Tension Between England and the Colonies

Tension Between England and the Colonies Essential Question: What caused the relationship between Britain and the colonies to deteriorate?

British government • Limited monarchy • King George III • Parliament • Law-making body • Similar to U.S. Congress

Law-making body • Similar to U.S. Congress Early acts of Parliament • Proclamation of 1763 • Prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains • Purpose = reserve land for Native Americans

Early acts of Parliament • Purpose = reserve land for Native Americans • Quartering Act (1765) • Required colonists to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers

Early acts of Parliament • Required colonists to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers • Stamp Act (1765) • Motivated by England’s war debt Prime Minister George Grenville

Early acts of Parliament • Motivated by England’s war debt • Required colonists to pay a tax on most paper including newsprint and legal documents • Rallying cry against it: “No taxation without representation!”

Rallying cry against it: “No taxation without representation!” Colonists’ reactions • Boycott • A refusal to buy or participate • American colonists organized boycotts on British goods • Forced Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act

Colonists’ reactions • American colonists organized boycotts on British goods • Forced Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act • Petition • A formal request made to the government • Colonists petitioned the government to try to get acts of Parliament repealed

Colonists’ reactions • A formal request made to the government • Colonists petitioned the government to try to get acts of Parliament repealed • Sons of Liberty • Secret societies • Samuel Adams • One of the leaders

Colonists’ reactions • Samuel Adams • One of the leaders • Boston Massacre (1770) • Clash between British soldiers and colonists • 5 colonists were killed

Colonists’ reactions • Clash between British soldiers and colonists • 5 colonists were killed • Crispus Attucks • Former slave • Considered the 1st martyr of the Revolution

Colonists’ reactions • Considered the 1st martyr of the Revolution • Paul Revere’s exaggerated engraving

Colonists’ reactions • Paul Revere’s exaggerated engraving • Fueled pro-revolutionary feelings • Example of propaganda • Definition: the organized spreading of ideas to influence public opinion

Colonists’ reactions • Definition: the organized spreading of ideas to influence public opinion • Soldiers were put on trial for murder • John Adams served as their attorney • All found not guilty except two who were given light sentences

John Adams served as their attorney • All found not guilty except two who were given light sentences Clash over tea • Tea Act (1773) • Gave Britain complete control over American tea trade • Placed a small tax on tea

Clash over tea • Placed a small tax on tea • Boston Tea Party • Done to protest the Tea Act (1773) • Colonists destroyed over 300 chests of British tea in Boston Harbor

Clash over tea • Colonists destroyed over 300 chests of British tea in Boston Harbor • Intolerable Acts • Parliament’s reaction to the Boston Tea Party • Severely restricted the rights of all colonists in Massachusetts • United the colonies against the British

Clash over tea • Severely restricted the rights of all colonists in Massachusetts • United the colonies against the British • First Continental Congress • Meeting of delegates (representatives) from all the colonies (except Georgia) in Philadelphia

Clash over tea • Meeting of delegates (representatives) from all the colonies (except Georgia) in Philadelphia • Agreed to: • Petition the King

Clash over tea • Agreed to: • Petition the King • Boycott all British goods until the Intolerable Acts were repealed

Clash over tea • Boycott all British goods until the Intolerable Acts were repealed • Begin training soldiers • Minutemen • Term for the colonial militia • Non-professional army made up of ordinary citizens • Name referred to the idea that they were ready to fight at a minute’s notice

Parliament passes the Intolerable Acts Colonists hold the First Continental Congress Colonists stage the Boston Tea Party Parliament passes the Tea Act

Name referred to the idea that they were ready to fight at a minute’s notice Lexington and Concord (April 1775) • British troops from Boston marched toward Concord to seize colonial military supplies and capture leaders • Minutemen were warned by riders like Paul Revere Gage

Lexington and Concord (April 1775) • Minutemen were warned by riders like Paul Revere • Lexington • Small battle on Lexington Green • 1st battle of the Revolutionary War

Lexington and Concord (April 1775) • 1stbattle of the Revolutionary War • “Shot heard ‘round the world” • Small force of Minutemen • Easily won by the British

Lexington and Concord (April 1775) • Small force of Minutemen • Easily won by the British • Concord • Important victory for Minutemen at Concord Bridge

Lexington and Concord (April 1775) • Important victory for Minutemen at Concord Bridge • British soldiers struggled to return the 20 miles to Boston • Harassed by Minutemen all along the road

Harassed by Minutemen all along the road Choosing sides • Patriots • Colonists who supported independence

? Choosing sides • Colonists who supported independence • Loyalists • Colonists who remained loyal to Britain • Also called Tories • Many colonists remained neutral Shelburne, Nova Scotia

Tension Between England and the Colonies