The American Revolution: 1763-1783 Timeline

1. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION:1763-1783

2. Structure of Colonial Society • 1760s an optimistic post-war period • 60% of population under 21 years old • high level of post-war prosperity • wealth unevenly distributed

3. Breakdown of Political Trust • 1760--George III ascended throne at age 22. • Suspicions on both sides of the Atlantic that Crown wished to enlarge its powers • Conflict over Parliamentary sovereignty • English officials assumed that Parliament must have ultimate authority • colonists tried to reserve internal colonial authority for their own legislatures

4. No Taxation Without Representation: the American Perspective • Colonists assume their legislatures equal in some ways to Parliament • Americans not represented at all in Parliament • Colonists insist only colonial assemblies could tax Americans

5. Eroding the Bonds of Empire • Large, expensive army left in America at the end of the French and Indian War. • Colonists doubted the army’s value • Pontiac’s War • exposed the British army’s weakness • revealed the desperate situation of Native Americans after withdrawal of French • Colonists determined to settle West of Appalachian Mts.

6. Bell Ringer 9/16 The Proclamation of 1763 was intended to 1)Allow American farmers to use the Mississippi river 2)Outlaw slavery in the Ohio river valley 3)Prevent France from expanding in the Great Lakes region 4)Avoid conflicts with Native American Indians west of the Appalachian Mountains

7. Paying off the National Debt • Revenue Act of 1764 (the Sugar Act) • 1765--Stamp Act requires that colonists purchase stamp to validate documents • Merchants and gentry protest, most colonists ignore. Protest includes mob riots, boycotts

8. Failed Attempts to Save the Empire • Declaratory Act of 1766 • Parliament sovereign over America "in all cases whatsoever" • 1767—Townshend Act Duties tax American imports of paper, lead, glass, and tea

9. Fueling the Crisis: Response to the Townshend Duties • Sons of Liberty organize boycott of English goods • Circular letter from Massachusetts House of Representatives urges protest

10. Fatal Signs of Force • English government moves troops from frontier to Boston to save money • Tensions increased (Quartering Act 1765) • March 5, 1770--English soldiers fired on Boston mob, killed five Americans • incident labeled the “Boston Massacre” • Paul Revere engraving a best-seller

12. The Final Provocation: The Boston Tea Party • 1773--Parliament passes Tea Act • designed to help the East India Company by making its sale cheaper in America • Americans interpret as a subtle ploy to get them to consume taxed tea • December 1773--Boston protestors dump the tea into the harbor (Boston Tea Party)

13. Bell Ringer 9/17 What was the main cause of the French and Indian war? Disputed land claims in the Ohio river valley between French and the British. Conflicts between American colonists and the French over control of the Great Plains. Taxation of American colonists without representation in Parliament Violation of trade agreements between European nations and Native Americans

14. Bell Ringer 9/18 Which economic policy was based on the idea that the American colonies existed primarily to supply resources (1) mercantilism (2) socialism (3) free trade (4) laissez-faire capitalism

15. The Final Provocation: The Coercive Acts • Port of Boston closed until tea paid for • Accused officials to be tried in England, not America • Army authorized to quarter troops wherever needed (Quartering Act)

16. The Final Provocation: The Ultimate Crisis • Parliament’s insistence on supremacy would make rebellion unavoidable • Ben Franklin suggests Parliament secure colonial loyalty by renouncing claim to supremacy • Parliament rejects Franklin’s advice

18. Continental Congress First Continental Congress- 56 delegates from all colonies, except Georgia. These delegates adapted measures for the colonies, appealed to the King, renewed boycotts of British goods, called for people to take up arms and join militias. Second Continental Congress- Included newcomers like Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson. Still divided on whether to drive for independence.

19. Bell Ringer 9/22 The Mayflower Compact and the Virginia House of Burgesses are most closely associated with (1) abuses by absolute monarchs (2) establishment of religious toleration (3) steps toward colonial self-government (4) adoption of universal suffrage

20. Shots Heard Around the World • April 19, 1775--skirmish breaks out in Lexington, Massachusetts • Fighting spread along road between Lexington, Concord, Boston • English retreat to Boston with heavy losses

21. Beginning “The World over Again:” Early War Effort • June 1775--Congress appoints George Washington commander of Boston force • English government blockades colonial ports, hires German mercenaries

22. Beginning “The World over Again:” Decision for Independence • January 1776--Thomas Paine’s Common Sense urges independence • July 2, 1776--Independence voted by Congress • July 4--Declaration of Independence issued

23. Fighting for Independence • The British entered the war confident of a full and complete victory • English task • meet the challenge of a long supply line • use better-trained army to occupy territory • crush the popular spirit of independence • They underestimated the Americans’ commitment to their political ideology

24. Bell Ringer 9/23 Since the late 1700s, the Mississippi River has been a vital waterway because it (1) divided the northern territories from the southern territories (2) allowed American farmers direct access to Canadian markets (3) connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean (4) provided farmers and merchants an outlet to the Gulf of Mexico

25. Bell Ringer 9/24 In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was influenced most by John Locke’s idea of (1) due process of law (2) natural rights (3) the rights of the accused (4) the right to privacy

26. The American Revolution, 1775-1781

27. Building a Professional Army • Washington’s task • defend territory as well as possible • keep his army intact • The Continental Army would be a fighting force and symbol of the republican cause • Militia’s role: compel support for Revolution

28. Testing the American Will • American army routed on Long Island • New York City captured • Washington forced to retreat through New Jersey • British obtain thousands of “Oaths of Allegiance” in wake of retreat

29. "Times That Try Men's Souls" • December 25, 1776--Washington captures Trenton • January 3, 1777--Washington captures Princeton • Victories rekindle wartime patriotism • British consolidate forces, leave territory in patriot control

31. Bell Ringer 9/25 Primary sources of information about the colonial era would include a (1) journal entry by a member of the Second Continental Congress (2) textbook passage about the settlement of Pennsylvania (3) recent newspaper article commemorating the birth of Patrick Henry (4) television program about the Declaration of Independence

32. Victory in a Year of Defeat • British campaign for New York under John Burgoyne defeated at Saratoga • British capture Philadelphia under General William Howe • Washington's army winters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

33. The Final Campaign • February 1778--Americans ally with France to secure full independence • Nathaniel Greene’s forces deal several defeats to English under Cornwallis • October 19, 1781--Cornwallis surrenders to Washington’s combined forces at Yorktown

34. The Loyalist Dilemma • Loyalists treated poorly by both sides • English never fully trusted Loyalists • Patriots seize property, imprison, execute some • More than 100,000 Loyalists leave U.S. at war’s end

35. Loyalist Strongholds

36. Winning the Peace • Peace Treaty of 1783 negotiated by Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay • Terms secured by playing France against England, include • independence • U.S. gains all territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada and Florida • U.S. secures fishing rights in North Atlantic

37. Preserving Independence • The American Revolution begins construction of new form of government • Question remains: a government of the elite or a government of the people?