1. Stamp Act of 1765: The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, requiring colonists to pay a tax on all paper goods. This direct tax imposed on the colonies without their consent sparked widespread protests and outrage, as it violated the principle of "no taxation without representation". The colonists argued that since they were not represented in the British Parliament, they should not be subject to taxation by it.
2. Boston Massacre (1770): In response to growing unrest, British soldiers stationed in Boston became involved in clashes with the colonists. The most notable event was the Boston Massacre, where British troops fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five people. This incident fueled resentment towards British rule and intensified anti-British sentiments.
3. Tea Act of 1773: The Tea Act was passed by the British Parliament to assist the struggling British East India Company by giving it a monopoly on tea trade in the colonies. The colonists viewed this as another attempt to impose taxation without their consent and also objected to the monopoly aspect of the act. The Boston Tea Party, where colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the Boston Harbor, was a direct reaction to the Tea Act and a protest against British policies.
4. Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) of 1774: In response to the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, which were viewed by the colonists as punitive and oppressive. These acts included the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, and the Quartering Act, among others. The acts heightened tensions and solidified colonial opposition to British authority.
5. Formation of the First Continental Congress (1774): Representatives from the twelve American colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss the British policies and seek collective action. The First Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, outlining their grievances against the British government and asserting the colonists' rights and demands. This marked a significant step in the colonies' unification and resistance to British rule.
These key events, among others, deepened the divide between Britain and the American colonies, fueled calls for greater autonomy, and eventually culminated in the American Revolutionary War. The colonies demanded recognition of their rights, representation, and freedom from oppressive British policies, laying the foundation for the struggle for independence and the birth of the United States of America.