The major events of the American war of independence were as follows :
1. Boston Massacre : Under the Billeting Act, because of the inability to arrange accommodation and food for British soldiers, the New York assembly was dissolved in June 1767. Moreover, extensive demonstrations and riots occurred in different parts of America to oppose the Townshed laws. The situation in Boston became violent and agitated over these issues. The British officers took help of the army to suppress the Boston revolt. In an army artillery attack on 5 March 1770, three American citizens were killed. The Americans called it Boston Massacre and it was condemned. This massacre ended the Townshed laws. England had to bow down, but the tax on tea continued to be levied. Boston massacre was widely publicised in America. Anti-British public meetings were held. This gave imspiration to the American freedom movement.
2. Boston Tea Party : In order to prevent bankruptcy, the East India Company asked for the right to sell tea in America. On the company’s request, the British Parliament gave East India company the right to sell tea in America. This company aimed at selling tea at rates lower than normal so that smuggling could end in America. The American nationalists opposed this tea policy of the British. Meetings were held at many places. Opposition was very violent in Boston city of Massachussets. On December 26,1773, when boxes packed with tea reached Boston port, American revolutionaries led by Samuel Adams entered the ships with tea in guise of porters and threw about 340 boxes of tea into the sea. This incident was called ‘Boston Tea Party’.
3. First Continental Congress Convention : The British government took Boston Tea party as a challenge, and to protest against the oppressive laws made by British Parliament, called a meeting of representatives of all American colonies except Georgia in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774. This was the first all American conference. The purpose of this conference was to ponder over the current situation in the colonies and to get their demands accepted by the British. For this, a representative delegation was sent to England.
4. Lexington Massacre : On 19 April 1775, in protest against the arrest of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, a group of volunteers attacked the British soldiers. In this incident, eight volunteers were killed. The American volunteers took revenge of this massacre by Killing British soldiers at a place named Concorde.
5. Second Continental Congress Convention : After the violent incident at Lexington on 10 May 1775, the second continental congress convention was held in Philadelphia under the chairmanship of John Hancock. For the first time, the issue of American independence was discussed seriously in this convention. It was decided in this convention that armed conflict with the British army was necessary. For this, a continental army was decided to be formed under the command of George Washington. Moreover, it was felt that relations be severed with England and foreign help be sought.
6. Declaration of American Independence : American nationalists were in a majority in June 1776. Richard Henry proposed the Independence of America, which was seconded by John Adams. A five member committee was formed to declare independence. This committee included Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sermon and Robert Livingstone. On July 2, 1776, the Congress ratified the proposal of independence and declared American independence on July 4, 1776.
