Towards Revolution!!!

1. Towards Revolution!!! EQ: When is it necessary for citizens to rebel against their government? What events caused tensions between the colonists and the British?

2. French and Indian War • 1755-1763 • French and Native Americans fought Britain/colonists • Fighting over control of Ohio Valley and Canada • Britain won and the colonists were glad to be part of such a strong empire

3. King George III • Takes control of England in 1760 • Character flaws: not smart, proud, and stubborn • Determined to be a strong ruler and started putting in place laws that made the colonists angry

4. Proclamation of 1763 • Question after the French and Indian War was how to keep colonists and Native Americans from fighting • King George III told colonists to stay east of Appalachian Mountains and Native Americans to stay to the west • Colonists were angry because it did not give them the chance to expand their land and they moved anyway! • British government then had to increase army in Colonies

5. Stamp Act • 1765 • After the French and Indian war there was a HUGE debt… • In order to raise money, British government decided to tax the colonists on every piece of paper they used. • Colonists became angry because they did not have votes in Parliament and were unable to have a say in the matter  • “No taxation without representation!!!”

6. Quartering Act • 1765 • Colonists were required to keep British soldiers in their homes! • Increased tensions b/c the average Colonial person had to feed and provide necessities to the soldiers with their own money!

7. Townshend Acts • 1767 • Placed a tax on important goods that were bought from Britain • Glass, paint, paper & tea • Colonists started to boycott taxed goods since they still had no representation in British Parliament • All taxes except tea tax were repealed in 1770

8. Boston Massacre • 1770 • Bostonians antagonized the British soldiers by throwing rocks and snowballs • British soldiers were surrounded and panicked, shooting into the crowd • 5 people (Bostonians) died

9. Boston Tea Party • 1773 • New tea act lowered tea price of British tea to try and convince the colonists to buy it. • Colonists were not fooled! • 50 men dressed as Native Americans boarded ships and dumped 90,000 pounds of tea into the ocean 

10. Intolerable Acts • 1774 • British government outraged by the Boston Tea Party • Created a new set of laws that were very harsh: • Boston Harbor closed until all tea was paid for • Massachusetts no longer allowed to govern themselves • More British troops sent to enforce laws

11. Colonies Unite • Many colonists in other areas outraged by the treatment that Massachusetts was getting from King George III… • Colonists sent food and money to Boston • Virginia called for a meeting of delegates from all colonies to try to find a solution to the problems with Great Britain

12. First Continental Congress • 1774 • 50 leaders from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia • Some delegates began to think of themselves as American while others were still loyal to their own colony and England/King George III • Some were unsure but knew they were unhappy with the tyranny of the King • Decided to send a respectful message to the King and asked him to respect rights of colonists