!” The other British soldiers followed his “order” and fired their guns at the crowd, killing 5 people.
After this happened, the British agreed to move their troops to a fort on an island in Boston Harbor. At a town meeting the next morning, Patriot leader Samuel Adams called the event the Boston Massacre.
1773
The Tea Act
The British government passed the Tea Act to not only force the colonist to pay tax on tea, but also stated the colonist could only buy tea from English companies. The colonists did not feel this was fair and refused allow British ships to unload their tea in any of the colonies.
On December 16, 1773, members of the Sons of Liberty, dressed as Indians boarded three British ships docked in Boston Harbor, and dumped the tea into water. This is known as the Boston Tea Party.
1774
Consequences
To punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party, the British government sent even more British soldiers to Boston.The colonists were forced to provide food and housing for the soldiers. In addition, the British government closed Boston harbor, preventing the colonist from exporting their goods, until they paid for the ruined tea. The colonists called these laws the Intolerable Acts.
In September of 1774, leaders in most of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia, called the First Continental Congress. The leaders decided to stop all trade with England until the British government repealed the Intolerable Acts. They also decided the colonies should begin preparing men for battle. Some groups called themselves minutemen, who could be ready at a minute's notice to fight.
Consequences
To punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party, the British government sent even more British soldiers to Boston.The colonists were forced to provide food and housing for the soldiers. In addition, the British government closed Boston harbor, preventing the colonist from exporting their goods, until they paid for the ruined tea. The colonists called these laws the Intolerable Acts.
In September of 1774, leaders in most of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia, called the First Continental Congress. The leaders decided to stop all trade with England until the British government repealed the Intolerable Acts. They also decided the colonies should begin preparing men for battle. Some groups called themselves minutemen, who could be ready at a minute's notice to fight.