Due to debt from the French & Indian War, the British began implementation of a series of taxes on the colonists. The British passed the Stamp Act, but due to colonial protests, it was repealed and the Declaratory Act was put into effect, which stated the British could pass any laws at any time, even though the colonists did not have representation in the British Parliament. This created anger on the part of many colonists, who became further enraged after the passage of the Townshend Acts, taxing glass, lead, and tea. This began leading a cycle of violence that ended with the Boston Massacre that led to further escalations between the British and the colonists. Sam Adams, along with the Sons of Liberty, began to gain colonial support for the fight for independence. Later the Sons of Liberty engaged the Boston Tea Party, dumping valuable British tea overboard, bringing a harsh response from the British. The two sides continued to escalate matters until the relationship was so volatile that British and colonists faced off in war during the American Revolution.