The Boston Tea Party, by Quamaine J.

A well organized group of colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into the water. Word of the Boston Tea Party spread rapidly. Many colonists cheered the tea's destruction and others were shock by such disregard for property rights.

Nonimportation Agreements, by Giselle H.

Nonimportation Agreements were documents colonial merchants signed to made sure they didn't buy or import British goods. These agreements were started in 1765. They were created by the Stamp Act Congress.

The Intolerable Acts, by Kayla W.

The Intolerable Acts were laws designed to punish Boston and the rest of Massachusetts, and to strengthen British control over all of the colonies. The first act closed the port of Boston until the colonists paid for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. The second act revoked the Massachusetts charter of 1692 and forbade colonists to have meetings. The third act allowed royal officials who were charged in Massachusetts to be tried in other colonies to avoid hostile juries. The fourth act ordered local officials to provide food and housing if necessary for British soldiers.

The Battle of Trenton, by Cammie B.

British General Howe stationed 1400 Hessian soldiers at Trenton, New Jersey to keep an eye on the patriots. The Hessian Colonel Johann Rall was being ignorant and (allegedly) said, “Let them come. We want no trenches. We will go to them with the bayonet”. Washington took advantage of Hessians' overconfidence. They attacked on Christmas night. The Hessians surrendered. 120 Hessians were and 918 were taken prisoner. The Americans suffered 5 wounded and no dead. General Charles Cornwallis prepared the counter attack, but the colonists got away.

Committees of Correspondence, by Sara A.

Committees of Correspondence were organized groups of colonists that informed the public of British violations of their rights. These committees were instrumental in shaping public opinion in the colonies.

The Quartering Act, by Stephen D.

The Quartering Act required American colonists to pay for housing and provisions for the British soldiers coming over from England. The colonists fought against this act, not wanting to take them in. A second quartering act was later made specifically for the people of Massachusetts, making any building suitable to house British troops.

The Sugar Act, by Willie N.

The Sugar Act was passed by the British Parliament in the early 1700's. It impacted the colonists American by placing an import tax on sugar, molasses and other goods.

The Battle of Saratoga, by Grant G.

The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the Revolutionary War in favor of the American colonists. The patriot victory also led to more support from the European powers.

The Tea Act, by Kyra S.

The Tea Act of 1773 was a law that excused the British East India Tea Company from paying certain duties and permitted them to sell tea directly to American agents. Some colonists refused to buy tea because they disagreed with the Tea Act, and American tea merchants were concerned that they would be forced out of business. On December 16, 1773 in Boston, Massachusetts a group of colonists dressed up in an 'Indian manner' and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor in what is known today as the Boston Tea Party.

Crispus Attucks, by Amber C.

Crispus Attucks was shot and killed in the Boston Massacre, and became known as the first African-American to die for the cause of freedom. Before he escaped slavery in 1750 his life is a mystery, but to this day he is recognized as a hero of the American Revolution.

The Sons of Liberty, by Dequan O.

The Sons of Liberty formed in Boston in the early summer of 1765. They were a group of shopkeepers and artisans led by Sam Adams who passed out pamphlets and committed acts of civil disobedience to protest British rule.

The Townshend Acts, by Hannah M.

Parliament passed the Townshend Acts in 1767. These were laws that placed import taxes, or duties, on tea, glass, lead and paint dyes. The British revived Writs of Assistance (search warrants) to enfore the Townshend Acts.

Lexington and Concord, by Chris M.

The British were determined to reassert royal authority, so General Gage decided to seize rebel military supplies stored in Concord, Massachusetts. On April 18,1775 under the cover of night, some 750 British troops left Boston and rowed across the Charles River on their way to Concord, only to find about 70 armed minutemen waiting for them at Lexington. This was the first battle of the revolution, and an easy victory for the British.

The Declaration of Independence, by Chad S.

The Declaration of Independence was created July 4, 1776. It was to announce that the 13 colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states. The actual date that this was voted on was July 2.

The Stamp Act, by Marissa H.

The Stamp Act was a revenue law that parliament passed in 1765. It placed a tax on all printed materials, such as diplomas, advertisements, legal documents, newspapers and playing cards. When any of these were printed, they had to be printed on either stamped paper or have a certain stamp attached to show that the tax had been paid.