Here's what happened in 1768 when British troops arrived:
1. Non-importation Resolutions:
- Britain passed the Townshend Acts in 1767, imposing new taxes on various goods imported into the colonies, including paper, glass, and tea.
- In response, American merchants and colonists began implementing non-importation resolutions to boycott British goods and pressure Britain to repeal the taxes.
2. Boston Massacre:
- In March 1770, tensions between the colonists and British troops in Boston culminated in what became known as the "Boston Massacre."
- A series of confrontations between angry colonists and British soldiers led to the killing of five colonists by British troops.
- The Boston Massacre further inflamed tensions and increased resentment towards the British authorities and military presence.
3. Propaganda and Increased Resistance:
- Following the Boston Massacre, colonists used propaganda and political pamphlets to spread the news and stir up resistance against British oppression.
- The writings of figures like Samuel Adams and Thomas Paine, such as "Common Sense," helped shape public opinion and galvanize support for independence.
4. Committee of Correspondence:
- In 1772, the Boston Committee of Correspondence was formed as a way for colonists from different towns to communicate and coordinate resistance efforts.
- The committee promoted the exchange of ideas, information, and strategies to challenge British rule.
5. Tea Act and Boston Tea Party:
- In 1773, the British Parliament passed the Tea Act, which essentially granted a monopoly over tea sales to the British East India Company.
- This ignited further outrage in the colonies, leading to the famous "Boston Tea Party" in December 1773.
- Colonists disguised as Native Americans boarded British tea ships and dumped their cargoes into the Boston harbor.
6. Intolerable Acts:
- Britain responded to the Tea Party with the passage of the Intolerable Acts in 1774, which were intended to punish and intimidate the colonists of Massachusetts.
- These acts further escalated tensions and contributed to the growing momentum towards independence.
7. First Continental Congress:
- In response to the Intolerable Acts, the First Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia in September 1774.
- Representatives from all thirteen colonies came together to discuss their grievances and plan a unified response to British policies.
8. Prelude to the American Revolution:
- The arrival of British troops in 1768 marked the beginning of a series of events that culminated in the American Revolution.
- Tensions between the colonists and British authorities continued to mount over issues of taxation, representation, and colonial rights, ultimately leading to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775.