John Adams once wrote, "But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people."
The following table recognizes Adams' distinction and offers a summary of those events that changed many Americans from loyal subjects of the king in 1763 to revolutionaries intent on independence in 1776.
The military result of this process is summarized elsewhere in the timeline of the War of Independence.
|
Date
|
British Policies
Impacting American Colonies |
Events in American Colonies
|
|
1763
|
||
|
February 10
|
Treaty of Paris ending French and Indian War | |
|
October
|
Proclamation of 1763 prohibits western settlement | |
|
1764
|
||
|
April 5
|
Sugar Act enacted to defray cost of recent war | |
|
various
|
Customs Office reforms to tighten enforcement of trade laws | |
|
April 19
|
Currency Act restricts issuance of paper money in colonies | |
|
May
|
James Otis raises cry of "no taxation without representation" | |
|
August
|
Bostonians boycott British-made luxuries | |
|
1765
|
||
|
March 22
|
Stamp Act passed as first "direct tax" on American colonies | |
|
March 24
|
Quartering Act passed for maintaining British troops in America | |
|
May
|
Patrick Henry delivers "treason" speech in the Virginia House of Burgesses | |
|
June
|
Massachusetts sends Circular Letter to organize opposition to Stamp Act | |
|
August 14
|
Sons of Liberty terrorize Andrew Oliver in Boston | |
|
August 26
|
Looting of Thomas Hutchinson house by Sons of Liberty | |
|
October 7-25
|
Stamp Act Congress meets in New York City | |
|
November 1
|
Effective date for Stamp Act | |
|
November
|
Stamp Act riots in New York City | |
|
February 22
|
House of Commons considers repeal of Stamp Act (House approval March 4; Lords on March 17) | |
|
March 18
|
Declaratory Act approved in wake of Stamp Act repeal | |
|
August
|
Riots in New York City over enforcement of Quartering Act | |
|
December
|
New York assembly suspended | |
|
June - July
|
Townshend Acts passed: New York Restraining Act Customs Service Reform Townshend Duty Act |
|
|
October
|
Boycott of British luxury items in Boston | |
|
December 2
|
First installment of John Dickinson's Letters | |
|
February 11
|
Samuel Adams and James Otis' circular letter opposing Townshend Acts sent to colonial assemblies | |
|
April
|
Temporary crisis over John Hancock's ship, Lydia | |
|
May
|
British warship arrives in Boston harbor to protect threatened customs officials | |
|
June 10
|
Customs officials seize Hancock's Liberty | |
|
July
|
Massachusetts assembly suspended for refusing to rescind Circular Letter | |
|
October 1
|
British troops occupy Boston | |
|
May
|
Virginia Resolves of George Mason oppose British policies; governor closes House of Burgesses | |
|
throughout
|
Nonimportation agreements spread to Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina | |
|
January 16-18
|
Sons of Liberty v. Redcoats in New York City ends in Battle of Golden Hill | |
|
March 5
|
Boston Massacre followed by removal of troops from city | |
|
April 12
|
Repeal of Townshend Duties except for tax on tea | |
|
October - December
|
John Adams' defense of Capt. Preston and troops | |
|
June 9-10
|
Gaspee affair in Narragansett Bay | |
|
November
|
Boston Committee of Correspondence formed | |
|
March
|
Virginia creates Committee of Correspondence | |
|
May 10
|
Tea Act into effect | |
|
December 16
|
Boston Tea Party | |
|
January 29
|
Benjamin Franklin scolded by Privy Council in London | |
|
March 31
|
Coercive Acts (initial) Boston Port Act |
Measure labeled as "Intolerable Acts" in colonies |
|
May 13
|
Boston boycott; Thomas Gage replaces Hutchinson; additional troops arrive | |
|
May 20
|
Coercive Acts (additional) Massachusetts Government Act Administration of Justice Act |
|
|
June 2
|
Coercive Acts (additional) Quartering Act (revised) |
|
|
June 22
|
Quebec Act | (Regarded in America as Intolerable Act) |
|
July 18
|
Fairfax Resolves adopted by Virginia convention | |
|
September 5
|
First Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia (adjourns Oct. 26) | |
|
September 9
|
Suffolk Resolves adopted in Massachusetts | |
|
September 17
|
Congress urges defiance of Coercive Acts and formation of militias | |
| October 10 | Battle of Point Pleasant | |
|
October 14
|
Congress approves Declaration of Rights and Grievances | |
|
October 20
|
Continental Association formed to enforce boycotts | |
|
February 9
|
Parliament declares American colonies in state of rebellion | |
|
March 23
|
Patrick Henry's "liberty or death" speech | |
|
March 30
|
New England Restraining Act | |
|
April 18
|
Revere and others warn of British move | |
|
April 19
|
Battle of Lexington and Concord | |
|
May 10
|
Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia | |