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| 1770 | Reform |  |
| Repeals the Townshend Acts, except duty on tea, in response to unrest in America |
| 1770 | Rule of Falklands, The | |
| Falklands, The Spain attacks Port Egmont, ending the British presence, The expulsion of the British settlement brings the two countries to the brink of war, but a peace treaty allows the British to return in 1771 with neither side relinquishing sovereignty |
| 1770 | Siege of Port Egmont | |
| Port Egmont Spain attacks Port Egmont, ending the British presence, The expulsion of the British settlement brings the two countries to the brink of war, but a peace treaty allows the British to return in 1771 with neither side relinquishing sovereignty |
| 1772 | Reform | |
| 10th May London The East India Co can sell directly, competing with American smugglers |
| 10th May London The East India Co goes bankrupt so mercantalist burdens are lifted |
| 1773 | ICCC | |
| Founds Inter-Colonial Committees of Correspondence |
| 1773 | Rebellion | |
| 16th Dec London 1st tea ship is boycotted in Boston by the the British |
| 16th Dec Boston Merchants board a boycotted ship to hold a tea Party & throw its tea overboard |
| 16th Dec The example in Boston is soon followed by other American ports |
| 1773 | Trial | |
| London The British Government holds the HMS Gaspee trials in Great Britain |
| 1774 | Diplomacy | |
| Boston Closes Boston harbour until the East India Company is reimbursed for lost tea |
| Newfoundland Forbids American access to Newfoundland fisheries |
| Newfoundland Forbids trade between New England colonies & British Dominions |
| 20th May Boston Closes the port of Boston & reduces the power of the Massachusetts legislature |
| 20th May Parliament punishes the American colonists for the anti-British behaviour |
| 2nd June Boston Requires colonists to house British troops where barracks are not available |
| 1774 | Rebellion | |
| Boston Closes Boston harbour until the East India Company is reimbursed for lost tea |
| 1776 | Budget | |
| London Raises land tax to four shillings to help pay for the American War of Independence |
| 1778 | Declaration of War | |
| France declares war on Britain & sends an army to nth America |
| 1778 | Peace | |
| 17th June London Congress rejects offers of a British Peace Commission & insists on independence |
| 1780 | Declaration of War | |
| 20th Dec Declares War on the Netherlands |
| 1782 | Peace | |
| 24th Feb London Parliament votes to abandon the American War of Independence |
| 5th Mar London Parliament enacts legislation empowering the Crown to negotiate peace with the USA |
| 1782 | Resignation | |
| 27th Feb Resigns after Britain's defeat |
| 1783 | Secretary of Home Affairs | |
| 2nd April Appointed Home Secretary |
