American Revolution and Key Figures: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin

1. #27 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 French & Indian War a war fought between the French and the English on American soil over the control of the Ohio River Valley. France was very determined to take complete control of the Ohio Valley and Western Pennsylvania. The French and Indian War established England as the number one world power and began to gradually change attitudes of the colonists toward England for the worst.

2. #28 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Proclamation of 1763 an English law enacted after gaining territory from the French at the end of the French and Indian War. It forbade the colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian Mountains

3. #29 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 King George III King George the third was the king of England in the 1770's.Though he was a good man he was not a good ruler.

4. #30 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Loyalists & Patriots Loyalists: Colonials loyal to the king during the American Revolution. Patriots: Colonials that wanted to be free of British rule.

5. #31 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Sugar Act 1764: Parliament reduced the tax on imported sugar in half, to curb the smuggling of sugar and molasses in the colonies. They also took steps to enforce it more strictly. Samuel Adams organized protests against the Sugar Act. It was repealed in 1766.

6. American Revolution 1763 - 1783 #32 Stamp Act 1765: Parliament passed a law requiring the colonists to pay for a stamp to go on newspapers and legal and commercial documents. The colonists objected to this direct tax and in protest petitioned the king, formed the Stamp Act Congress, and boycotted English imports. In 1766 Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, a major victory for colonists.

7. #33 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Quartering Act forced colonists to pay taxes to house and feed British soldiers. Stirred up even more resentment for the British. The Legislature of New York was suspended in 1767 for failing to comply with the Quartering Act.

8. #34 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Townshend Acts • The Townshend Acts (1767 and 1768) All imports of glass, lead, paint, and tea were to be taxed, new customs officials were to be sent to the colonies to collect, and courts of admiralty were created to prosecute violators and smugglers. They were met with widespread protest in the colonies, especially among merchants in Boston who questioned the British Parliament’s right to tax the colonies.

9. #35 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Boston Massacre/ Crispus Attucks In 1770, a protest against British rule and taxes in Boston, MA leads to a mob in the street. The mob hurled snowballs and rocks at the British troops stationed there. The British soldiers fired their guns, killing 5 civilians - including Crispus Attucks, a free black man. Later, John Adams successfully defended the British troops in court. The events shows the rising tensions in the area.

10. #36 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Boston Tea Party After the Stamp Act, Parliament passed the Tea Act which lowered the price of tea, but said that colonists had to purchase tea from Britain. This upset local merchants who were trying to sell tea. Led by the Sons of Liberty on December 16, 1773, colonists dressed like Native Americans dumped 342 cases of British tea into Boston Harbor.

11. #37 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Intolerable Acts To punish Boston for the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed laws, known as the Intolerable Acts, which restricted colonists' rights. The laws made restrictions on town meetings, and stated that enforcing officials who killed colonists in the line of duty would be sent to Britain for trial. Boston Harbor was closed to trade until the owners of the tea were compensated. Only food and firewood were permitted into the port.

12. #38 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 First Continental Congress The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies. It met from September 5 to October 26, 1774 at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia after the British Navy instituted a blockade of Boston Harbor and Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts. They agreed to impose an economic boycott on British trade, and they drew up a petition to the King pleading for redress of their grievances and repeal of the Intolerable Acts.

13. #39 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Benjamin Franklin Statesman, writer; scientist. He was stationed in France which helped America's alliance with France in the Revolution. Persuaded the British to repeal the Stamp Act which eased tensions and delayed the Revolution

14. #40 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Thomas Jefferson Chief drafter of the Declaration of Independence. (more later)

15. #41 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 John Adams Served as a delegate from Massachusetts to the 1st & 2nd Continental Congress between 1774 and 1777. Defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre (he believed they should receive a fair trial). Helped draft the Declaration of Independence.

16. #42 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Patrick Henry A Founding Father who helped the movement to Independence in Virginia during the 1770s. He led oppositions to many of the oppressive Acts. Known for "Give me Liberty or give me Death!"

17. #43 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Samuel Adams an American patriot who organized the Sons of Liberty and was also responsible for coordinating the Boston Tea Party. He organized opposition to the British crown to create a unified front to defend against British tyranny.

18. #44 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 George Washington Virginian who was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and President of the Constitutional Convention. Later became the first President. Founding Father.

19. #45 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Battles of Lexington and Concord These battles started the Revolutionary War between the American colonists and the British. British governor Thomas Gage sent troops to Concord to stop the colonists who were storing weapons. The next day, on April 19, 1775, the first shots were fired in Lexington, starting the war. The battles resulted in a British retreat to Boston.

20. #46 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 2nd Continental Congress Representatives from each of the colonies met in Philadelphia to start an official government and to build an army and a navy. They chose George Washington as Commander-in-Chief. They issued the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

21. American Revolution 1763 - 1783 #47 Parliament and Virtual Representation An idea stating that every member of Parliament represented every British citizen, even the colonists. Colonials wanted direct representation in the British parliament.

22. #48 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Salutary Neglect: England did not strictly enforce Parliamentary laws, which allowed the colonies to flourish as almost independent states for many years.

23. #49 American Revolution 1763 - 1783 Civil Disobedience/Revolutionary Era refusing to obey laws a citizen believes to be unjust - WITHOUT VIOLENCE. Example: Boston Tea Party

24. American Revolution 1763 - 1783 #50 Declaration of Independence A formal document where the Continental Congress detailed the reasons for breaking political bonds with Great Britain. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and was greatly influenced by John Locke. In the declaration, Jefferson details the natural rights of all humans (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), the ways in which King George violated those rights (grievances), and a formal proclamation of America’s independence.