1763 | 1764 | 1765 | 1766 | 1767 | 1768 | 1769 | 1770 | 1771 | 1772 | 1773 | 1774

1763

Proclamation of 1763

The Royal Proclamation set aside lands west of the Appalachians for American Indian nations like the Cherokee. This angered colonists who wanted the land for themselves.

1764

Sugar Act

The Stamp Act was Parliament's first direct tax on the American colonies. It was similar to other acts passed in 1764. These were meant to raise money for Britain. The Stamp Act taxed newspapers, almanacs, flyers, broadsides, legal documents, dice, and playing cards. The British government issued the stamps. They were intended to be put onto documents or packages to show that the tax had been paid.

Currency Act

This act did not allow American colonies to create their own currency, or form of money. This made many American colonists angry. It prohibited American colonies from issuing their own currency, angering many American colonists.

Beginnings of colonial opposition

American colonists protested against the Sugar Act and the Currency Act. Massachusetts residents met for a town meeting. They complained about taxation without proper representation in Parliament. Participants called for a united protest throughout the colonies. By the end of the year, many colonies were practicing nonimportation. This meant they refused to buy or use imported English goods.

1765

Quartering Act

The British government further angered American colonists with the Quartering Act. This act required the colonies to provide supplies and barracks, or a place to stay,; for British soldiers.

Stamp Act

The Stamp Act was Parliament's first direct tax on the American colonies. It was similar to other acts passed in 1764. These were meant to raise money for Britain. The Stamp Act taxed newspapers, almanacs, flyers, broadsides, legal documents, dice, and playing cards. The British government issued the stamps. They were intended to be put onto documents or packages to show that the tax had been paid.

Organized colonial protest

American colonists responded to Parliament's acts with organized protests. A network of secret organizations was created throughout the colonies. These groups became known as the Sons of Liberty. They organized to protect colonists from Stamp Act agents that collected Parliament's taxes. The stamp agents in the colonies quit their jobs before the Stamp Act even took effect. In response, the Massachusetts Assembly suggested a meeting of all the colonies. All but four colonies were represented and the meeting became known as the Stamp Act Congress. Together, they wanted to repeal the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act Congress passed a "Declaration of Rights and Grievances." This document stated that American colonists were equal to British citizens. It also said that Parliament couldn’t tax colonists without colonial representation–”no taxation without representation.” The colonists also increased their nonimportation efforts.

1766

Repeal of the Stamp Act

Some in Parliament thought the army should be used to enforce the Stamp Act. Others supported the colonists not wanting to pay taxes without representation in Parliament. The act was repealed, or reversed. As a result, the colonies ended their ban on imported British goods.

Declaratory Act

While the Stamp Act was repealed, it did not mean that Great Britain gave up control over its colonies. Parliament passed a new act the same day the Stamp Act was repealed. It was known as the Declaratory Act. It said that Parliament could make laws that affected American colonies "in all cases whatsoever."

Resistance to the Quartering Act in New York

The Quartering Act (1765) greatly affected New York. The city served as headquarters for British troops in America. The New York Assembly refused to assist in providing housing for troops. A skirmish occurred in which one colonist was wounded. In response, Parliament suspended, or took away, the Assembly's powers. But the Assembly had agreed to pay money toward the quartering of troops. The suspension was never carried out.

1767

Townshend Acts

Parliament passed the Townshend Acts in 1767. These acts placed taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper and tea. These taxes were designed to help pay for expenses involved in governing the American colonies.

Nonimportation

The colonists again decided to refuse the purchasing of British imports. This was in response to the new taxes.

"Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies"

John Dickinson wrote a pamphlet, or flyer, that criticized the royal government and its decisions. In it, he called the Townshend Acts unconstitutional. He argued that Parliament could not tax the colonies. Dickinson also disapproved of the New York Assembly suspension. He saw this as a threat to colonial liberties. This document was originally published in a newspaper. It was widely reproduced and distributed.

1768

Massachusetts Circular Letter

In 1768, Samuel Adams wrote the Massachusetts Circular Letter. In it, he attacked Parliament's taxation of colonies without representation. The Massachusetts House of Representatives supported this document. Adams also called for all thirteen colonies to protest. Many colonies created similar statements. The British governor of Massachusetts punished this. He dissolved, or broke up, the state's assembly. The Sons of Liberty warned of armed opposition to arriving British troops. But there was no resistance when the troops arrived in Boston.

