2. The Stamp Act: The Stamp Act of 1765 was a particularly unpopular tax because it required all printed materials to be stamped with a government seal. This was seen as a violation of freedom of the press.
3. The Townshend Acts: The Townshend Acts of 1767 imposed new taxes on a variety of goods, including glass, paper, and tea. These taxes were also seen as unfair because they were imposed without the consent of the colonists.
4. The Boston Massacre: The Boston Massacre of 1770 occurred when British soldiers fired on a group of colonists who were protesting the Townshend Acts. Five colonists were killed and several others were wounded. This event further increased tensions between the colonists and the British government.
5. The Tea Act: The Tea Act of 1773 was an attempt by the British government to save the struggling British East India Company. The act allowed the company to sell tea directly to the colonies, bypassing the colonial merchants who had previously controlled the tea trade. This was seen as a violation of the colonists' rights to trade freely.
6. The Boston Tea Party: The Boston Tea Party of 1773 was a protest against the Tea Act. A group of colonists disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor. They dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. This event further angered the British and led to the Coercive Acts, which further restricted the rights of the colonists.