American Revolution and Events Leading to Independence

1. Warm-Up • What is the difference between a Revolution and a Rebellion?

2. Birth of a Democratic Nation Events leading up to the American Revolution & The War

3. Britain’s Separation Anxiety • Separation, due to the Atlantic Ocean, created a sense of independence among the colonies. • Began to handle their own affairs • Began to think like Americans • In an attempted to tighten control, Britain turns to Mercantilism. • Colonial businesses suffered. • Situation worsens with the French and Indian War

4. French and Indian War • French and Indian War (1763) • aka 7 Years War • England vs. France • Over control of French Territory in North America • Long and costly • England gains Canada and Florida • Royal Proclamation of 1763 • British Colonies gain huge debt and heavily taxed. • Parliament passed numerous taxes • Stamp Act

5. Albany Plan of Union • Created in the Albany Congress by Ben Franklin • Included all colonies except Delaware and Georgia. • Wanted to create a colonial government to deal with Indians and make laws. • Executive • Legislative • Is rejected by England • Ideas are later used in Articles of Confederation and Constitution

6. Political Cartoon created by Ben Franklin during French and Indian War. • Based on what you have learned so far, why do you think he displayed the snake cut up and not whole?

7. Red-British colonies Pink-land Britain gained after 7 Years War Orange-Louisiana gained by Spain

8. George Washington makes military debut at the age of 21 during the French and Indian War. • Suffered numerous defeats, but Americans admired his bravery

9. Stamp Act (1765) • Parliament’s first serious attempt exert governmental control over the colonies, • Colonists had to attach tax stamps on all legal documents and newspapers • Sons of Liberty form in many colonies. • Use violence and intimidation to force stamp agents resign and keep colonial shopkeepers to buy British goods. Ex: of Stamp 

10. Stamp Act Congress • Stamp Act Congress meets in NYC • 9 of the 13 colonies • Prepare a resolution to send to King George III and Parliament to repel Stamp Act • Says only a colonial legislature can tax colonies • “No Taxation without Representation” • Britain says Colonies are represented • November 1, 1765 • Stamp Act goes into effect • colonies opposed the tax • Colonist boycotted English goods.

11. Declaratory Act • Counteracted the Colonies rejection of Stamp Act. • Stated: Parliament had the right to tax and make decision for American colonies “in all cases”

12. Quartering Acts • Forced colonist to house British soldiers • Problems arise in New York • British General Thomas Gage used military force to force colonists to comply.

13. Townshend Acts • 1667 • These laws levied new taxes on goods imported to the colonies • Such as: • Glass • Tea • Paper • lead • Colonies could not produce them • Angered colonist bring back the boycott.

14. King George III King of Great Britain throughout America’s fight for independence

15. Boston Massacre • Townshend Acts caused unrest primarily in Boston. • May 5th 1770 • British Officers shoot into a mob killing 5 colonists • Most notable: Crispus Attucks (Multiracial sailor) • Event angered a majority of the 13 colonies • Helped spark the American Revolution

16. Picture by Paul Revere

18. Boston Tea Party • Resulted from the Tea Act • British East India Company • Paid less taxes on importing tea to the colonies • Could bypass colonial merchants and sell directly to shop keepers. • Made British tea cheaper than colonial tea. • Ex. of Mercantilism. • Colonists blocked all East India Company ships from docking • Boston harbor was the exception.

19. 1773 • Sons of Liberty • Dress as Native Americans and raid British tea ships. • Dump 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor

20. Boston Tea Party

21. Coercive Acts • Also known as the “Intolerable Acts” • Passed as a direct Result from the Boston Tea Party. • Stripped colonists of their rights • Including trial by jury

22. Movement Towards Independence

23. Shaping America • Colonies wanted more rights and less taxes • Why? • Cultural Diffusion • The British colonists began to evolve separately from Great Britain • The Atlantic Ocean prevented Great Britain from fully exerting its power over the colonies • Colonists began forming their own identities

24. 1st Continental Congress • September 1774 • 12 of the colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia to discuss their concerns. • The Intolerable Acts • Goal: to establish a political body to represent America’s interests. • Sent a document to King George III demanding the rights of the colonists be restored. • Extended boycott on British goods • George responded with force

25. Lexington and Concord • April 1775 • Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts • The 1st battle between Great Britain and the Colonies. • Battle referred to as: • “The Shot Heard Around the World” • This convinced many colonists to favor independence from Great Britain.

26. 2nd Continental Congress • Debated a possible war with Great Britain • Created the Continental Army • Led by George Washington

27. Common Sense • Thomas Paine • Colonist and author of Common Sense • Called for complete independence from Great Britain. • Gathered support for a possible war • By 1776, more than half of the Congress delegates agreed with Paine.

28. Declaration of Independence • Written by Thomas Jefferson • Influenced by Enlightenment philosophers • Esp. John Locke • “2nd Treatise of Government” • Discussed “Social Contract” • Stated the colonies to be “free and independent states absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown.” • The War had officially begun

30. “Cool-Down”Getting Tough with the Colonists • After such incidents as the Boston Tea Party and the decision by the Continental Congress to begin a complete boycott of British goods, the British government decided to get tough with the rebellious colonists. In your opinion, was there a “good guy” and a “bad guy” in this situation? If so, which was which, and why?