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== American Revolution ==

== American Revolution ==

Boston Massacre in 1770, when troops shot and killed a mob for throwing snowballs (some having rocks) at it.

In 1770, the [[British Empire]] was the greatest in the world, and it continue to grow in power into the 1800s.  The idea that 13 different colonies having a tiny army and a divided population, a large percentage of which were pacifist Quakers, could defeat the mighty British would have been considered absurd in 1770.

Green Mountain Boys: Ethan Allen wanted to protect his land holdings in the disputed area that became Vermont; they captured Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 (first American act of aggression).

But events began to increase the tensions and put both sides on paths toward war. In 1770, in what became known as the "Boston Massacre,"  British troops shot and killed a colonial mob for throwing snowballs (some having rocks) at it.  (The future President John Adams then served as the defense attorney for the British soldiers, and obtained "not guilty" (acquittal) verdicts for them because they were provoked into shooting.)

There was relative calm in 1770-73.  But Rhode Island smugglers burned the British ship Gaspee in 1772.

The first American act of aggression was by the "Green Mountain Boys":  they captured Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 because Ethan Allen wanted to protect his land holdings in the disputed area that became Vermont.  

Tea Act of 1773.  Large British tea company lobbied for and obtained [[monopoly]] (exclusive) rights from the England.  Had a huge inventory of tea.  Received an exception from the tea tax and proceeded to import this huge inventory to Boston Harbor, where it would undersell the colonial merchants.  The Puritans up there in Massachusetts were outraged.  They tried to have the tea turned back to England, but the royally appointed governor refused.  Led by Samuel Adams, a group of roughnecks dressed up as Indians and went on board the ship, and dumped all of its tea into Boston Harbor.  It had the entire night to do it.

 

The British next passed the Tea Act of 1773.  A large British tea company lobbied for and obtained [[monopoly]] (exclusive) rights from the England.  Had a huge inventory of tea.  Received an exception from the tea tax and proceeded to import this huge inventory to Boston Harbor, where it would undersell the colonial merchants.  The Puritans up there in Massachusetts were outraged.  They tried to have the tea turned back to England, but the royally appointed governor refused.  Led by Samuel Adams, a group of roughnecks dressed up as Indians and went on board the ship, and dumped all of its tea into Boston Harbor.  It had the entire night to do it.

The British responded by revoking Massachusetts’ charter, closing Boston Harbor, installing a British general as governor, and repealing liberties like the right to hold town meetings.

The British responded by revoking Massachusetts’ charter, closing Boston Harbor, installing a British general as governor, and repealing liberties like the right to hold town meetings.