3. Stirrings of Rebellion
British Action
Colonial Reaction
1765
Stamp Act
1767
Townshend Acts
1770
Boston Massacre
1773
Tea Act
1774
Intolerable Acts
1775
Lexington & Concord

4. The Thirteen Colonies

5. 1765
Stamp Act

6. Britain passes the Stamp Act, a tax law
requiring colonist to purchase special
stamped paper for printed items.

7. Reaction to the Stamp Act
Colonist harass stamp distributors, boycott
British goods, and prepare a Declaration of
Rights and Grievances

8. 1767
Townshend Acts

9. British Action
Britain taxes
certain colonial
imports and
stations troops
at major
colonial ports to
protect customs
officers.

10. Reaction to Townshend Acts
Colonist protest
“taxation without
representation” and
organize new
boycott of
Imported goods

11. 1770
Boston Massacre

12. The Boston Massacre 1770
British troops
stationed in
Boston are
taunted by an
angry mob. The
troops fire into
the crowd,
killing five men

13. Reaction to Massacre
Colonial agitators label the conflict a “massacre” and
publish a dramatic engraving depicting the violence

14. 1773
Tea Act

15. The Tea Act 1773
British action
Britain gives the East India
company special concessions
in the colonial tea business
and shuts out colonial tea
merchants

16. Reaction to the Tea Act
British Action
Colonist in Boston rebel, dumping 15,000 pounds of
East India Company tea into Boston Harbor

17. 1774
Intolerable Acts

18. 1774 Intolerable Acts
• King George tightens control
over Massachusetts by closing
Boston Harbor and Quartering
Troops.

19. Colonial Reaction
Intolerable Acts
• Colonial leaders form up the First
Continental Congress and draw up a
declaration of colonial rights.

20. 1775
Lexington and Concord

21. British Action
• General Gage orders troops to
march to Concord, MA, and seize
colonial weapons.

22. Colonial Reaction
Minutemen intercept the British and
engage in battle -- first at Lexington, and
then at Concord.

23. The Shot Heard
'Round The World