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Thus, although conflicts diminished somewhat from 1770 to 1773, colonists retained their opposition to British oppression.  The tea tax remained in effect, so many colonists refused to drink British tea, and once again, their boycott was felt in England.

Thus, although conflicts diminished somewhat from 1770 to 1773, colonists retained their opposition to British oppression.  The tea tax remained in effect, so many colonists refused to drink British tea, and once again, their boycott was felt in England.

Bent on breaking the colonists' boycott of English tea, England next passed the Tea Act of 1773.  A large British tea company, the East India Company, lobbied for and obtained [[monopoly]] (exclusive) rights from the England.  The East India Company had a huge inventory of tea and received an exception from the tea tax.  On the whole, this would have significantly lowered the price of tea in the colonies.  But colonists realized the danger that lay in the establishment of a monopoly on an item taxed as heavily as tea. Resistance began to rise.

Bent on breaking the colonists' boycott of English tea, England next passed the Tea Act of 1773.  A large British tea company, the East India Company, lobbied for and obtained [[monopoly]] (exclusive) rights from the England.  The East India Company had a huge inventory of tea and received an exception from the tea tax.  This enabled the East India Company to import tea from their huge inventory to Boston Harbor, where they planned to undersell colonial merchants.  The Puritans of Massachusetts were outraged.  They tried to have the tea turned back to England, but the royally appointed governor refused.  On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists led by Samuel Adams disguised themselves as Indians and boarded the tea ships.  They dumped all of its tea into Boston Harbor; this was the "Boston Tea Party."  The task took an entire night, as the ships contained 350 chests of tea, causing about 1.87 million dollars in wasted tea (converted to today's dollars).

The East India Company proceeded to import tea from their huge inventory to Boston Harbor, where they planned to undersell colonial merchants.  The Puritans of Massachusetts were outraged.  They tried to have the tea turned back to England, but the royally-appointed governor refused.  On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists led by Samuel Adams disguised themselves as Indians and boarded the tea ships.  They dumped all of its tea into Boston Harbor.  The task took an entire night, as the ships contained 350 chests of tea.  That tea was worth about 1.87 million dollars of today’s currency.

As punishment, Britain passed harsh laws, given the pejorative names by the colonists of the Coercive Acts or, alternatively, the Intolerable Acts.  These laws revoked Massachusetts' charter, closed Boston Harbor, installed a British general as governor, and repealed liberties like the right to hold town meetings.  The closing of the harbor, in particular, was a sore blow to Massachusetts, whose economy was largely dependent on fishing and whaling.

As punishment, Britain passed the Coercive Acts, or the Intolerable Acts.  They revoked Massachusetts’ charter, closed Boston Harbor, installed a British general as governor, and repealed liberties like the right to hold town meetings.  The closing of the harbor, in particular, was a sore blow to Massachusetts, whose economy was largely dependent on fishing and whaling.

In defiance, public sentiment turned violently against tea.  Coffee gradually replaced it, and continues to be more popular than tea in America to this day.

In defiance, public sentiment turned violently against tea.  Coffee gradually replaced it, and continues to be more popular than tea in America to this day.

The British also passed the Quebec Act, which gave Canadians part of the Ohio Valley.  This further infuriated the colonists.  In addition, the Act gave the French more freedoms, such as freedom of religion for the Catholic Church.  Colonists were angered because (1) they felt people in Quebec were getting more freedoms than they had and (2) they feared establishment of an Anglican Church in America.

The British also passed the Quebec Act, which gave Canadians part of the Ohio Valley.  This infuriated the colonists.  In addition, the Act gave the French more freedoms, such as freedom of religion for the Catholic Church.  Colonists were angered because (1) they felt people in Quebec were getting more freedoms than they had and (2) they feared establishment of an Anglican Church in America.

Although many colonists remained loyal to the King and had hoped to keep peace, conflict began to break out.

Let's stop for a moment to review the causes of the revolution.  British oppression was not the only catalyst of the Revolutionary War, and many factors played a role: <br><br>

Let's stop for a moment to review the causes of the revolution.  British oppression was not the only catalyst of the Revolutionary War, and many factors played a role:

(1) Colonists were accustomed to much independence and self-determination, and Tory efforts to regulate and tax were bitterly opposed by the Colonies (and by Whigs in England).

(1) Colonists were accustomed to much independence and self-determination, and Tory efforts to regulate and tax were bitterly opposed by the Colonies (and by Whigs in England).

All of these played an important part in making colonists ready to fight and win.  The single greatest factor was the changes Britain made in her policy toward the colonies.

(2) British burdens hurt nearly all Colonists in all walks of life.

 

 

 

(5) Religious reasons: many colonists disliked Anglicans (and Catholics), and feared England would install an Anglican bishop.

 

 

(7) 1/3 of colonists were not even English, and thus felt no attachment to the British.

 

(8) Colonists accepted John Locke's philosophy of natural rights and a social contract, which conflicted with rule by a monarchy.

Independence was inevitable for America, as with other British colonies, but came quicker than for most.

(9) Colonists saw a bright prospect for their future.

==The American Revolution==

==The American Revolution==