We discussed the breakdown of relations with Great Britain following the end of the French & Indian War. After the war, colonists were uncomfortable with the large presence of British troops that remained in the colonies to protect their interests. In the Proclamation of 1763, Britain prohibited colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists saw this as a limit on their freedom and it contributes to a feeling of distrust growing between the colonists and Great Britain. The French & Indian War left Britain with a huge public debt. To lower this debt, Britain decides to tax the colonists for things they had never paid taxes for before & it enraged the American colonists, many of whom had helped Great Britain fight to victory in the 9 year-long French & Indian War. We discussed the Grenville Act, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act and the creation of the Stamp Act Congress. Patrick Henry of VA and Samuel Adams of MA begin to lead protests against British policies. In 1766, Britain repeals the Stamp Act, but Britain continues to pass further acts that colonists cannot tolerate: such as the Declaratory Act & the Townshend Acts. On March 5, 1770, colonists in Boston confront British troops. Although the colonists didn't have guns, the British fired into the crowd and killed 5 people and this became known as the Boston Massacre. We looked at the rise of colonial anti-British propaganda, the committee of correspondence, the Tea Act and subsequent Boston Tea Party in 1773, the Intolerable Acts, the Coercive Acts and the Quebec Act. A break between the colonists and Great Britain is imminent.