Boston and the Revolutionary War

Proclamation Line of 1763

Line drawn by King George III at the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists stay to the east; American Indian Nations to the West.

Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Quartering Act, Townshend Act

Taxation without representation

Boston Massacre 5 March 1770

5 colonists were shot and killed after taunting British soldiers.

Boston Tea Party 16 Dec 1773

90,000 pounds of tea dumped into the Boston harbor in protest of the tea tax; organized by the Sons of Liberty. Organized by Samuel Adams & Paul Revere.

Shot Heard Round the World

19 April 1775 starting the American Revolution (Lexington & Concord)

Bunker Hill

Fought in June 1775 and gave the colonists a "moral" victory even though they lost outside of Boston. William Prescott gave the order, "Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes." First major battle of the war.

Paul Revere

He warned the countryside that, "the regulars are out." He was a prominent member of the Sons of Liberty and the best silversmith in Boston.

John Adams

Patriot, represented soldiers in Boston Massacre, attended first and second Continental Congress, helped write the Declaration of Independence.

Samuel Adams

Leader of the Boston Tea Party and Sons of Liberty

Dr. Joseph Warren

Patriot, prominent member of Sons of Liberty. Planned the Midnight ride of Paul Revere. Died at Bunker Hill.

Sons of Liberty

Secret society which battled the British taxes in Boston. Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Dr. Joseph Warren were members.

1st Continental Congress

Met in Philadelphia in 1774 because of the Intolerable Acts. 12 of the colonies sent representatives. (Georgia didn't). Met to discuss problems in Great Britain and promote independence.

Intolerable Acts

Punitive laws to punish Boston and the Massachusetts colony after the Boston Tea Party. The port of Boston was closed and town meetings were forbidden without British permission.

Patrick Henry

Outspoken member of the House of Burgesses; spoke out against the Stamp Act and said, "as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army

General Thomas Gage

British General in charge of all British troops in North America.

King George III

King of England during the American Revolution

Lexington

Opening shots of the Revolutionary War fired here.

Concord

First real battle of Revolutionary War, fought at the Old North Bridge. Minutemen stood up to British regulars and chased them back to Boston.

Crispus Attucks

Fugitive enslaved African American who was the first person to die in the Boston Massacre.

Quartering Act

British soldiers could be quartered and allowed to live in colonists' homes.

Minuteman

Common citizens who fought on a minute's notice.

Phyllis Wheatley

Former enslaved African American who wrote poems and plays supporting American Independence

Declaration of Independence

The colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. Written at the Second Continental Congress by Thomas Jefferson (John Adams and Benjamin Franklin helped). Approved on 4 July 1776.