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Road to the Revolution

Road to the Revolution. What events led to the American Revolution?. London, 1765. The 7 Year War, was expensive and King George needed a way to pay for it. The King expected the colonists to help pay for it, because it was fought to protect them.

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Road to the Revolution

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  1. Road to the Revolution What events led to the American Revolution?

  2. London, 1765 • The 7 Year War, was expensive and King George needed a way to pay for it. • The King expected the colonists to help pay for it, because it was fought to protect them. • Do you think this is an unreasonable expectation? • Why or Why Not?

  3. Stamp Act • Parliament passes the Stamp Act, requiring that all paper products require an official stamp. • How would you feel if you were accustom to having control, and then your King suddenly wants to assert his authority? • How would you feel if you had been King with absolute control and suddenly your subjects think they have the right to question you? • What angered the colonist most was the question of who is in charge here.

  4. Two Sides of the Same Issue • Colonists – They are concerned about losing their liberties. • British – All about money, they needed to pay for an expensive war.

  5. Sons of Liberty • An underground movement using terror as a means of intimidation. • They strongly opposed the Stamp Act. • Example: Tar and feathering.

  6. John Adams is a 29 year old lawyer who is very outspoken, he brings logic and intellect to this emotional issue.

  7. Patrick Henry was a passionate speaker influencing many including James Otis.

  8. Benjamin Franklin • He is the most famous American both in and out of the colonies. • He is the unofficial ambassador of the colonies. • He was the embodiment of what it was to be American.

  9. It’s business not politics that settles the matter. • What’s a boycott? • Why does it work? • Can you think of another time in history that this has been used? • Who would be hurt by a boycott?

  10. Problem: England still needs money and now they have to prove they are still in control. • Parliament passes more acts to prove they still have authority, such as The Quartering Act, The Declaratory Act, and The Townshend Act. • Troops brought to the colonies add fuel to the fire.

  11. Tell me what you see.

  12. Boston Massacre • British troops are sent to occupy Boston. • A crowd gathers, taunting a soldier. • Other soldiers arrive. • Soon snowballs and stones are thrown. • Shots ring out and 5 colonists die. • What would you do? • Put yourself in the shoes of the colonists/soldiers? • Was this really a massacre? Why/why not? • What biased exist? • Why was it drawn this way? • What effect did this have on the Revolution?

  13. The Trial • Troops are put on trail. • John Adams agrees to be a lawyer. • He believes strongly in the right to a fair trial. • Seven soldiers are acquitted with the other two got light sentences. • Do you agree/disagree with John Adams decision to defend the soldiers?

  14. Same old, same old • 3 more years of taxes and repealed taxes. • King keeps tax on tea. • New tax is 3 cents per pound, except on the East India Trading Company. • Why would they be angry if tea is cheaper? • What’s the big deal with tea? • What is a comparable American drink?

  15. Boston Tea Party • Dec. 16, 1773 the Sons of Liberty dress as Native Americans and dump 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. • This was a costly mistake and the British are angered.

  16. Thomas Hutchinson • January 1774 Ben Franklin leaked some letters written by Thomas Hutchinson to a British official. • Ben Franklin is ripped apart by the British government who they had considered an ally. • Hutchinson flees to back to Britain.

  17. British Deal Out Punishment • The King wants to scare the other colonies with their punishment of Boston. • They pass the Coercive Acts, the colonists call them the Intolerable Acts.(Revoked MA charter, dissolved assemblies, troops re-occupied, ports closed till tea paid for, British governor, and troops go to trial in Britain.

  18. First Continental Congress • August 1774 delegates from all over the colonies came together to devise a strategy to oppose the erosion of their liberties. • The colonists while all different came together to fight a common enemy.

  19. One problem… • The delegates still saw themselves as individual colonies, until Patrick Henry declared, “ I am no longer a Virginian, I am an American!” • King George believes that the colonists will submit to his demands.

  20. The British Are Coming!!! • British General Gage is ordered to confiscate ammunition the colonists are storing in Concord, MA. • April 18, 1775 Paul Revere makes his famous midnight ride. • One if by land, two if by sea.

  21. The Revolution Begins… • The word got out that the British were coming. • The militiamen gather in Lexington. • How would you feel if you were a militiaman? • How would you feel if you were a British soldier?

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