In 1767 , the British Parliament passed the Townshend Acts , which imposed import duties on paper , glass , paint , and other common items imported into the American colonies . The Sons of Liberty and other Patriot organizations responded with a variety of protest actions . They organized boycotts of the goods subject to the duty , and they harassed and threatened the customs personnel who collected the duties , many of whom were either corrupt or related to Provincial leaders . Francis Bernard , then Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay , requested military forces to protect the King 's personnel . In October 1768 , British troops arrived in the city of Boston and occupied the city . Tensions led to the Boston Massacre on March 5 , 1770 , and the Boston Tea Party on December 16 , 1773
Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
Boston campaign