American Revolution

1. American Revolution

2. The Albany Plan of Union • Colonists from seven colonies met in Albany, New York • Benjamin Franklin, using the Iroquois League as an example, urged the joining of the 13 colonies… “Join or Die” • The idea failed, but served as a model for later government in the United States

3. Strained Relations • Britain felt that the colonies had not paid their fair share of the costly French and Indian War • Britain began taxing colonies to make money • Colonists grew angry. They were used to SALUTARY NEGLECT: Britain not interfering in their political and economic activities • Britain left soldiers in the colonies after the war

4. Causes of the Revolution • Proclamation of 1763 • King declared land west of Appalachians closed to expansion • Colonists were angry because they sought to move into lands recently won from France

5. New Taxes • George Grenville became Prime Minister: Establishes the “Grenville Acts” • Wanted to enforce taxes already in place • Planned to develop new taxes

6. Sugar Act – Cut tax on foreign molasses • Designed to discourage smuggling • Ships were confiscated if duties not paid • Smuggling cases were to be tried by judge (not jury) in British court

7. Quartering Act – Colonists had to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers who remained in the colonies

8. Stamp Act – Placed a tax on newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents and most printed materials • Required a government stamp to prove tax had been paid • First time Britain had taxed the colonists solely to raise money

9. Stamp Act Congress • Seven colonies met to discuss Stamp Act • James Otis (Mass.) claimed that Britain had no right to tax the colonies, because the colonies did not have a voice in British Parliament: • “NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION”

10. Sons of Liberty • Organized a BOYCOTT of British goods = NONIMPORTATION • Offered violence to those who refused to comply • Tarred and feathered tax collectors

11. More Taxes: The Townshend Acts • A tax on goods rather than a direct tax • Glass • Lead • Paper • Paint • Tea • Colonial protests • Britain was taxing them without their consent… AGAIN! • Britain was using the money to keep soldiers in the colonies • Colonists react!

12. Boston Massacre • A group of colonists picked a fight with British troops in Boston • The troops fired into the crowd killing five colonists, including Crispus Attucks • Committee of Correspondence formed to coordinate resistance

13. Boston Tea Party • Colonists angry at new Tea Act • Britain allowed East India Tea Co. to sell tea without paying tax • Cheap tea drove colonial tea merchants out of business • Colonists sneaked aboard 3 ships and dumped all the tea into Boston Harbor

14. Intolerable Acts • Britain punished the colonies • Passed the “Intolerable Acts” (Coercive Acts) • Boston Harbor closed until tea is paid for • Governor (General Thomas Gage) appointed to Massachusetts • Quartering Acts increased to include housing troops in private homes

15. 1st Continental Congress • 55 delegates met in Philadelphia (from all colonies except Georgia) • Renewed boycott of British goods • Called to colonists to arm themselves and form MILITIAS

16. Lexington & Concord: Revolution begins • Colonial “rebels” called themselves Patriots • British troops ordered to march on Concord, Massachusetts to take weapons supply • “Redcoats” met at Lexington by “Minutemen” (colonial militia) • “Shot Heard Around The World”

17. Ideas behind the American Revolution • Thomas Payne • Wrote pamphlet called “Common Sense” in 1776 • Supported a complete break with Britain • Olive Branch Petition • Stated colonists loyalty and desire for peace • King George III refused to read it

18. Declaration of Independence • Five Authors: Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston • Penned by Virginia lawyer Thomas Jefferson • Natural Rights • Based on the writings of John Locke • “Inalienable Rights” (Cannot be taken away) • Life • Liberty • Happiness (Changed from property) • Abigail Adams • “Remember the Ladies” • If you do not, women will not be obligated to follow the new laws

19. Battles of the Revolution • Battle of Bunker Hill • First Battle • 2,400 Redcoats v. 1600 Patriots • British Casualties = 1,100… Patriot Casualties = 400 • Actually fought on Breed’s Hill • Britain won but at great cost

20. Elsewhere… • George Washington placed in command. He transformed the different militias into the Continental Army • Loyalists (Tories), colonists whose loyalty remained with Britain, left Boston with the British • The British formed a naval blockade of the Atlantic coast to prevent colonists from receiving supplies

21. Battle of Trenton • Sept. 1776, 30,000 British and Hessians crushed Colonial Army in NJ and NY • Dec. 26, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night • Surprise attacked the British and Hessian troops • Killed or captured 1,000 German Hessians • Zero American casualties • Key early American victory

22. Battle of Princeton • Early 1777 • Washington defeats British Gen. Charles Cornwallis • Washington loses Philadelphia after the battle of Brandywine Creek

23. Battle of Monmouth • June 1778 • German volunteer FreidrichVon Steuben trains the colonial army • American victory after big improvements. • Pursues the British after evacuation of Philadelphia.

24. Hessians • German mercenaries hired by King George III • Colonists angry because they felt this was a “family fight”

25. Battle of Saratoga • TURNING POINT OF THE WAR!!!!! • Horatio Gates led Patriots against General John Burgoyne • Victory for colonists • France openly aided the colonists once it appears they could win

26. Assistance from abroad • Marquis de Lafayette • French General who aided the Continental Army • Planned the Battle of Yorktown • Friedrich von Steuben • German General • Helped train the Continental Army: Made soldiers of farmers