Reasons for the Revolution
Stamp Act: The stamp act was the first attempt of the British to tax the colonies directly. The law required every sheet of paper had a stamp, showing that the tax had been paid. Newspapers, diplomas, wills, advertisements, and even playing cards had to be stamped.
Townsend Acts: The British Finance Minister, whose name was Townsend, put taxes on tea, lead, paint, paper, and glass. He placed these taxes because the British government was losing money.
Writs of Assistance: This was a law passed, saying that British officials had the right to search any building without permission, at any time.
Boston Massacre: The colonists of Massachusetts were very angry at the British for placing the taxes on the Colonies, so a group of rebels decided to throw snowballs and rocks at British officials. The British retaliated by shooting five of the colonists. This annoyed the colonists even more.
Tea Act and Boston Tea Party: The British placed higher taxes on tea, one of the most consumed drinks in the colonies, and so a rebel group called the Sons of Liberty decided to dress up as Native Americans and throw 342 cases of tea into Boston Harbor. This encouraged the colonists to rebel.
The Intolerable Acts: The British government pass a law forcing colonists to provide free room and board for British officials. This was called "quartering". Another Intolerable Act, was a law stating that all colonists had to ask permission to protest and speak their opinions freely. Also, the government increased tax prices on all items.
First Continental Congress: During the first Continental Congress, delagates from each colony, exept Georgia, met to discuss what to do about the Intolerable Acts. They deicded to ban trade with the British, and to start training armies, in case a war broke out.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord: When British troops approached Lexington, an armed militia attacked them. The plan was to hold off the British from getting to Concord, where the majority of militia ammunition was stored. The British easily killed the militia and went on to Concord. When the British got to Concord, however, the militia there won the Battle against the British. The ammunition in Concord was safe from the British.
The Battle of Bunker Hill: Patriot troops had moved to occupy the peninsula near Boston, recently left by the British. On it were Breeds Hill and Bunker Hill. During the night, the patriot had turned the peninsula into an armed camp. The British came back to retake it. 2,200 men crossed by boat to the beaches under Breeds Hill. There, the army formed assault lines, and moved to surprise the Patriots. The British stormed the hill twice, twice they were turned back. Then, American gunpowder ran out, and the British took over the hill. The Patriots, however, viewed the battle as a victory, because over 1,000 redcoats had been lost or wounded, but only 400 Patriot casualties.
Declaration of Independence: On July 4, 1776, a document was signed stating that America was free. Just two days before, the Continental Congress voted that the colonists were no longer under British reign. Thomas Jefferson wrote this document, which was named the Declaration of independence. John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, signed the document in very large letters. Other delegates, from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, and Georgia all signed the Declaration.