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CHAPTER XXII: British

In 1765 a stamp-duty on various articles was imposed by the British parliament on the colonists but on their remonstrating, the act was soon after repealed.

Subsequently a duty was laid on tea; this was resisted, and at Boston the tea was thrown into the sea.

Coercive measures were then tried; and in 1775 a civil war began. In the following year America issued her glorious declaration of independence. Many battles were fought, but nothing very decisive took place till the year 1777, when general Burgoyne, the British commander, was surrounded at Saratoga, and compelled to surrender with about 4,000 men.