1765 to 1769

1765

mar - The Stamp Act is passed by the English Parliament imposing the first direct tax on the American colonies. Thus for the first time in the 150 year old history of the British colonies in America, the Americans will pay tax not to their own local legislatures in America, but directly to England. Goes into affect in nov 01
mar - The Quartering Act requires colonists to house British troops and supply them with food.
may - |Virginia| Patrick Henry presents seven Virginia Resolutions to the House of Burgesses claiming that only the Virginia assembly can legally tax Virginia residents, saying, "If this be treason, make the most of it."
may - |PHILIDELPHIA| The first medical school in America is founded.
jul - The Sons of Liberty, an underground organization opposed to the Stamp Act, is formed in a number of colonial towns. Its members use violence and intimidation to eventually force all of the British stamp agents to resign and also stop many American merchants from ordering British trade goods.
aug 26 - A mob in Boston attacks the home of Thomas Hutchinson, Chief Justice of Massachusetts, as Hutchinson and his family narrowly escape.
oct - The Stamp Act Congress convenes in New York City and prepares a petition for the repeal of the Stamp Act to be sent to King George III and the English Parliament.
nov 01 - The Stamp Act goes into effect with nearly all of the colonists refusing to use the stamps; most daily business and legal transactions in the colonies cease.
nov 01 - |NEW YORK CITY| Violence breaks out as a mob burns the royal governor in effigy, harasses British troops, then loots houses.
dec - British General Thomas Gage, commander of all English military forces in America, asks the New York assembly to make colonists comply with the Quartering Act and house and supply his troops.
dec - The American boycott of English imports spreads, as over 200 Boston merchants join the movement.

1766

x - Governor Murray of Quebec is replaced by Guy Carleton.
jan - The New York assembly refuses to completely comply with Gen. Gage's request to enforce the Quartering Act.
x - King George III signs a bill repealing the Stamp Act after much debate in the English Parliament, which included an appearance by Ben Franklin ?*+ arguing for repeal and warning of a possible revolution in the American colonies if the Stamp Act was enforced by the British military.
mar - On the same day it repealed the Stamp Act, the English Parliament passes the Declaratory Act stating that the British government has total power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies in all cases whatsoever.
apr - News of the repeal of the Stamp Act results in celebrations in the colonies and a relaxation of the boycott of imported English trade goods.
aug - Violence breaks out in New York between British soldiers and armed colonists, including Sons of Liberty members, as a result of the continuing refusal of New York colonists to comply with the Quartering Act.
dec - The New York legislature is suspended by the English Crown after once again voting to refuse to comply with the Quartering Act.

1767

jun - The English Parliament passes the Townshend Revenue Acts, imposing a new series of taxes on the colonists. The Act also establishes a colonial board of customs commissioners in Boston.
oct - Bostonians decide to reinstate a boycott of English luxury items.

1768

x - Russo-Turkish war.
x - Captain James Cook leaves England for a three year exploration of the Pacific.
x - France annexes Corsica.
feb - Samuel Adams of Massachusetts writes a Circular Letter opposing taxation without representation. The letter is sent to assemblies throughout the colonies.
apr - England's Secretary of State for the Colonies, Lord Hillsborough, orders colonial governors to stop their own assemblies from endorsing Adams' circular letter. Hillsborough also orders the governor of Massachusetts to dissolve the general court if the Massachusetts assembly does not revoke the letter. The assemblies of New Hampshire, Connecticut and New Jersey have endorsed the letter.
may - A British warship sails into Boston harbor after a call for help from custom commissioners who are constantly being harassed by Boston agitators.
jun - A customs official is locked up in the cabin of the Liberty, a sloop owned by John Hancock. Imported wine is then unloaded illegally into Boston without payment of duties.
jul - The governor of Massachusetts dissolves the general court after the legislature defies his order to revoke Adams' circular letter.
aug - |BOSTON and NEW YORK| Merchants boycott most British goods until the Townshend Acts are repealed.
sep - |BOSTON| At a town meeting residents are urged to arm themselves.
lat sep - English warships sail into Boston Harbor, then two regiments of English infantry land in Boston and set up permanent residence to keep order.

1769

x - Richard Arkwright invents a water frame to speed up the process of spinning threads.
x - James Watt [b.1736 d.1819] invents his steam engine.
x - Napoleon Bonaparte ?+ was born in Ajaccio, Corsica.
x - |France ? |automobile ?| Nicolas Cugnot fitted a wagon with a steam engine and ran it across a field, becoming the first person to make and operate a non-animal-powered land vehicle.
mar - |Philidelphia| Merchants join the boycott of British trade goods.
may - A set of resolutions written by George Mason is presented by George Washington + to the Virginia House of Burgesses. The Virginia Resolves oppose taxation without representation, the British opposition to the circular letters, and British plans to possibly send American agitators to England ?+ for trial. Ten days later, the Royal governor of Virginia dissolves the House of Burgesses. However, its members meet the next day in a Williamsburg tavern and agree to a boycott of British trade goods, luxury items and slaves.
jul - San Diego is founded by Franciscan Friar Juniper Serra.
oct - The boycott of English goods spreads to New Jersey, Rhode Island, and then North Carolina.
x - Clement XIV + becomes pope ?+ [u.1774] [re.List of Popes]