Road to Revolution & Declaring Independence

Mr. Winchell APUSH Period 3 Day 3 Road to Revolution & Declaring Independence

Committees of Correspondence • In Boston (of course), Patriots warned Americans of imperial domination and began a committee to communicate grievances to England and with each other. • Soon, Virginia and other assemblies followed.

Tea Act • May 1773 • Financial relief for the East India Company, deeply in dept. • Kept American shopkeepers out of the tea game and ‘forced’ Americans to buy their tea from this British company. • Monopoly

Boston Tea Party • Sons of Liberty • Disguised as Native Americans, went aboard 3 ships and destroyed $900,000 (today’s money) in tea. • “This destruction of the tea must have so important consequences, that I cannot but consider it as an epoch in history.” • John Adams. • King is pissed. “Concessions have made matters worse.”

Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) • Response to Boston Tea Party. • Massachusetts: • Pay for the tea. • Submit to imperial authority. • Boston Harbor closed to shipping. • Prohibited town hall meetings • New Quartering Acts • Trials now in Britain, not colonies for capital crimes. • “The cause of Boston now is and ever will be considered as the cause of America.” • George Freakin’ Washington

First Continental Congress • In response to the Coercive Acts. • 12 colonies sent reps. • Philadelphia, September 1774. • Differing Agendas! • Southern colonies wanted an economic boycott • New England wanted political union and independence • Middle colonies wanted compromise • Demanded a repeal of the Coercive Acts and removal of British regulations on all buy trade. • Threat of all out commercial warfare

Loyalists • Despite movements towards independence, many colonists were hesitant. • Many poor colonists thought the Patriots were only advocating independence for their own self interest. • Many were worried about anarchy/lack of government. • As Patriots took over local governments, Loyalists were persecuted and driven from homes/businesses.

First Battle • British attempt to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock/seize weapons. • Spies uncovered plans • “The British are Coming….” • British win early/Colonists fight back • Pushed back by ‘Colonial Militias’ to Boston

Second Continental Congress • The Second Continental Congress was a body of representatives appointed by the legislatures of several British North American colonies which met from May 10, 1775, to March 1, 1781 • By the time the Second Continental Congress met, the American Revolutionary War had already started with the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. • Thus, the Second Continental Congress found itself in the unenviable position of being the decision-making body of a military alliance at war with a far more powerful enemy.

Thomas Paine and Common Sense • In January 1776, Thomas Paine published Common Sense • He attacked the strongest bond tying tying America to Britain – the King • He pointed out the advantages of freedom from British rule and commercial restrictions • The book divided Americans into either Patriots or Loyalists

Independence! • Beginning in April of 1776, the colonies advised their delegates to vote for independence • On June 7th, Richard Henry Lee introduced a brief “Resolution of Independence” • On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted Lee’s resolution “that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states.”

Background • January 1776 – Common Sense is distributed throughout colonies • June 7, 1776 - Richard Henry Lee offers a resolution to Congress that “these United Colonies…ought to be free and independent” • June 11, 1776 – Congress appoints a committee to write a Declaration of Independence: Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson

Background • July 4, 1776 – Declaration of Independence is adopted by Congress, John Hancock was the first person to sign it • August 2, 1776 – Declaration of Independence is signed by 50 present members of Congress, Franklin remarks “We must all hang together or we shall hang separately.”

Main Author – Thomas Jefferson • Although there were 5 men appointed to write the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was the main author • Congress only accepted the Declaration of Independence after they cut a large portion that attacked slavery

Jefferson’s Viewpoint on the Major Issues of His Time • He believed in the separation of church and state. • He believed that the colonies had the right to overthrow a tyrannical government.

Enlightenment • Jefferson used the Enlightenment ideas of JOHN LOCKE • People are born with certain natural rights: life, liberty and property • People form governments to protect these rights • If governments interfere with these rights, the people have the right to OVERTHROW them

Purpose • To show why the colonies were revolting against Britain and Declaring their Independence

Intended Audience • The audience were those wanting independence from England. • International audience

4 Parts of the Declaration of Independence • Preamble • Declaration of Natural Rights • List of Grievances • Resolution of Independence

Preamble “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to separate.” When it is necessary for people to separate from their government, these people need to tell others the reasons why they are separating.

Declaration of Natural Rights • Second part of the Declaration of Independence • Lists the rights of the citizens • Explains that in a republic, the government is there to protect the rights of the people • Jefferson calls these rights UNALIENABLE rights, which means they can never be taken away

Here are some of the complaints: British soldiers in colonies without permission Quartering British troops in the colonies Not punishing these troops when they harm colonists Cutting off the colonists’ trade with the rest of the world Taxing the colonists without their permission List of Grievances NAVIGATION ACTS STAMP ACT QUARTERING ACT TEA ACT INTOLERABLE ACTS

Resolution of Independence • Final part of the Declaration of Independence • Declares that the colonies are “Free and Independent States” • Includes the signatures of the signers of the Declaration of Independence

Resolution of Independence • These states have the power to: • Declare war • Trade with other countries • Form alliances

A Landmark • Marks the FIRST TIME EVER that a group of revolutionaries explained in detail why they had the right to change their government • Ideas of the Declaration of Independence influenced the French Revolution and revolutions in South America.

Patriots Consisted about 2/3 of the population Soft 2/3 New England and Virginia Fearlessly independent Hated loyalists The Dawn of the Revolution • Many in the Colonies had mixed views about the Revolution • Was not only a War of Independence but a civil war as well • Loyalists (Tories) • Consisted about 1/3 of the population • New York, Carolinas, & Georgia • Remained loyal to the King • Many during the Revolution fled to England or Canada • Some joined the British Army and fought against the colonials

Weaknesses Enemies Everywhere Ireland was close to rebellion France is looking for payback Unwillingness amongst many to fight their “cousins” Whig party actually favored the American cause Supply problems 15 year old biscuits Had to conquer a “nation” that had no center Taking American cities had no impact on the war Distance and Communication issues British Strengths and Weaknesses • Strengths • Population • $$$ • Hired Hessian mercenaries to fight in the war • Professional Army • Huge Navy • Largest navy in the world • Could cut off the colonies • Thousands of Loyalists supported them

Weaknesses Lack of unity amongst states Many American merchants actually sold to the British instead of the Continental Army Sectional jealousy Inflation Lack of supplies Almost no industry in the colonies Little military knowledge or training American troops often broke and ran away during battle Desertion was a huge problem American Strengths and Weaknesses • Strengths • Leadership • George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson • European recruits • Marquis de Lafayette • Baron von Steuben • Defensive war or just survive • Just Cause • Willing allies

Road to Revolution & Declaring Independence