French and Indian War

1. French and Indian War

2. Relationships • During the latter part of the 17th Century, Britain had a few domestic issues to deal with that caused them to overlook their colonies • While they still commanded a great deal of authority over the colonies, they cared little for the day to day operations of them, so long as the money and raw materials kept coming in • The colonies thrived under this situation because it forced them into becoming somewhat self sufficient • This is known as ‘benign’ or ‘salutary’ neglect…

3. The Birth of an American Identity • As Colonial development progressed, the colonies developed their own identity • A main instigator in this was the ‘Great Awakening’, which saw a renewed religious fervor in the colonies and in Britain • While it began in Europe, it also sparked an intellectual revival amongst the colonists. • People began reading more, and in turn took the knowledge gained from these readings and applied it to their environment.

4. The Great Awakening • One of the first ‘American’ movements was the Great Awakening because the first small revivals began in the colonies • The main revival began in Europe and spread throughout the colonies, causing people to return to church • The ‘hook’ that got people’s attention was that God was angry and you need to repent • Important results of the Great Awakening were the creation and expansion of colleges and universities here in the colonies and it took on a life of its own that differed from Europe.

5. Enlightenment • While the Great Awakening swept across much of Europe and the colonies, another more secular movement had impact on the educated elite • The Enlightenment began in Europe with philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire. • They emphasized our ability to think for ourselves, using reason to guide us. • Soon their writings appeared in colleges in the colonies, and many of the upper class colonists were greatly influenced by their ideas

6. French and Indian War • War waged between the British and French with French Indian Allies • 9 year war which was also waged in Europe after the first two years • In Europe it is referred to as the 7 years war. • May 1754 – British built a Fort (stronghold) in the Ohio Valley of Southwest PA called Fort Necessity • Ohio Valley claimed by British and French

7. Causes of the War • Washington’s men ambushed a French Scouting party in 1754 • French Army returned and with superior numbers easily defeated the British and Washington retreated back to Virginia • French and English had been rivals in the area since the beginning of exploration in the region • English had settled along the coast while the French explored farther inland – along the St Lawrence river, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River

8. Causes of War • In Settling, British cleared land for planting crops and the French built forts to protect their land interests. • As a result, the French had better relationships with the Native Americans • French and English had been battling since the 1600’s. Their battles often spread to the Colonies.

9. The Albany Plan of Union • Delegation of 7 Northern Colonies sought to devise a union similar to the Iroquois League. • Another goal was to work out a unified war effort in the Northern Colonies • Led by a delegate from Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin. • Plan called for a grand council of delegates elected by colonial legislature with a president general appointed by the crown. • Delegates saw that the Iroquois nation had strengthened itself by forming the Iroquois league and they wanted to do the same. • The delegates approved the plan but colonist rejected it feeling that they didn’t want to surrender that much power to a centralized government • Albany plan of Union was the first notion of Unionized colonies

10. Early Stages of War • Early in the war the French held early advantage. • In 1755 they won a decisive battle in Western Pennsylvania with about 900 French troops and Native Americans who defeated the British. • British no match as they used old fashioned tactics of fighting in straight lines in open spaces • British General was Edward Braddock and an aide – George Washington. • Washington aided the British defeat and noted the bravery of colonial Militia (armed citizens who serve as soldiers in an emergency).

11. Turning Point and British Victory • 1756 – British officially declare war on France (thus beginning the Seven Years War) • 1757 – William Pitt becomes British Prime Minister (highest ranking official in British Parliamentary gov’t) and feels that the entire British Empire is at stake. • Pitt persuaded Parliament to raise taxes and borrowed huge sums of money to finance the war.

12. TheTurning of the Tide • Soon the British overwhelmed French in Western Pennsylvania and Canada • They won the important battle of Louisbourg which was an important port on the gulf of St Lawrence and then worked their way down the St Lawrence River towards the great lakes • At the same time, they won Fort Duquesne (which was later named Fort Pitt and then later the city of Pittsburgh) and then Fort Niagara.

