Introduction
After the Seven Years’ War, England was broke. That’s why they need to implement taxes on the colonies.
The American revolution started in 1765 because of taxes. Some of the taxes were the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts.
The Stamp Act says that you must pay taxes for important documents like marriages, college diplomas and newspapers. These documents will be stamped so there is proof that you already paid the taxes. That is why this is called the Stamp Act. The Townshend Acts says that you should pay taxes for British goods.
#1 The Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, the Boston Massacre took place. Most of the colonists didn’t like the taxes so they rebelled against the British. The British fired their guns and killed 5 of the colonists. The rest of the colonists fled.
#2 Boston Tea Party
There was a person named Samuel Adams who was speaking against the injustice of the British. He, and other colonists marched down to the Boston Port, dressed as Indians, and threw 342 boxes (90 lbs.) of tea. Because of this, the British closed the port to all trade and business. This is known as the intolerable act.
#3 The 1st Continental Congress
Representatives from all the colonies except Georgia met to discuss the problem of the intolerable acts. In all, there were 56 delegates. They were chanting, “No Taxation, No Representation!!”
#4 Patrick Henry’s Fiery Speech
There was no other colonist who spoke more passionately than Patrick Henry. Patrick Henry was an articulate lawyer from Virginia. Both he and George Washington had been in the 1st Continental Congress. The colonists were getting ready to give up when Patrick Henry spoke, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, Give me Liberty or Give me Death!” His speech, spoken on March 23, 1775, echoed strongly through the colonies.
#5 Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride
In Boston, the colonists were watching the British army closely. The British had found out that there was a secret stash of gunpowder in Concord. They also were headed to Lexington to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Lexington was just miles from Concord and they were in big trouble!
On 4/18/1775, Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the Sons of Liberty, saw the signal lanterns placed in the steeple of the Old North Church in Boston. He called 2 riders to tell the people that the British are coming. Those two riders were William Dawes and Paul Revere. William took a route while Paul took another.
Legend says that while Paul Revere was riding through the cities, he was shouting “The British are coming! The British are coming!” But most of them were all British so he did not actually shout that they were called the regulars. And he did not shout or else he would have been caught. Instead he was with William Dawes whispering: “The Regulars are coming. The Regulars are coming.”
Paul Revere did not even complete his ride! After they left Lexington, they were caught by British soldiers and put to jail. But another rider, named Samuel Prescott, brought the message to Lexington instead. and by that time, many other riders warned the other locals around Lexington and Concord.
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