The Road Towards American Revolution and Independence (1750-1783)

1. The Road Towards American Revolution and Independence (1750-1783)

2. Themes • Background to the French and Indian War • Acts passed by Parliament and colonial responses • Important events and battles of the American Revolution

3. Years of Warfare Outside of Colonies • King William’s War (1689-1697) • Queen Anne’s War (1702-1713) • King George’s War (1744-1748) • French/Indian War (1754-1763) *Involved England fighting both France and Spain

4. European Occupation of North America(1750)

5. France • Jacques Cartier in 1530s explored east coast of Canada • Sailed up the St. Lawrence River to what is now Montreal

6. France(Samuel de Champlain) • Established Quebec in 1608 • French specialized in fur trade • Helped establish alliance with Huron (Native tribe) • Considered by many to be the “Father” of New France

7. French Explorers • Robert Cavelier de La Salle • Explored the entire length of the Mississippi and stopped in New Orleans • Named the region he explored: Louisiana

8. French Explorers • Antoine Cadillac • A soldier/fur trader who expanded trade • Founded Fort Detroit (1701)

9. French Explorers • It was because of men like La Salle and Cadillac that enhanced claims to the interior of North America

10. Selection Population of North America • 1700 - French: 15,000 - English: 250,000 • 1750 - French: 60,000 - English 1,170,000

11. French/Indian War (1754-1763) • French and Indian allies vs. British and Indian allies • Called the Seven Years War by Europeans - Fighting in Europe began in 1756; a peace ended the war in 1763

12. French/Indian War (1754-1763) • French began to expand their borders into the Spanish Empire and colonies of England • 1750- French pressing into Ohio River Valley at the same time the colonies were • 1754- French construct a series of military fortifications along the Appalachian Mts • From Virginia to Great Lakes

13. French/Indian War (1754-1763) • First battle – Fort Duquesne - located near three rivers in modern day Pittsburg - If one could control the rivers, they can control the entire Ohio River Valley • Colonists, French, members of the Iroquois Confederacy, and Indians already living in the area had claims to the land • Area was rich with hunting lands and soil • Colony of Virginia is the 1st to respond

14. French/Indian War (1754-1763) • George Washington, officer from Virginia, was sent to force the French to surrender at Ft. Duquesne • Washington surrendered on July 4, 1754 • With the loss Benjamin Franklin issued the Albany Plan of Union on July 10, 1754 • Plan was to form a centralized government in the colonies to fight back French • The plan was not carried out but important; first attempt to unify colonies • In 1755 the British attacked again under General Braddock; over 2k soldiers (British and colonists) • British forces were defeated and Braddock was killed

15. French/Indian War (1754-1763) • First few years of the war was very harsh for British forces • Fortunes changed for the British as the war continued • French fell at Louisburg in 1758 - gave British control of the Gulf of St. Lawrence - was very difficult for French to send supplies through Canada

16. Battle of Louisburg (1758)

17. French/Indian War (1754-1763) • Quebec fell in 1759 following an attack led by James Wolfe • French victory in North America now seemed impossible • Fighting continued all around the world until 1763 when a peace treaty was signed to end the war

18. French/Indian War (British Victory ) • The French were outnumbered in North America dramatically • Changing alliances with Native Americans also hurt the French • For years Native Americans played Europeans off against one another to their advantage • Despite relative peace among the Natives and due to the fur trade, Native Americans strategically sided with the one who they believed would be victorious

19. French/Indian War(Result) • Treaty of Paris of 1763 -France lost a majority of its overseas empire • Spain gained control of Louisiana • Britain became the dominant power in North America • Native Americans lost ability to played Europeans off against one another • Canada was now under British rule

20. French/Indian War(Result) • Problems resulting from Seven Years War • Treasury dwindles to nothing • England was bankrupt • How do we control a global empire ?

21. English and American Tension • In 1763, Americans were tremendously patriotic and loyal subjects, but tension developed • Britain accumulated a HUGE national debt as a result of the French and Indian War

22. Grenville Plan • In 1763, Lord Grenville becomes new Prime Minister; in charge of solving debt • Proclamation Act of 1763: Prohibited colonial settlement west of Appalachian Mountains - land was reserved for merchants to make money; not colonists Currency Act of 1764: All debts must be paid in gold or silver. Outlaws use of paper money • Revenue Act (Sugar Act) of 1765: Tax on all sugar products (Rum)

23. Proclamation Line of 1763

24. Stamp Act (1765) • All legal documents had to be printed on paper stamped with the seal of the government • Published items, such as newspapers, also had to be printed on “stamped” paper • Violators were not allowed a trial by jury; judges ruled on their innocence or guilt

25. Stamp Act (Reaction) • Boston crowds destroyed watermarked paper to be used as stamps • Parliament responds, people in England already paid a similar tax • Colonists: This was a direct tax, which undermined local Assemblies.

26. Stamp Act(Reaction) • Patrick Henry and others opposed the Stamp Act • Stamp Act Congress(1765): Delegates from nine colonies met in New York *One of the first attempts the colonies made to work together* • Delegates agreed Parliament had no right to issue taxes such as the Stamp Act

27. Stamp Act(Reaction) • Stamp distributers were threatened with violence throughout the colonies; many resigned their commissions • Samuel Adams led Boston’s Sons of Liberty who would attack and use fear tactics against tax collectors

28. Repeal of Stamp Act • Benjamin Franklin arrives in England with the Declaration of Rights (List of Grievances) - England had no idea about protests until Franklin showed up • On the eve of the Stamp Act being passed several colonial merchants threatened to boycott British products, potentially hurting Britain’s economy • Parliament fires Grenville and is replaced by Lord Prime Minister Rockingham

