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Road to Revolution

Discover the causes leading to the US colonies' fight for independence from British rule, influenced by Enlightenment ideas, French & Indian War, and key events like Boston Massacre and Tea Party. The journey from unrest to Declaration of Independence in 1776.

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Road to Revolution

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  1. Road to Revolution What caused the colonists to fight for independence from British rule?

  2. The Enlightenment • Early 1700s philosophy movement from Europe • Reason over faith, science over religion • Benjamin Franklin inventions & almanac • Questioned traditional monarchy • John Locke “Natural Rights”

  3. North America in 1750 What caused the French & Indian War? Result?

  4. North America in 1763 Post French & Indian War * War Debt * Proclamation of 1763

  5. British need money to pay for Fr & In war Most foreign molasses is smuggled, Parliament cuts tax on British molasses Hoping colonists will pay the tax instead of smuggling it since smugglers lose right to trial by jury, plan fails Tax on documents & printed items (wills, newspapers, etc.) Early Problems for Colonists (1764-1770) 1. Sugar Act, 1764 2. Stamp Act, 1765 • First direct tax on everyday needs

  6. 3. Townshend Acts, 1767 • British repeal stamp act but pass new act taxing many items never taxed before (glass, ink, paint, paper, tea) • Samuel Adams starts Sons of Liberty, a resistance group in Boston to protest the new acts • Sons of Liberty slogan “No taxation w/out representation!”, start a boycott of British goods

  7. Tar and Feathering

  8. BOSTON MASSACRE • Every story has two sides. Read two eyewitness accounts of what happened in Boston in 1770. • Which side seemed more believable to you and why? • Explain if the eyewitness accounts match the video clip. • Look at the engraving by Paul Revere on the back. What side of the story does this show? • Could the engraving be propaganda against the British? Why?

  9. Boston Tea Party, 1773 • BEIC pays no export tax, but Townshend Act still in affect on tea • British East India Co. losing money on tea. Parliament passes Tea Act, Colonists could only buy British Tea • Colonists dressed as Indians dump British tea into Boston Harbor (including King George’s personal tea)

  10. Intolerable Acts, 1774 • Boston Harbor is shut down • Quartering Act: forced colonists to house British soldiers • Reduced right of self-government , Mass Assembly suspended + 4. Trials moved to London Something must be done!

  11. First Continental Congress, 1774 • 56 delegates meet in Philadelphia, agree colonist have rights • If British use force, colonists should fight back • Create a militia called the Minutemen

  12. Lexington & Concord • Lexington, MA: British troops kill 8 Minutemen • British increase number of troops • Paul Revere’s famous ride “redcoats are coming” • Concord, MA: Minutemen attack British, kill few dozen soldiers

  13. Second Continental Congress: May, 1775 • Colonists debate two main issues: 1. Should we declare independence from Britain? 2. Should we work things out with King George? • 2nd Con. Congress tries #2, sends “Olive Branch Petition”. • King George rejects the peace offer! • Bunker Hill: Deadly battle between Minutemen & Red Coats Let’s give the King another Chance I don’t think so rebel scum!

  14. Declaration of Independence: 1776 • Thomas Jefferson – primary author, writes two versions • Influenced by Locke’s natural rights, Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights & Common Sense • Jefferson writes: People have right to life, liberty & pursuit of happiness & “All Men are Created Equal”. • Ratified July 2, 1776 and adopted July 4, 1776

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