Economic Interference

1. Economic Interference • April 1770- Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts, but kept Tea Tax • Colonists boycotted British tea and smuggled it in from Holland • British tea companies lost money and their tea rotted in ports • Tea Act of 1773 • East India Company could sell to the colonies and no one else • Colonists were enraged

2. Colonial Unity Expands • Samuel Adams • Committees of Correspondence to communicate with neighboring towns • Groups exchanged numerous secret letters • Other colonies followed the same idea • New York • South Carolina • Rhode Island

3. The Boston Tea Party Protests against the Tea Act began to take place In Charleston, SC colonists unloaded tea and let it rot on the docks In New York City and Philadelphia, colonists blocked the tea ships from landing In Boston, Sons of the Liberty organized the Boston Tea Party

4. The Boston Tea Party Evening on December 16, 1773 Men disguised as Native Americans boarded tea ships “We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard… In about 3 hours from the time we went on board, we had thus broken and thrown overboard every tea chest to be found in the ship; while those in other ships were disposing of the tea in the same way, at the same time.” – George Hewes 342 chests of tea were destroyed Colonial leaders offered to pay for the tea if Britain repealed the Tea Act- Britain refused.

5. The Boston Tea Party

6. The Boston Tea Party

7. The Intolerable Acts Parliament was furious with the Boston Tea Party “We must master them or totally leave them to themselves and treat them as aliens.” – King George III

8. Attack on Rights and Liberties • 1774- Parliament passed laws to punish the Massachusetts colony • Britain: Coercive Acts • Colonies: Intolerable Acts • Closed port of Boston until tea was paid for • Banned town meetings • Replaced elected council with appointed one • Increased governor’s power • Protected British officials accused of crimes • Allowed British officers to house troops in colonists’ homes

9. The First Continental Congress Meets • Other colonies sent food and money to support Massachusetts • September 1774: delegates from all colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia • Called the First Continental Congress • Decided to ban all trade with Britain until the Intolerable Acts were repealed • Each colony began to train troops • Georgia still participated even though it did not send delegates • This was a key step in history • Most colonists were not ready to call for independence, but they wanted to keep their rights

10. British Control Begins to Slip Colonists hoped another boycott would lead to repealing the Intolerable Acts, like the Stamp, Sugar, and Townshend Acts However, Britain stood firm and even increased restrictions and sent more troops By the end of 1774, many colonists were preparing to fight Colonists believed that a fight against Britain would be short, because Britain would change its policies

11. Patrick Henry “Gentlemen may cry peace, peace – but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?… I know not course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”

12. The Revolution Begins Both the colonists and the British were spying on one another The British knew that the Massachusetts militia was storing arms and ammunition in Concord John Hancock and Sam Adams were Patriot leaders and were in Lexington April 18, 1775: Gage ordered his troops to arrest Hancock and Adams and destroy the supplies in Concord

13. The Midnight Ride The Sons of Liberty were prepared Paul Revere and William Dawes were sent to spread the news about British troop movements “One if by land, two if by sea”

14. Lexington and Concord April 19, 1775: more than 700 British troops reached Lexington Captain John Parker and 70 militiamen were waiting British ordered colonists to drop muskets, colonists refused “Shot heard around the world” 8 militiamen lay dead

15. Lexington and Concord • British marched to Concord where they destroyed supplies • A battle broke out forcing British to retreat • Nearly 4000 Minutemen and militiamen arrived • “It seemed as if men came down from the clouds” • 1000 British soldiers arrived a prevented a total destruction • Americans had to choose sides • Loyalists • Patriots

16. The Conflict Spreads • Most colonists still wanted peace, but blamed Parliament for the terrible events • The Olive Branch Petition • Document sent to the king from the colonists • Asking for harmony • King rejected it • Announced new ways to punish the colonies • Use British army to block American ships from leaving ports • Hired thousands of German soldiers to fight in America • “When once these rebels have felt a smart blow, they will submit.” – King George III

17. Colonial Soldiers Decided not to back down from Britain’s punishments Were arrogant and thought they were equal to British troops George Washington knew otherwise British soldiers were professionals Colonial troops had little training and were poorly equipped Difference between militia and minutemen

18. Washington Arrives Washington arrived at militia camp in Boston in summer of 1775 Began to gather supplies and train soldiers Decided to invade British forces in Quebec Americans failed in their attack

19. Rebellion becomes Revolution • Americans had a decision to make • Thomas Paine’s Common Sense helped to make this decision • Believed all men should have the right to vote • Criticized the belief that kings were chosen by God • Sold more than 100,000 copies in 3 months • Emphasized a fight for independence

20. A Time for Decision • Continental Congress was still undecided • May 1776- each colony was to develop its own government • June 7- Known as “free and independent states” • Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and others were appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence • Chose Jefferson to compose • July 4, 1776 • Congress adopted the document • John Hancock (president of congress) was the first to sign • “There, I guess King George will be able to read that”

21. The Declaration is Adopted Based on idea of natural rights “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” If government doesn’t protect these rights, it loses the right to govern This action was treason to Britain Now, they needed to win their freedom on the battlefield.

