HIST 405N Week 2 Discussion 1: The American Revolution: The Boston Massacre and The Coercive Acts – Graded An A+

HIST 405N Week 2 Discussion 1: The American Revolution: The Boston Massacre and The Coercive Acts – Graded An A+ Initial Post Instructions For the initial post, pick two (2) of the leading cau ses of the American Revolution. • The Proclamation Act of 1763 • The Navigation Acts • The Stamp Act • The Declaratory Act • The Townsend Act • The Boston Massacre • The Coercive Acts Then, address the following for your selections: • Analyze the cause and effect of two acts passed by the British Parliament on British North America. Which of your two selections do you consider the most significant and why? • Examine and explain the significance of the Declaration of Independence to the development of the American Revolution. In 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act to assist in paying for British troops that were stationed in the colonies during the Seven Years' War. "As a direct tax on the colonists, the Stamp Act imposed an internal tax on almost every type of printed paper colonists used, including newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards" (Corbett, 2014). When Parliament passed the Stamp act, the colonists became extremely upset. Nine representatives from different colonies held a meeting in New York, known as the Stamp Act Congress, to discuss how to respond to the act. According to Corbett (2014), "colonists had never formed a unified political front, so Grenville and Parliament did not fear true revolt" (p. 133). The Stamp Act Congress was a huge step towards intercolonial unity, as it brought together the colonists to fight for the same cause. As a result of the Stamp Act, some colonists boycotted buying British goods, along with protesting in the streets. One of the most memorable protests that occurred was the Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre was a confrontation that turned deadly on March 5, 1770, between a crowd of Bostonians, and British soldiers. British soldiers were attempting to enforce tax laws such as the Stamp Act, and the civilians in Boston decided to protest against the taxes. On the night of the confrontation, a group of Bostonians began throwing things at the British soldiers such as snow, rocks and sticks. In retaliation to the protestors, some of the soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five people. "Crispus Attucks, the first man killed-and, though no one could have known it then, the first official casualty in the war for independence-was of Wampanoag and African descent" (Corbett, 2014). "The Boston Massacre was a signal event leading to the Revolutionary War" (Boston Massacre). I believe that the Stamp Act was the most significant because it united the colonists to fight for the same cause. "On July 4, 1776, the delegates approved the Declaration of Independence, the event that marks the birth of the United States" (Independence and the Articles of Confederation). When Congress members signed the Declaration of Independence, it helped break ties between the colonies and Great Britain. Approval of this significant document led to the patriot leaders reaching out to France and Spain in an attempt to gain their support in the battle against Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence stated ideas that the colonies found important, such as liberty and equality. References Boston Massacre. (n.d.). Retrieved from