Causes of the Revolution
What was the Stamp Act?
A law requiring colonists to pay for an official stamp when buying paper items.
What happened during the Boston Massacre?
British soldiers fired into a crowd, killing five colonists.
Who was Samuel Adams?
A Boston leader who believed Parliament could not tax colonists without their consent.
What was the purpose of the Stamp Act?
To raise revenue from the colonies to pay for British troops and administration.
How did colonists protest the Stamp Act?
By organizing protests and boycotts of British goods.
What did the Townshend Acts tax?
Taxes were levied on imported glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.
What was the significance of the Committees of Correspondence?
They were created to share information about how to challenge British laws.
Who was Mercy Otis Warren?
A writer who wrote plays accusing British leaders of greed.
Why did Parliament raise taxes after the French and Indian War?
To pay off war debts and cover costs of protecting the colonies.
What was the significance of boycotting British goods?
It unified the colonies and pressured Britain to repeal unjust laws.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
A protest where colonists, disguised as Native Americans, dumped over 340 tea chests into Boston Harbor.
Describe the Boston Tea Party.
Colonists protested the Tea Act by dumping tea into Boston Harbor.
What role did James Otis play?
He inspired the slogan “No Taxation without Representation.”
What did the Tea Act allow?
It allowed a British company to sell tea directly to colonists at a reduced price.
How did the Boston Massacre affect colonial attitudes?
It fueled resentment toward British rule and increased calls for independence.
What was "No taxation without representation"?
A slogan used by colonists to express that they should not be taxed by Parliament without having representatives in it.
What was the response of Britain to the Boston Tea Party?
Britain passed the Intolerable Acts to punish the colonists.
Who were the Sons of Liberty?
Groups formed to protest British taxes and policies, often using violent tactics.
How did Britain respond to colonial protests?
By enforcing stricter laws and taxes, leading to increased tensions.
What strategies did the colonists use to resist British rule?
They formed alliances, communicated through Committees of Correspondence, and organized protests.
Describe the Intolerable Acts.
Laws passed to punish colonists for the Boston Tea Party, including closing Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for.
Explain the Quartering Act.
A law requiring colonists to house British soldiers.
Describe the contributions of Thomas Paine
He wrote "Common Sense," advocating for independence from Britain.
Explain the impact of the Intolerable Acts on Boston.
These laws closed ports, restricted town meetings, and increased British military presence, leading to greater unrest.
Describe how the events of 1770 led to increased unity among colonies.
Shared grievances and collective actions, such as the Boston Massacre, fostered a sense of common purpose against British oppression.