22. Americans Divided 40% What is a civil war? Americans were divided based along social, religious, and ethnic lines Most Southern states did not allow African Americans to fight British offered freedom to those who joined the British army The North had about 5,000 African Americans serving in the Continental army. Native Americans became involved

23. Preparing for War • June 1775, George Washington became commander of the Continental Army • Many problems • Untrained and undisciplined soldiers • Part-time soldiers • Needed a large and well-trained army to last through a war • Lacked basic supplies like blankets, shoes, food, and guns and ammunition • Many women had to help

24. Britain Prepares • Britain thought Americans would be easy to defeat • British were experienced and professional • Had troubles of their own • Difficulty recruiting soldiers • Enlisted for life: so not many made that commitment • Had to hire mercenaries from Germany

25. War in the Middle States December 25, 1776 Washington’s troops went to Trenton, New Jersey Surprise attack on German soldiers who were sleeping after their Christmas celebrations Captured and killed 900 German soldiers and supplies Another victory in New Jersey just 8 days later Proved the American general was better than many had thought Army began to attract more recruits

26. Saratoga: A Turning Point • Burgoyne’s army continued south • American troops led by Horatio Gates blocked their way • Burgoyne attacked the Americans • Americans fought back • Burgoyne was forced to retreat! • British moved slowly through the rain to Saratoga, were exhausted • Americans surrounded British and fired on them night and day • Burgoyne surrendered • Prevented British from isolating New England • Showed Europeans that Americans might win • Some European countries joined the Americans

27. Help from Abroad French were still bitter with Britain about French and Indian War Became an American ally after the Battle of Saratoga Sent funds, supplies, and troops Persuaded Spain to be an ally as well Spain attacked British troops from the South British troops were spread thin Both Spain and France wanted to increase their own territory

28. Winter at Valley Forge Winter 1777-1778 Washington’s army (12,000) camped at Valley Forge in Southeast Pennsylvania Lacked supplies: only blankets and many did not have shoes, not enough food 1/4 died from malnutrition, exposure, or diseases (small pox or typhoid fever) New Years Day 1778- Women stepped in to help Drove 10 teams of oxen in bring supplies 2,000 shirts and other items Oxen were killed to provide food

29. Winter at Valley Forge In February Almost 5,000 soldiers were too sick to fight Another 3,700 lacked either shoes or clothes Shipments for troops were often stolen by government employees Many local farmers were Loyalists and refused to sell food to the army 2,000 soldiers deserted Many soldiers had amputations and then died from future infections

33. Patriotism Unites the Army Americans showed much endurance Most would desert typically Some did desert, but the army stayed together because of the “Love of our Country” – Colonel John Brooks Washington inspired the troops to keep fighting

34. The Army Grows Stronger German officer, the Baron von Steuben, trained the army Focused on sanitation Within 1 month the troops were executing drills quickly and precisely The army came out of Valley Forge even stronger

35. The War Moves South After 3 years of war, Britain was still not close to a victory Change their strategy Thought if they moved South, they would have more supporters Expected Southern slaves to join

36. Guerrilla War British were having difficulty controlling the South Guerrilla: Someone who does not follow the regular “laws” of war; engages in ambushing Many guerrilla rebels were in the South countryside Rebels successfully cut off the British supply line

37. The End of the War 1781: without orders Cornwallis marched to Virginia Set up base on a peninsula Washington and a French army met with a French fleet of ships The fleet blocked the Chesapeake Bay from receiving supplies

38. Battle of Yorktown Battle of Yorktown began British tried to protect themselves French captured their forts Cannons bombarded Yorktown Cornwallis had no way out and had to surrender Some fighting continued in the South and on the Frontier But… Yorktown was the last major battle of the war “It is all over!” gasped British prime minister Lord North British leaders were forced to resign New leaders began to negotiate a peace treaty

39. Why the Americans Won Persistence even though they faced many obstacles Civilians and soldiers were involved 1783- the last British ships left New York City “through almost every possible suffering and discouragement for the space of eight long years, was little short of a standing miracle.”- George Washington

40. Quote “There was as much sorrow as joy… We had lived together as a family of brothers for several years,… had shared with each other in the hardships, dangers, and sufferings incident to a soldier’s life; had sympathized with each other in trouble and sickness; … and now we were to be… parted forever.” - Joseph Plumb Martin

41. The Surrender of Lord CornwallisBy John Trumbull British officer surrendering to a mounted American officer, with French troops on the left and Americans on the right Cornwallis pretended to be ill in order to avoid public humiliation

42. Costs of the War No one knows exact numbers Estimated 25,700 Americans died 1,400 Americans remained missing 8,200 Americans were wounded British suffered about 10,000 deaths Most soldiers were broke Instead of getting paid, soldiers were given land in the West National debt of about $27 million Many Loyalists lost property Between 60,000 and 100,000 Loyalists left the country; many went to Canada Tensions remained between Loyalists and Patriots

43. The Treaty of Paris Peace negotiations began September 27, 1782 The treaty was finally signed on September 3, 1783

44. Favorable Terms The United States was independent Boundaries Mississippi River on the West Canada on the North Spanish Florida on the South U.S. could fish off Canada’s coast Each side would repay debts British would return enslaved persons captured States would return property to Loyalists Neither side fully lived up to their terms Americans did not repay all war debts or return Loyalist property British did not return slaves

45. Boundary Disputes Many new disagreements with Spain regarding boundaries British refused to give up military outposts in the Great Lakes area

46. The Threat to Native American Lands Treaty of Paris did not take into consideration Native American lands Rejected the Proclamation of 1763 Native Americans were furious with British Americans were excited about westward expansion Native Americans’ land was at risk

47. Freedom and Slavery • People began to see the conflict between slavery and fighting for freedom • Colonies began to end slavery, especially in the North • Slaves began to fight for their freedom • Slavery in the South still continued • People began to fear what would happen to America if it continued to depend on slavery, including Thomas Jefferson