Revolutionary War Research

1. Revolutionary War Research by Cheryl Zhang and Sarah Jeffries

2. Europe’s view of the colonies • Europeans viewed colonies as their property • They existed in order to serve their home nation • The colonies produced crops, and goods • A place where goods could be sold • Control by governors, appointed by crown • Appointed all judges, and all other officials

3. Colonies view of Europe • Many of the inhabits of the colonies had came to the Americans to escape persecution for religious or extreme political views • As a result, there was a higher concentration of radical thinkers in the Americas than in Europe • Many of the colonists have never visited Europe • Considered themselves Americans, Not Europeans • Their loyalty was to their colony, not to their distant mother country • They were tired of restrictions placed on the by England • Restrictions favored England, and made life difficult for the colonies • Some restrictions didn’t allow trade with other nations

4. Stamp act • British tax on American colonists • Passed March 22nd, 1765 • Instituted on November 1st , 1765 • Every newspaper had to have a stamp • The stamp cost money • One of the most unpopular taxes passed by the British government • Britain made a lot of money from the stamps • It was also the first real step in colonists drive toward independence • After the French and Indian war British government had many debts • The war was expensive • Britain suddenly inherited Canada • Tax collectors weren’t popular in America • Many colonies had a legislator that was made of elected officials • They made recommendations to the governor • Colonists formed the Stamp Act Congress, which met in New York to discuss how to respond to the tax • Those people were made up of 27 delegates, from 9 colonies • They wrote the declaration of rights and grievances • In the declaration, they claimed that the colonists had the same rights as people living in Britain • They also claimed that the colonists had the right to speak out against unfair taxes and they had the right to representation in the government • Repealed act on March 17th, 1766 • Stamp act congress gave model for continental congress

5. Tea act • Colonists couldn’t buy tea unless it came from the British east India company • Britain wanted to give it more business • Led to Boston tea party • Colonists thought it was extremely unfair • Britain lowered the price of the tea, so it was way below the price of other tea • The tax was passed in 1773 • Britain allowed east India to sell tea without the usual tax • Many colonists earned a living by smuggling , so the plan back fired • The sons of liberty got so angry that they planned the Boston tea party boycott • This act united the colonies

6. Boston tea party • December 16th, 1773 • Ships arrived in Boston harbor on November 29, 1773 carrying tea • Sons of liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians • Paul Revere , Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Samuel Adams • Because they were disguised, they could claim they were innocent • Went aboard three British full of tea in the Boston Harbor • The Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver • Dumped 342 crates full of tea overboard • The ships weren’t being unloaded because the angry colonists of Boston threatened not to buy or use the tea • Other tea companies weren’t happy about the tea act either • The British government was very angry • Led to the intolerable acts, one closed the port of Boston entirely • Similar events occurred in MD, NY, and NJ in the next few months • Symbolic act • Example of how far Americans are willing to go to speak out for their freedom

7. Intolerable Acts • In 1774, Parliament passed a series of laws in response to the Boston Tea Party • Also known as the Coercive Acts or the Punitive Acts • The Intolerable Acts included • The Quartering Act • The Quebec Act • The Massachusetts Government Act • The Currency Act • The Administration of Justice Act • The Boston Port Act

8. Boston Massacre • In 1766, Parliament passed a decree that reaffirmed their right to pass laws regarding the colonies • In 1767, they put a taxes on glass, lead, paper, and tea • In order to enforce the laws, British Officials requested military troops to aid them • On Monday, March 5, 1770, a small group of colonists were taking out their frustration by taunting and throwing snowballs at soldiers • Earlier that night, a boy named Edward Gerrish accosted an officer in King street for a payment due his master • When it became vocal, British Sentry, Private White, left his post outside the customs house to club the boy • Gerrish soon returned with a group of boys who pelted White with snowballs, ice, and trash • The commotion brought the Officer of the day, Captain Thomas Preston, who came to soldier’s aid with a corporal and 8 other soldiers • The mob grew in size and continued throwing things at the British Soldiers • Captain Preston ‘s order of ‘Don’t Fire’ was misinterpreted • The soldiers opened fire, killing 5 people including Crispus Attucks, an African American • 6 more people were injured • 6 soldiers were proven innocent • 2 were found guilty and were punished • The news spread quickly • After the funerals of the 5 men, Bostonians gathered at the Old South Church to demand that the British troops be removed from the city • The event was celebrated as Massacre Day until 1783, when it was switched to the 4th of July • Great Britain was forced to repeal the taxes • Parliament left a tax on tea to show they were still in charge