The American Revolution was the time when the thirteen colonies fought for their independence from Great Britain. The revolution occurred in the aftermath of numerous events, including the Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre was intended as a propaganda event for the colonialists, to help gain greater support for the cause of the American Revolution. Britain's tenacity in holding on to its colonists loosened, and like a rubber band, tensions within the two groups snapped. British soldiers were sent to Boston and fired on the Boston crowd, leaving five men dead after the chaos ended. Trials were held to defend the soldiers in order to defend their rights as individuals. A quick event, however, left a scar on the colonists to push them to fight against Great Britain. During the late 1700s, rules and regulations were established to subdue the colonies and raise funds after the French and Indian War, as well as the Seven Sevens of Great Britain. -Year-War. Replacing the Stamp Act of 1765, a new act, under financial leader, Charles Townshend, was added to the Townshend Acts to impose a tax on certain imported goods. The Townshend Acts were implemented to raise revenue for the civil government. This act imposed a tax on glass, lead, painters, paints, paper, and tea imported into the colonies. These "external" taxes would allow us to raise 40,000 euros to pay customs commissioners. People supported the act to increase revenue or used to pay royal officials in the colonies. Britain sent an army of seven hundred paperbacks to protect those customs, which angered the colonists. Subsequently, the Massachusetts legislature wrote a circular letter to send to Great Britain, stating that one cannot be taxed without direct representation. Adding to the chaos of the Townshend Acts was… the center of the paper… Gilje, Paul. “Boston Massacre.” Encyclopedia of American History: Revolution and New Nation, 1761 to 1812, 2010 American History Online. File Web Facts, Inc.. January 12, 2014. (http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=EAHIII046&SingleRecord=True) Gilje, Paul “Townshend Acts.” Encyclopedia of American History: Revolution and New Nation, 1761 to 1812, 2010 American History Online. File Web Facts, Inc.. January 12, 2014. (http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=EAHIII364&SingleRecord=True) Preston, Thomas. "Captain Thomas Preston's Account of the Boston Massacre." Captain Thomas Preston's Account of the Boston Massacre (2009): 1. Premier Academic Research. Network. January 12, 2014 (http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&sid=bf56711b-f6d8-4550-899b-74f8b64aaa03%40sessionmgr4005&hid=103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#d b=a ph&AN=21212375)