Causes of the American Revolution

Causes of the American Revolution September 5, 2012

Remember… • Georgia was now a royal colony, subject to the rule of the King of England (Great Britain) • George II had passed away, so his son, George III, was now king. • Anti-British sentiment was growing among some people in Georgia and the rest of the British colonies

The French and Indian War • The war started as a result of disputes that had been brewing between the French and British for over 50 years • The 2 main causes of the war were greed for the most land in the New World and the fear that one country would gain more power than the other • Both had alliances with many Native American tribes in North America

The tension between the two countries increased when both claimed the Ohio River Valley In 1753, a young George Washington was sent to warn the French to stop building forts there When those demands were ignored, Washington went again with troops Beginnings of the French and Indian War

The Siege of Fort Duquesne • Washington went to Fort Duquesne, a French fort near present-day Pittsburgh • He built his own fort called Fort Necessity • Washington’s men attacked Fort Duquesne and the French surrendered • Later, the French attacked Fort Necessity • Washington was out-numbered and had to surrender • The war had begun, and spread to Europe, where it was known as the Seven Years’ War

The War in America • The British suffered several big losses in the colonies and in Europe • However, in 1757, the British were able to capture the French cities of Quebec and Montreal (in present-day Canada) • Washington attacked Fort Duquesne again in 1758, and won • The Ohio River Valley came under total British control

The Treaty of Paris of 1763 • The Treaty of Paris of 1763 officially ended the French and Indian War • As a result of the treaty, Georgia’s boundary was extended west to the Mississippi River • The British gained control of Canada (previously French) • All lands east of the Mississippi River were opened to settlement • Florida became a British colony

The Proclamation of 1763 • Even though the Treaty of Paris of 1763 opened up all lands east of the Mississippi River for colonization, King George III issued the Proclamation of 1763 • It stated that colonists could not move any farther west than the Appalachian Mountains • It also moved Georgia’s southern border to the St. Mary’s River • Many colonists began moving to Georgia because of the larger area • However, others in the colonies were not happy with the ban on open land past the Appalachians

Taxation by the British • As a result of the French and Indian War, the British were left with a huge war debt • They decided to tax the American colonists to cover those expenses

Stamp Act • In 1765, the British passed the Stamp Act • This placed a tax on newspapers, legal documents, and licenses • The colonists were not happy with this • A Congress met in Boston to speak against the Stamp Act • Colonists in Georgia also came to together to speak against the Act • It was repealed a year later

Intolerable Acts • To punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party • Among other things, the Acts closed the Port of Boston, which affected Massachusetts’ economy • They were aimed at Massachusetts, but affected all colonies • In 1774, a Continental Congress was organized to protest the Acts • The Congress agreed to boycott Great Britain and stop all trade with them

Anti-British Sentiment in Georgia • Georgia did not send a representative to the Continental Congress because the colony was still dependent on Britain for money • However, in 1774, a group of Georgians met to discuss their reaction to the Intolerable Acts • They decided to send a letter to Britain to demand the same rights as people living in Britain (after all, they still considered themselves British) • In 1775, a group met in Savannah to discuss unhappiness with Britain, but not much got done

The American Revolution Begins • In 1775, British soldiers tried to capture Colonial Generals and seize gunpowder from the colonists • The Colonists were warned, however, by the famous ride of Paul Revere • As the British soldiers arrived in Lexington, Massachusetts, they were met by colonial militias • A shot was fired, “the shot heard ‘round the world”, and the Revolutionary War had started

Loyalists and Patriots • During the Revolution, there were 2 groups of people in the colonies • Loyalists (Tories, British Royalists, or King’s Friends) were loyal to King George III and Britain • Patriots (Whigs, Liberty Boys, Colonials) were those who were ready to cut ties with the King and Britain

Declaration of Independence • Shortly after the war started, a group called the Second Continental Congress met and wrote the Declaration of Independence • It was approved on July 4, 1776 • It was mainly written by Thomas Jefferson, and divided into 3 parts • It meant that the colonies were now one nation, separate from the rule of Great Britain

The 3 Parts of the Declaration • Part One: The Preamble (Introduction) • Stated how the colonists felt about democracy • Part Two: Grievances (Complaints) • 27 complaints against King George III and his government that led to the fight for independence • Part Three: Conclusion • Declared the colonies to be an independent nation for now and the future

Reaction in Georgia • When the Declaration of Independence was read in Georgia, many were excited • Many who were still loyal to King George III decided to return to Britain • Georgians began to prepare for war by sending food and ammunition to the Continental Army

1) What are the 2 main causes of the French and Indian War? 2) What area was disputed during the French and Indian War? 3) What was the name given to the war in Europe? 4) Which 2 cities did the British capture that signaled the end of the war? 5) What did the Treaty of Paris of 1763 do to Georgia’s boundary? 6) How did the British decide to deal with their war debt? 7) What was taxed under the Stamp Act? 8) Why were the Intolerable Acts passed? 9) What did Georgians decide to do in response to the Intolerable Acts? 10) Where was the “shot heard ‘round the world” fired? 11) What is the difference between a Loyalist and a Patriot? 12) Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? 13) Describe the 3 parts of the Declaration of Independence. 14) How did Georgians react to the Declaration of Independence? Questions:

Causes of the American Revolution