13. The Fall of Quebec • Quebec seen as “prize” to the English • City Surrounded by stone cliffs and a path about 3 miles south of the city. • British General James Wolfe and French General Marquis de Montcalm. • British 9,000 troops and French 7,500. • First British direct attack failed. • British tried a siege which meant they would trap the French in their positions although Wolfe only had limited time for this to work.

14. Fall of Quebec • Montcalm brought his troops out of the city to fight the British which was a terrible blunder. • British won battle and won Quebec as both Wolfe and Montcalm are killed. • 1760 British also take Montreal and develop a stronghold in Canada • 1761 British seized Fort Detroit and French posts in the Great Lakes.

15. The Treaty of Paris • The French and Indian War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763 • Under the Treaty of Paris; • France turned Canada over to Britain and gave up all land claims East of the Mississippi River. • France kept the city of New Orleans • British gave Cuba to Spanish in exchange for Florida • Spain had been an ally to France in the War • The most important facet of the Treaty of Paris was the Proclamation of 1763 • As per the proclamation, no American colonist could claim land west of the Appalachian Mountain range.

16. Consequences • Policy of ‘benign neglect’ came to an end • The relationship between the colonies and Great Britain soon soured over the now ever present British army and officials • Of course, the British officer’s treatment of colonial militiamen had done damage already • What had begun as a positive sign of Britain’s care of the colonies soon caused the colonists’ angst because they could no longer relate to each other

17. Issues Behind the Revolution

18. Britain’s Financial Problems • John Stewart, Earl of Bute had replaced William Pitt as Prime Minister • Bute was replaced by George Grenville in 1763 • Britain had increased costs to maintain its empire…cider tax in the apple growing region of England had caused riots • Colonies in North America were prospering • Britain had decided to draw on its prospering colonies and impose new taxes and enforce old duties

19. The Sugar and Quartering Acts • Sugar Act 1764– lowered the tax on imported molasses and encouraged colonists to buy more imported molasses rather than smuggle in molasses illegally • Anyone caught smuggling molasses would be tried in British court rather than colonial courts • Quartering Act 1765– Required colonists to provide housing and supplies to any British Troops who stayed behind after the French and Indian War… never was a real problem • Reaction against these acts was mild compared to future acts

20. The Stamp Act - 1765 • Stamp Act required a tax on all newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, and most other printed materials • Marked the first time colonists had been taxed for the express purpose or raising money for England • Reaction would be widespread – The Stamp Act Congress would be formed in 1765 with delegates meeting from 7 colonies in New York

21. The Stamp Act Congress • Organizer – James Otis of Massachusetts • Otis, as early as 1761 had claimed that the British had no right to tax the colonists because the colonists had no representation in Congress • In 1764, he again used the argument of “No Taxation without representation.” • Stamp Act Congress sent resolutions (official letters) to the King and Parliament but to no avail.

22. The Sons of Liberty • Another way to show their displeasure over the stamp act was to Boycott British goods • The group that started the initial group was formed in Boston and called the Sons of Liberty and was led by Samuel Adams • The Sons of Liberty threatened violence (they also followed through on some occasions) against British officials • British merchants became angry at the loss of money due to the boycott and the Stamp Act was repealed in 1766

23. Declaratory Act - 1766 • The Stamp Act’s repeal was but a temporary victory for the colonists • Almost immediately, the parliament passed the Declaratory Acts, which pretty much said that they could pass any law in regards to the colonies without their consent. • Already displeased at the notion of ‘taxation without representation”, this act served only to increase tensions in the colonies

24. The Townshend Acts - 1767 • Parliament placed import taxes on lead, paint, tea and glass • Revenue from these duties went directly to supporting British troops, royal governors and royal judges. Power of the purse was very much lost to the colonists • A customs commission was created • New York assembly was suspended for failing to comply with the acts • This further angered colonists who again boycotted British goods.