29. Colony and Britain (1765-1767) • Peace has been restored to the colonies • 1767 – PM Rockingham dies and is replaced by William Pitt • William Pitt dies; Prime Minister William Townshend is given the position Minister of Treasury

30. Townshend Duties • After the repeal of the Stamp Act, Britain was still in debt • In 1768 Parliament passed the Townshend Plan - Taxed glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea imported from England to the colonies • Goal: Generate revenue to pay salaries of colonial Governors • This act threatened elected assemblies because colonists previously had control of Governors’ salaries

31. John Hancock • May 9th 1768 (Boston) • British customs official checks the cargo on a boat belonging to John Hancock; richest man in Boston • The boat is carrying crates of imported wine and don’t want to pay taxes • One of the first signs of rebellion in Massachusetts against taxes by a king 3,000 miles away • British seize ship and arrest men; riots begin • “We have a natural resentment towards government which is how we were born. We are born to rebel.” – Aaron Sorkin

32. Townshend Duties: Repealed • Boycotts of British goods were reinstated; Parliament later repealed duties on most items • Taxes on tea remained; smuggling tea became widespread • 4,000 British troops were sent to Boston to restore law and order • 1 redcoat for every 4 citizens • Boston under military rule

33. English and American Tension (Boston Massacre) • Boston’s residents hated British soldiers • In March 1770 a crowd of angry Boston citizens marched on a British tax office • An angry mob vs 8 redcoats (with orders not to fire) • Someone in the crowd threw a snowball which was actually a brick or stone • After a British officer was hit shots were fired which resulted in the Boston Massacre • Result: 11 colonists wounded; 5 dead

34. The Bloody Massacre by Paul Revere

35. Tensions Continues • Tensions remained high following Boston Massacre • The colonists that died were now seen as martyrs (people who died for a “cause”) • Committees of Correspondence were formed - Information was exchanged and opposition to British policies was coordinated - All colonies participated by 1774 except Pennsylvania

36. Tensions Continues • In order to show England that the colonies had a stable government, the soldiers who fired upon the colonists were to be tried in a colonial court • During the trial the colonists split into Radicals and Moderates • Radicals – wanted independence from England (Samuel Adams) • Moderates – wanted diplomacy (Ben Franklin) • John Adams wins the case; Soldiers innocent

37. English and American Tension (Boston Tea Party) • Parliament passed the Tea Act (1773): - Established tax on tea to raise revenue - Bailed out East India Company - Gave EIC a monopoly on Tea • Son’s of Liberty responded with Boston Tea Party

38. Tensions Continues • Direct response to the Boston Tea Party • Intolerable Acts: • Boston Port Act - Closed port in 1774 and made Massachusetts less democratic • Quartering Act – soldiers have the right to stay in your house • Quebec Act – Allows French in Canada to govern themselves as long as they remain loyal to England

39. Colonists Response • Colonial Response: 1st Continental Congress(1774) All colonies sent representatives except Georgia • Delegates agreed to stop sending goods to Britain and boycott all British products

40. Colonial Resistance(Women) • Women were involved in anti-government protests • Daughters of Liberty supported boycotts • Tried to end dependence on imported cloth

41. The War Begins • Battle of Lexington and Concord 1775 • Goal: Seize colonial military supplies • Paul Revere and William Dawes warned of an attack • Lexington: Eight minutemen died • British moved on to Concord • Concord: About 300 British casualties • British now forced to retreat back to Boston

42. Colonial Ties • Hostilities had begun, but many still found it hard to break with the home country of England • 1/3 – Patriots • 1/3 – Neutral • 1/3 – Loyalists

43. Common Sense • Thomas Paine • Arrived in the colonies two years prior to the American Revolution • Influenced the public to rebel against the king • “Common Sense” - All monarchies are corrupt and evil - Americans should establish a Republic where power came from the people It was simple “common sense” that Americans should break with England

44. The Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775 • Out of the Boston Harbor, British troops attack Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) to engage the Continental forces • The British drove the Americans from the Hill but with heavy losses • While the Americans lost, it was seen as a battle cry for the rest of the colonies to join the cause

45. Declaring Independence • 2nd Continental Congress – considered a proposal calling for independence • Thomas Jefferson was the primary author • July 4th, 1776 Congress approved the Declaration of Independence • The Articles of Confederation would request the colonies to levy taxes in order to pay for necessities (Ex. Continental Army) • American Revolution had “officially” begun - 13 Colonies vs. British

46. Signers of the Declaration of Independence • Known Masons (8): Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, Robert Treat Payne, Richard Stockton, George Walton, William Whipple • Evidence of Membership/Affiliations (7): Elbridge Berry, Lyman Hall, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson Jr., John Penn, George Read, Roger Sherman • Summary: 15 of 56 signers were Freemasons or probable Freemasons

47. The British • King George III • British Army outnumbered colonists by ration of about 3 to 1 • Strong navy and professional army • Hired mercenaries • Loyalists: Colonists opposed to Independence - Strongest in New York and New Jersey

48. The Americans • George Washington – leader of the Continental Army • Benjamin Franklin – overseas fighting for foreign aid • Colonists fought for an noble cause: Independence • Colonists were plagued by disunity, economic difficulties, and supplies • Positive: Fought a defensive war, unpopular among some in England

49. American Revolution(The War in the North, 1775-1778) • Americans were forced to retreat from New York - about ¼ of his men were captured or killed

50. Washington at Valley Forge (1777-78) • After spending the summer fighting the British and gaining victories (Battle of Brandywine & Battle of Germantown) the British still took Philadelphia • Washington would camp at Valley Forge to keep an eye on General Howe’s army in Philadelphia • Washington and his men suffered from inadequate food, supplies, firewood, and shelter during the winter