What were the key events that led to the American Revolution?

The key events that led to the American Revolution include:

1. The French and Indian War (1754-1763): This conflict between the British and French over control of North America resulted in a massive debt for the British government. To alleviate this debt, the British imposed various taxes and regulations on the American colonies.

2. The Stamp Act (1765): This act required colonists to purchase special stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and other printed materials. It was met with widespread opposition and protests from the colonists, who believed it violated their rights as British subjects.

3. The Boston Massacre (1770): A clash between British soldiers and a mob of colonists in Boston resulted in the death of five colonists. This event further fueled anti-British sentiment and increased tensions between the colonists and the British government.

4. The Boston Tea Party (1773): In response to the Tea Act, which granted a monopoly on tea sales to the British East India Company, a group of colonists disguised as Native Americans boarded British ships and dumped chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. This act of protest against British taxation and control became a symbol of resistance.

5. The Intolerable Acts (1774): These series of punitive measures imposed by the British government in response to the Boston Tea Party further angered the colonists. The acts included the closure of the Boston Harbor, the quartering of British troops in private homes, and the restriction of colonial self-government.

6. The First Continental Congress (1774): Representatives from twelve of the thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia to discuss their grievances against the British government and to coordinate a unified response. This marked a significant step towards colonial unity and resistance against British rule.

7. The Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775): These were the first military engagements of the American Revolution. British troops attempted to seize colonial military supplies in Concord, Massachusetts, but were met with resistance from local militia. These battles marked the beginning of armed conflict between the colonists and the British.

These events, along with others, gradually escalated tensions between the American colonies and the British government, ultimately leading to the American Revolution and the eventual independence of the United States.