AP US History Outlines - The Road to the American Revolution
After the end of the French and Indian War (or the Seven Years War) the British were left with a massive debt to repay.
This need for additional income led to the creation of new legislation intended to tax the American colonists.
Parliament passed the Sugar, Stamp and Currency Acts, which were intended to better enforce the Navigation Acts, place a tax on paper documents and outlaw paper currency respectively.
The colonists were enraged by these efforts and argued against the notion of Virtual Representation (taxation without representation).
The Real Whigs was a group that encouraged this anger, claiming that the British intended to rule the colonies tyrannically.
James Otis wrote The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved, while Patrick Henry drafted the Virginia Stamp Act Resolves.
The Loyal Nine and the Sons of Liberty held demonstrations against the Stamp Act.
Eventually, an American boycott of British goods caused Parliament to repeal the Act, but only after passing the Declaratory Act, which officially gave Parliament the right to tax the colonies in whatever way it wished.
The next stage of the conflict was provoked by the passing of the Townshend Acts, which (1) taxed goods shipped from England to the colonies, (2) created an American Board of Customs Commissioners, (3) Formed Vice-Admiralty Courts and (4) appropriated funds for the salaries of British officials in America.
Again the colonists responded strongly to the legislation.
John Dickenson wrote Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, and the Daughters of Liberty formed in opposition to the Acts.
The Townshend Acts were repealed, all except for the tax on tea.
Tensions heightened with the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.
The latter event provoked the creation of the Coercive (or Intolerable) Acts and the Quebec Act.
The colonists called a Continental Congress, and also created Committees of Observation and a Continental Association to oversee the people and the boycott of British goods respectively.
War began with the battles of Lexington and Concord.
This need for additional income led to the creation of new legislation intended to tax the American colonists.
Parliament passed the Sugar, Stamp and Currency Acts, which were intended to better enforce the Navigation Acts, place a tax on paper documents and outlaw paper currency respectively.
The colonists were enraged by these efforts and argued against the notion of Virtual Representation (taxation without representation).
The Real Whigs was a group that encouraged this anger, claiming that the British intended to rule the colonies tyrannically.
James Otis wrote The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved, while Patrick Henry drafted the Virginia Stamp Act Resolves.
The Loyal Nine and the Sons of Liberty held demonstrations against the Stamp Act.
Eventually, an American boycott of British goods caused Parliament to repeal the Act, but only after passing the Declaratory Act, which officially gave Parliament the right to tax the colonies in whatever way it wished.
The next stage of the conflict was provoked by the passing of the Townshend Acts, which (1) taxed goods shipped from England to the colonies, (2) created an American Board of Customs Commissioners, (3) Formed Vice-Admiralty Courts and (4) appropriated funds for the salaries of British officials in America.
Again the colonists responded strongly to the legislation.
John Dickenson wrote Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, and the Daughters of Liberty formed in opposition to the Acts.
The Townshend Acts were repealed, all except for the tax on tea.
Tensions heightened with the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.
The latter event provoked the creation of the Coercive (or Intolerable) Acts and the Quebec Act.
The colonists called a Continental Congress, and also created Committees of Observation and a Continental Association to oversee the people and the boycott of British goods respectively.
War began with the battles of Lexington and Concord.