25. The Boston Massacre • Britain placed extra troops in Boston as a result of the protest of the Townshend acts (Sons of Liberty). • March 5, 1770 an unruly crowd threatened a group of British soldiers who opened fire on the crowd • 5 colonists including one African American – Crispus Attucks died. • As a result, Parliament cancelled the Townshend taxes and left only a duty on Tea as a reminder of their authority. Colonists still boycotted British Tea

26. Two Views of the ‘Massacre’ Take 5 minutes to discuss the difference between these two depictions of the Boston Massacre… How do they differ in their portrayal of the colonists?

27. The Real Boston Massacre

28. The Boston Tea Party • 1772 – John Adams and Sam Adams along with James Otis formed the Committee of Correspondence to alert Citizens of the wrongdoings of British Government in a seemingly quiet time. • Committees were formed in most colonies. • 1773 Parliament passed the Tea Act granting the East India company the right to sell tea in America without paying normal tax. • This made their tea much cheaper than the smuggled in tea of American merchants

29. Boston Tea Party • Colonists forced agents of the East India Company to resign which most did. • The tea was still shipped although most of the ships were not allowed to dock in American harbors • December 16, 1773 a group of colonists disguised as Native Americans broke in to one of the ships in Boston Harbor and dumped the tea into the harbor

30. Intolerable Acts - 1774 • Also called the Coercive Acts, these acts were passed to directly punish the colony of Massachusetts. Colonists deemed them “intolerable” • Boston Harbor would be closed until the price of the destroyed tea was paid back. This was called the Port Bill • Canada’s border was extended to below the Ohio river • British General Thomas Gage was named governor of Massachusetts.

31. First Continental Congress • The Committees of Correspondence urged a response to the Intolerable Acts • The result was the formation and meeting of the First Continental Congress which met in Philadelphia in September of 1774 • 56 delegates came from every colony except Georgia • Leading figures included George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. Samuel Adams was the most rebellious of the delegates although there were moderate delegates such as John Dickinson of Pennsylvania and John Jay of New York

32. The First Continental Congress • Several measures were passed by the congress: • Renewed boycott • Call to all the people of the colonies to arm themselves and form militias • Congress also made a direct appeal to the King with grievances and asking for understanding • Congress agreed to not meet again if the crisis was resolved • Kings response: “There is rebellion in New England and blows must decide”.

33. Lexington and Concord • The King had labelled them “rebels” although they called themselves “patriots” • Massachusetts formed a militia and had a stockpile of weapons stored in the town of Concord, about 20 miles from Boston • The British were ordered to seize this stockpile but patriots heard of this and Paul Revere, Dr Samuel Prescott, and William Dawes were sent to ride on Horseback and warn he militia on April 18 1775. • Revere got to Lexington, about 5 miles from Concord around midnight

34. Lexington and Concord • The British arrived at Lexington close to dawn on April 19. • The British ordered the colonists to lay down their weapons which at first they did. Then a shot was fired and the British returned the fire and killed 8 colonists within minutes • As the British marched on to Concord, some 4,000 patriots shot at them from trees and behind stone walls. • What had seemed like an easy British Victory at dawn turned into a costly defeat.

35. The Battle of Lexington and Concord • 70 British Soldiers were killed and 170 wounded before the British found safety in Boston • Battle of Lexington and Concord officially began the Revolutionary war

36. Ideas Behind the Revolution • The American Revolution took place on two levels; • Struggle for power between the American Colonists and Great Britain • Settled on the battlefield • Colonists rethinking of the role of citizens, government, and the relationship between the two. • It was during this time that Americans learned to demand that government respect citizens’ rights

37. The Second Continental Congress • Met in May 1775 in Philadelphia, PA • A month before, troops had fought at the battle of Lexington and Concord • Some important new faces appeared; • Benjamin Franklin of PA; John Hancock of MA • Thomas Jefferson of VA • At first, delegates were deeply divided over what the fighting was about. • Samuel Adams, John Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee favored independence while moderates led by John Dickinson favored compromise

38. Second Continental Congress • 1775 – the Congress, led by Dickinson drafts the “Olive Branch Petition” which urges King George III to halt the fighting in order to attempt some kind of compromise. • Document expressed colonists loyalty and desire for compromise • November 1775 – King Refuses petition and fighting continues

39. Common Sense • “Common Sense” was a 47 page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine which first appeared in Philadelphia in January of 1776 • Written in a simplified manner which made it easier to understand • Position clearly in favor of a separation with Britain • Sold over 100,000 copies in the first few months after its printing, which steered more people towards favoring independence.

