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Revolutionary War Dbq

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Until 1763 the British government and the colonists had peaceful relationships. The Seven Years War, known in America as the French and Indian War, was a turning point. Although Britain achieved victory and defeated France and its allies in 1763, the war left Britain with debts. British parliament decided to increase taxes in the colonies. The increase in taxes dissatisfied the colonists. They reacted to Sugar Act (1764), the Stamp Act (1765), the Townshend Duties (1767) and the Tea Act (1773). In 1765 the colonists rejected the authority of the British Parliament to tax them and the American Revolution began. The controversy over tax contributed to violence. The Boston Massacre or Incident on King Street as it is called by the British happened …show more content…

“Among the slain is Crispus Attucks, the first African American to die for his country” (Fredriksen 313). When British troops occupied Boston in 1768 the townspeople did not reacted angrily. However, they gradually got unhappy with the occupation; they “viewed the redcoats as threats to their jobs, homes, and families” (Mancall et al., 3: 56). “From the point of view of many colonists, the British soldiers were outsiders who were vile and rude and who should be kept away from their families” (56); finally, on the day of the incident they threw stones, ice, sticks and snowballs at the British soldiers. After killing the people the British soldiers were tried for murder. “The radical Whig lawyer John Adams defended them, saying that all Englishmen should have a fair trial” (Ayers et al. 136). Six of the British soldiers were acquitted while two other soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter and the occupying army left Boston. Some colonists, “led by Samuel Adams, kept the memory of the massacre alive by commemorating the date with demonstrations every year thereafter” (Mancall et al., 3:

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