Independence Day

1. Independence Day What you should know about your country

2. Townshend Acts of 1768 • Brought British military personnel to the colonies to enforce laws that would increase revenue to pay governors and judges in the colonies.

3. Influential speaker of the Revolution who spoke out against writs of assistance to British troops. 1769: Otis receives a club to the head at a pub by a British tax collector. His skull was repaired by a metal plate. James Otis After a while, however, Otis’ speeches stopped making so much sense…

4. March 5, 1770: The Boston Massacre • A heavy British military presence led to incitement of brawls and muskets discharging. • Three men died instantly: Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, and Crispus Attucks. Samuel Maverick died hours later and Patrick Carr died weeks later.

5. Captain Preston and the soldiers were arrested, but no one would represent them in court until Cpt. Preston desperately pleaded with John Adams, a lawyer and politician, to defend them. Adams felt that in order for them to receive a fair trial, he would represent them. Preston was dismissed because since he was standing in front of his men when shots were fired, it was decided he would not have asked them to do so. The others’ cases were reduced to manslaughter. Patrick Carr corroborated from his deathbed that the soldiers felt threatened.

6. Boston Tea Party: December 16, 1773

7. By 1774, each of the thirteen colonies established and supported individual state government. Great Britain then sent troops to impose direct rule.This led to military preparation on both sides.

8. April 18, 1775 A British general sent men to raid colonist arms, which prompted Paul Revere and others to alert the colonists that the British were coming. “One if by land, two if by sea.”

9. Declaration ofIndependence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by Congress July 4, 1776

10. The Revolutionary War was led by General Washington with secret aid from France for the first two years.

11. 1781: British surrender at Yorktown

12. 1783: The anti-climactic end of James Otis metal plate + + =

13. The First Presidents The Second president, John Adams, was much concerned with how posterity would perceive his role in American history. April 30, 1789: Washington becomes president after influencing politicians to not make him the king. Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams who was trying to win a second term. This put a strain on their friendship.

14. Adams and Jefferson’s friendship mended over a period of time after the death of Adams’ beloved wife, Abigail. The two exchanged many letters between Massachusetts and Virginia. These letters are important facets of American history. Adams was in Philadelphia with his son, the President John Quincy Adams, to see the 50th anniversary painting of the Declaration of Independence. However, the painting enraged the ninety-year-old man.

15. July 4, 1826 One the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams’ reported last words were, “Thomas Jefferson survives.” Unknown to him, Jefferson had died only hours earlier on the same day.

16. "Oh posterity, you will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom. I hope that you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it." - John Adams