40. Declaration of Independence • June, 1776, congress appoints a committee to draft a document explaining the reasons for separation • Members: Thomas Jefferson: VA planter and Lawyer John Adams: Boston Lawyer Roger Sherman: CT Judge Robert Livingston: NY, lawyer and son of wealthy NY family Benjamin Franklin: PA

41. Declaration of Independence • Committee chose Jefferson to draft the document • Jefferson’s ideas based on the Enlightenment, which emphasized science and reason as the key to improving society • Writing influenced by earlier political thinkers, the most notable being John Locke • Declaration itself was divided onto four parts.

42. Declaration of Independence • Four Sections: • Introduction – Jefferson explains the purpose of the declaration • Jefferson explains the political ideas on which the document is based. The belief is that people had “natural rights”, a notion important in the writings of John Locke. • These are rights that people have simply because they are human and not because a government gave these rights to them. Jefferson refers to these as “inalienable rights” that could never be taken away. These rights are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

43. Declaration of Independence 2.Continued: according to Locke, people formed governments to protect their natural rights. If the government failed to act in the best interest of the people, then the people had the right to revolt and replace the government with a new one. 3. In the third section was a long list of “wrongs” the colonists had been delivered by the British King. For example, taxation without representation 4. The fourth and final section was titled “Resolution of Independence by the United States”…..”these United Colonies are… and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.”

44. Declaration of Independence • Document adopted and ratified by the Congress on July 4, 1776 • Document defined the basic principles upon which American government and society would be based. • Citizens would have a voice in their own government.

45. Revolutionary War • Throughout the meetings of the Second Continental Congress and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, there was still fighting as the war had already begun. The Siege of Boston • After Lexington and Concord, the British retreated to Boston and were surrounded by 20,000 patriots • British had about 6,000 troops in Boston. The patriot presence prevented them from being more mobile and crushing the rebellion

46. The Siege of Boston • Keeping the British in Boston was important to the colonial militia. Unfortunately they lacked ammunition and supplies. • In May, Colonial Militia under the command of colonel Ethan Allan crossed Lake Champlain and surprised the British Troops at Fort Ticonderoga, NY. • The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga helped the Patriots gain supplies and ammunition

47. Battle of Bunker Hill • June 1775, Americans occupied two hills north of Boston, Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill • British attacked in their formal formations at Breed’s Hill first. They were repelled by the patriots and came again only to be repelled again • By the third attempt, the Americans had run out of ammunition and the British overtook the hill • The British then easily captured Bunker Hill which was defended in a far more weaker fashion. • Costly to British as they lost 1,100 out of 2,400 men. • Americans only lost 400 troops.

48. British Leave Boston • Gage wanted to leave Boston but Howe advised against it. Gage’s Army remained pinned down in Boston • Gage planned to invade Rhode Island and New York. • Washington arrived from Philadelphia where he had been named commanding general of the patriot forces by the continental congress. • Washington turned the militia groups into the Continental Army.

49. British leave Boston • January 1776 General Henry Knox brings patriot forces and the cannons that had been seized at Fort Ticonderoga. • Washington placed these guns on Dorchester Heights south of Boston. From there the patriots could shell Boston and Boston Harbor forcing the British to retreat to Canada. • They took 1,000 loyalists with them. Loyalists were colonists still loyal to the British throne who felt threatened if they stayed behind.

50. Strengths and Weaknesses British Strengths: • Well Equipped, well trained and organized army. • 50,000 loyalists who fought for British • African Americans fought with British as the British promised slaves if they fought they would be freed. • Native Americans fought for British, mostly Iroquois • British hired “mercenaries” – foreign troops paid to fight for them. Colonists referred to them as Hessians as most of these troops were German.