Several events led to the Revolutionary War, including:
1. The British imposition of various taxes: The British government imposed several taxes on the American colonies, including the Sugar Act (1764), Stamp Act (1765), and Townshend Acts (1767). These measures were implemented without the colonists' consent and caused widespread outrage and protests.
2. Colonial resistance and protests: The American colonists organized various acts of resistance and protests against British policies. The most notable was the Boston Tea Party in 1773, where colonists dumped tea into the Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea Act.
3. The Intolerable Acts: In response to the Boston Tea Party, the British government passed the Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts (1774). These acts closed the port of Boston, limited self-government in Massachusetts, allowed British troops to be quartered in private homes, and tightened British control over the colonies.
4. The First Continental Congress: In 1774, delegates from twelve of the thirteen American colonies convened in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress. They discussed their grievances against British rule and adopted measures to boycott British goods and declare their rights.
5. The Battles of Lexington and Concord: In April 1775, British troops were sent to capture colonial militia arsenals at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. These battles marked the first military engagements of the Revolutionary War.
6. The Declaration of Independence: On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies' formal break from British rule. This document outlined principles of individual rights and self-government, serving as a catalyst for the Revolutionary War.
What events led to the Revolutionary War?
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