Toward Independence

Toward Independence U.S. History

Introduction • Patriots vs. Loyalists • French and Indian War Consequences

Before 1763 • By 1750, the U.S. Colonies were bursting with growth • Why?

Conflict in the Ohio Valley • 1754: Fort Duquesne built by France in the Ohio Valley • George Washington led the Virginia militia

French and Indian War • 1755, Britain sent 1,400 British soldiers to Virginia, led by Edward Braddock • Turning point in the war was in 1759, with invasion of Canada

Early British Actions • King George III: “he was very stupid, really stupid.” • The Proclamation of 1763

The Stamp Act • Prime Minister George Grenville: How will we pay off debts from the French and Indian War? • 1765: Stamp Act passed

The Stamp Act • No taxation without representation! • “Sons of Liberty”

The Quartering Act • 1765: ordered colonial assemblies to provide British troops with housing • Tempers rise

The Townshend Acts • “Champagne Charlie” Townshend: What would he do to keep an army in America • 1767: The Townshend Acts placed tax on glass, paint, paper, and tea.

A Boycott of British Goods • Boston Patriot Samuel Adams • Women played an important role

The Tea Act • Protests calmed as the Townshend Acts were repealed

The Tea Act (Continued) • In 1773, a new law called the Tea Act started new protests. • Lord North was attempting to rescue the British East India Company.

Ramifications of Tea Act • With the British East India Company making a monopoly, many Americans were alarmed • Where would the British government try to control NEXT??

Boston Tea Party • On December 16, 1773, about 50 men dressed as Mohawk Indians boarded the three ships

Boston Tea Party (Continued) Around 90,000 pounds of tea was dumped into the sea that night. This led to a celebration among Patriots, including John Adams.

The Intolerable Acts • The Coercive Acts of 1774, or known as the “Intolerable Acts” by the Colonists, were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party

The Intolerable Acts (Continued) Many Colonies united, many shops closed down, and the Patriots thought that their rights were at stake

First Continental Congress • In September of 1774, around 50 leaders from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia—called the First Continental Congress

First Continental Congress (Continued) • They created a respectful message to be sent to King George. • Also, a new boycott of British goods was put into place until Parliament repealed the Intolerable Acts.

The Minutemen • Local militias started to form in case the boycott didn’t work. • In New England, volunteers called themselves Minutemen because they would fight in 60 seconds.

How does the war begin? • We will find out tomorrow……….

Toward Independence