In this Grade 7 lesson from History of A Free Nation, students examine the escalating tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain from 1770 to 1775, including the roles of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty, the Boston Tea Party, the Intolerable Acts, and the First Continental Congress. Students learn how colonial resistance strategies — such as nonimportation agreements, committees of correspondence, and boycotts — responded to British legislation like the Townshend Acts and the Declaratory Act. The lesson traces how each side's actions widened the breach between colonists and Parliament and pushed the colonies toward the outbreak of war.
Section 1
📘 The Breach Widens
A brief calm ended when Britain's Tea Act sparked colonial fury. We'll explore the chain reaction—from the Boston Tea Party to the Intolerable Acts—that pushed both sides toward an unavoidable conflict, despite lingering hopes for peace.
Samuel Adams, King George III
• List the Intolerable Acts and explain the unified colonial response, including the First Continental Congress.
Section 2
Britain's Acts Spark Colonial Resistance
Parliament's attempts to raise money through laws like the Townshend Acts angered colonists who felt they were being taxed without their consent.
In response, groups like the Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty, featuring influential figures like Mercy Otis Warren, organized boycotts and protests against British goods.
Although some taxes were repealed, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act, insisting it had total authority, which kept the core conflict alive for future clashes.
Section 3
Colonists Organize During a Tense Calm
During a quiet period from 1770 to 1773, American leaders like Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry feared the struggle for liberty was fading.
To counter this, they created the committees of correspondence, a network designed to share news of British actions and unite the colonies against any threats.
Note that this communication system proved highly effective, keeping the spirit of resistance active and ensuring that when the next crisis came, the colonies were ready to respond together.
Section 4
Colonists Protest the Tea Monopoly
The calm ended when Parliament granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales, which colonists saw as a trick to make them accept Parliament's right to tax.
In response, on December 16, 1773, Bostonians led by Sam Adams boarded ships and threw 342 chests of tea into the harbor.
This event, known as the Boston Tea Party, was a dramatic act of defiance that directly provoked a harsh and punitive response from Britain.
Section 5
Britain Punishes Massachusetts with Intolerable Acts
Enraged by the Boston Tea Party, King George III and Parliament decided to make an example of Massachusetts.
In March 1774, they passed the Coercive Acts—which colonists called the Intolerable Acts—closing Boston's port and stripping away self-government. The Quebec Act also fueled colonial fears.
Instead of isolating Massachusetts, these harsh laws united the other colonies, who now believed their own liberties were at risk and that a unified response was necessary.
Section 6
Colonies Unite at the First Continental Congress
The Intolerable Acts proved to the colonies that Britain intended to strip away their rights, prompting a call for a unified response.
In September 1774, delegates met in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress, where they petitioned the king and created "the Association" to enforce a widespread boycott of British goods.
Pay special attention to this moment, as it marked a major step toward unified colonial government and made a direct conflict with Britain increasingly likely.
Section 7
Fighting Erupts at Lexington and Concord
After the First Continental Congress, colonial minutemen began preparing for conflict. On April 19, 1775, British troops marched to seize colonial arms stored at Concord.
Warned by riders like Paul Revere, colonists confronted the British at Lexington, where the first shots were fired. The British were then attacked all the way back to Boston.
News of Lexington and Concord sparked the American Revolution, leading to the Second Continental Congress forming the Continental Army under George Washington.
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Section 1
📘 The Breach Widens
A brief calm ended when Britain's Tea Act sparked colonial fury. We'll explore the chain reaction—from the Boston Tea Party to the Intolerable Acts—that pushed both sides toward an unavoidable conflict, despite lingering hopes for peace.
Samuel Adams, King George III
• List the Intolerable Acts and explain the unified colonial response, including the First Continental Congress.
Section 2
Britain's Acts Spark Colonial Resistance
Parliament's attempts to raise money through laws like the Townshend Acts angered colonists who felt they were being taxed without their consent.
In response, groups like the Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty, featuring influential figures like Mercy Otis Warren, organized boycotts and protests against British goods.
Although some taxes were repealed, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act, insisting it had total authority, which kept the core conflict alive for future clashes.
Section 3
Colonists Organize During a Tense Calm
During a quiet period from 1770 to 1773, American leaders like Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry feared the struggle for liberty was fading.
To counter this, they created the committees of correspondence, a network designed to share news of British actions and unite the colonies against any threats.
Note that this communication system proved highly effective, keeping the spirit of resistance active and ensuring that when the next crisis came, the colonies were ready to respond together.
Section 4
Colonists Protest the Tea Monopoly
The calm ended when Parliament granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales, which colonists saw as a trick to make them accept Parliament's right to tax.
In response, on December 16, 1773, Bostonians led by Sam Adams boarded ships and threw 342 chests of tea into the harbor.
This event, known as the Boston Tea Party, was a dramatic act of defiance that directly provoked a harsh and punitive response from Britain.
Section 5
Britain Punishes Massachusetts with Intolerable Acts
Enraged by the Boston Tea Party, King George III and Parliament decided to make an example of Massachusetts.
In March 1774, they passed the Coercive Acts—which colonists called the Intolerable Acts—closing Boston's port and stripping away self-government. The Quebec Act also fueled colonial fears.
Instead of isolating Massachusetts, these harsh laws united the other colonies, who now believed their own liberties were at risk and that a unified response was necessary.
Section 6
Colonies Unite at the First Continental Congress
The Intolerable Acts proved to the colonies that Britain intended to strip away their rights, prompting a call for a unified response.
In September 1774, delegates met in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress, where they petitioned the king and created "the Association" to enforce a widespread boycott of British goods.
Pay special attention to this moment, as it marked a major step toward unified colonial government and made a direct conflict with Britain increasingly likely.
Section 7
Fighting Erupts at Lexington and Concord
After the First Continental Congress, colonial minutemen began preparing for conflict. On April 19, 1775, British troops marched to seize colonial arms stored at Concord.
Warned by riders like Paul Revere, colonists confronted the British at Lexington, where the first shots were fired. The British were then attacked all the way back to Boston.
News of Lexington and Concord sparked the American Revolution, leading to the Second Continental Congress forming the Continental Army under George Washington.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter