Events of the American Revolution Time Period

1. Events of the American Revolution Time Period From French and Indian War To The American Revolution

2. French and Indian War • 1754-1763 • Results of many years of conflict between France and Great Britain • It led to the American Revolution because Great Britain was left with a huge war debt • Ended with the Treaty of Paris 1763 • France gave Britain Canada and all claims to lands east of the Mississippi River • Spain gave up Florida (given back the island of Cuba)

3. Treaty of Paris 1763 • Treaty that officially ended the French and Indian War. • The British gained control over the area west of the 13 British Colonies to the Mississippi River. • The French agreed to no longer support any colonies in North America, including all of Canada. • Since Spain had joined the war on the side of the French, the Spanish were also forced to give up their claim to Florida.

4. Proclamation of 1763 • This closed much of America’s western lands to keep the peace with Native Americans • Vacated land west of the Appalachian Mtns • Created the British colonies of East and West Florida (Georgia’s newest neighbors) • Georgia’s southern boundary was extended to the St. Mary’s River • Georgia’s western boundary was the Mississippi River

5. Stamp Act of 1765 • Set a tax on all legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards • After paying a tax, the documents would receive a stamp • Stamps were expensive and could only be paid in silver or gold • To protest the act colonists boycotted British goods, which hurt British manufacturers • Ended March 1766 after (9) colonies formed the Stamp Act Congress and wrote the Declaration of rights and grievances

6. Liberty Boys • Group of Georgians came together to oppose the Stamp Act. • Met at Tondee’s Tavern in Savannah • The Liberty Boys were part of a larger group known as the “Sons of Liberty” • They were the spirit of the Revolution

7. Townshend Acts 1767 • Began taxing glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea • Protests against this act became violent quickly

8. Intolerable Acts 1774 • Also called the Coercive Acts • Four laws passed by Great Britain as punishment for the Boston Tea Party of 1773 • Closed the Boston Harbor • Cancelled Massachusetts’s royal Charter (no self-government) • British officials charged with offenses in the colonies were to be tried in England • Quartering Act—feeding and housing of British soldiers • Result of these acts was the formation of the First Continental Congress (Georgia did not send a representative)

9. American Revolution1775-1783 • Began at Lexington, Massachusetts with “The Shot Heard Around the World” • Ended with the Treaty of Paris 1783 • Very few battles/skirmishes were fought on Georgia soil

10. Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 • Approved by the Second Continental Congress • The document announced the separation of the thirteen colonies from Britain • Was signed by representatives of each of the thirteen colonies • Three signers from Georgia—Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall and George Walton

11. Revolutionary War in Georgia • Battle of Kettle Creek-1779 • Under the command of Elijah Clarke and John Dooly • Austin Dabney served under Clarke (the only African American to fight in this battle) • Because of his bravery he was the first African American to be awarded public land; also given his freedom • Ensured the continued independence of upper Georgia • A small, but important win for the Patriots • Pushed the British out of the back country near Augusta

12. Revolutionary War in Georgia • Siege of Savannah-1779 • Georgia was restored to the crown, the 1st and only colony to be restored to royal allegiance • Count Casimir Pulaski, a Polish nobleman died during this siege (ground troops) • French fleet (25 ships) arrived off the coast • Count Charles Henri d’Estaing came on Washington’s request to recapture Savannah • Disembarked 4,000-5,000 men • French troops and other ground troops failed and retreated

13. Treaty of Paris 1783 • Ended the Revolutionary War • Was signed by Great Britain, France, and the United States in September of 1783 • Britain recognized the independent nation of the United States of America • Britain agreed to remove all of its troops from the new nation.