1769

Virginia's resolutions

The Virginia House of Burgesses passed a resolution, or formal judgment in law. It criticized Britain's actions against Massachusetts. The judgment stated that only Virginia's governor and assembly could tax its citizens. The members also wrote a formal letter to the King. They completed this just before Virginia's royal governor took action. He broke up colonial Virginia's legislature, or assembly.

1770

Townshend Acts cut back

The colonies boycotted, or refused, imported British goods. This resulted in lower profits for Britain. As a result, Parliament withdrew almost all of the Townshend Act taxes. Only the tax on tea remained.

An end to nonimportation

Parliament reduced its taxation laws. The colonies changed their strategy in return. They did not boycott British imported goods as strongly as they did before.

Conflict between citizens and British troops in New York

A leading New York Son of Liberty distributed a broadside, or piece of paper with text on each side. This document attacked the New York Assembly. The Son of Liberty was angry that the assembly obeyed the Quartering Act (1765). A riot broke out between citizens and soldiers. There were many seriously wounded but no fatalities.

Boston Massacre

British troops arrived in Boston. This escalated conflict between citizens and soldiers. A protesting crowd of colonists surrounded a group of soldiers on March 5, 1770. The soldiers fired their weapons into the protesting crowd. This killed three colonists and wounded two more. The two wounded colonists eventually died from their injuries. The troops withdrew to islands in the harbor. This prevented a violent uprising. The soldiers were tried for murder. But they were only convicted of lesser crimes. Later president John Adams was their lead lawyer.

1772

Attack on the Gaspee

Several boatloads of men attacked a grounded British customs schooner, or boat. This happened near Providence, Rhode Island. The Royal Governor offered a reward for anyone who found the men. He planned to send them to England for trial. American colonists were outraged that the Gaspee trial was moved to England.

Committees of Correspondence

Samuel Adams called for a Boston town meeting. He wanted to create committees of communication. These groups would share Boston's position with other settlements in early America. Similar committees were soon created throughout the colonies.

1773

Tea Act

The Tea Act reduced the tax on imported British tea. This gave British merchants an unfair advantage in selling their tea in America. American colonists disapproved of this act. Many planned to boycott tea.

Boston Tea Party

British ships arrived in Boston harbor. Many citizens wanted the tea sent back to England without having to pay any taxes. The royal governor demanded payment of the taxes. A group of men disguised themselves as American Indians on December 16. They boarded the ships and dumped all the tea in the harbor.

1774

Coercive Acts

Parliament passed several acts in response to the Boston Tea Party. It wanted to punish Massachusetts. Colonists referred to these acts collectively as the “Coercive Acts.” The Boston Port Bill banned, or did not allow, any ships to be loaded or unloaded in Boston harbor. The Administration of Justice Act offered protection to royal officials in Massachusetts. It also allowed them to transfer specific court cases to England. These were cases that involved stopping colonist’s riots and collecting revenue, or money.

The Massachusetts Government Act was passed. This act stated that the Crown controlled the election of government officials. This act essentially eliminated, or got rid of, the Massachusetts charter of government.

Quartering Act

Parliament added to its previous Quartering Act. British troops could now be housed in any occupied dwelling.

The colonies organize protest

Massachusetts wanted to protest Britain's actions. It suggested a return to nonimportation. But several states wanted to organize a congress of all the colonies. They wanted to discuss a plan of united resistance. The colonies soon named delegates to a congress. They met in Philadelphia on September 5. It was called the First Continental Congress.

The First Continental Congress

Twelve of thirteen colonies were represented at the First Continental Congress. Fifty-six delegates attended. Only Georgia was not represented. The Congress accomplished several things. One of them was the Association of 1774. It urged all colonists to avoid using British goods. Committees would be formed to enforce this ban.

New England prepares for war

British troops in Boston began to reinforce their side. They seized ammunition belonging to the colony of Massachusetts. Thousands of American militiamen were ready to resist. But no fighting happened. Massachusetts created a Provincial Congress and a special Committee of Safety. This committee would decide when the militia should be called into action. There were special groups of militia known as the Minutemen. They had to be ready to fight “at a moment’s notice.”