Constant conflict between and France in Europe spreads to the new colonies

Chapter 4 – Creating a Nation Section 1 – The Colonies Fight for their Rights • Constant conflict between • and France in Europe spreads to • the new colonies • 1740 – French and British set their sights on the Ohio River Valley • Both sides began building forts to claim the territory

George Washington was asked to intervene for the British and expel the French. • The British government suggested that the American colonies form an alliance with the Iroquois.

Albany Conference – meeting between the colonists and the Iroquois • the Iroquois agreed to remain neutral • colonists agreed that Britain should name one supreme commander of all the British troops in the colonies. Albany Plan of Union—the first suggestion that the colonies unite to form a federal government.

In 1755 French and Native American forces ambushed the British troops near Fort Duquesne in western Pennsylvania. • Washington’s leadership saved the British from disaster. • For the next two years, the French and Indian War was fought on the frontier. Fort Duquesne

The turning point of the war in North America occurred with a British victory at Quebec. • The Treaty of Paris finally ended the war in 1763, and for the most part eliminated French power in North America.

Why did the British want its colonies to form an alliance with the Iroquois? The Iroquois controlled western New York, which was the territory the French would need to pass through to reach the Ohio River.

The Colonies Grow Discontented • The British victory caused an enormous British debt. • Britain looked to its colonies to help pay for the war. • In the spring of 1763 several Native American groups go to war against the British. • They attacked forts and towns along the frontier. • The British government did not want to pay for another war, so it issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763 that limited western settlement. * Why might this Royal Proclamation upset the colonists?

Colonists were not allowed to settle in certain areas without the government’s permission. • The proclamation angered many farmers and land speculators.

King George (England) levies new taxes on the colonists • to pay off Britain’s debts • pay for British troops in North America • Because of these new taxes: • Merchants smuggled goods in and out of America to avoid customs duties, or taxes paid on imports and exports. The King also introduced the Sugar Actin the colonies. This act changed tax rates for raw sugar and molasses imported from foreign colonies.

Sugar was taxed so that only rich people were able to afford sugar. The picture shows King George and Queen Charlotte, drinking tea with sugar in it. In the background several women are sitting and drinking tea as well - but they have a sad facial expression, because they do not have sugar in their tea. King George says: "O delicious! delicious!" and Charlotte says: "O my dear Creatures, do but Taste it! You can't think how nice it is without Sugar:- and then consider how much Work you'll save the poor Blackamoors by leaving off the use of it! 'and above all, remember how much expence it will save your poor Papa! O its charming cooling Drink."

Merchants felt the Sugar Act hurt trade and argued that it violated traditional English rights. Colonists argued that they were being taxed without representation in Parliament. To slow inflation (a general rise in the prices of most goods and services because money has lost its value) Parliament passed the Currency Act of 1764. This banned the use of paper money in the colonies, angering colonial farmers and artisans who used paper money to pay back loans.

What policies did the British government adopt to help pay its debts from the French and Indian War? King George implemented new tax policies in the colonies to pay for the French and Indian War. The Sugar Act in the colonies changed tax rates for raw sugar and molasses imported from foreign colonies. To slow inflation, Parliament passed the Currency Act of 1764. This banned the use of paper money in the colonies, angering colonial farmers and artisans who used paper money to pay back loans.

The Stamp Act Crisis To raise more money to pay for the war, Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765. • Stamps were required on most printed materials. • The stamp tax was the first direct tax Britain had ever placed on the colonists.

By the summer of 1765, mass meetings and demonstrations against the stamp tax took place in the colonies.

When the Stamp Act took effect, the colonists ignored it. • A movement began to boycott British goods. • Colonial merchants signed a nonimportation agreement, agreeing not to buy any British goods until the Stamp Act was repealed. Protests led to the Stamp Act being repealed in 1766. Parliament, in an effort to assert its control over the colonies, passed the Declaratory Act, which gave them the power to make laws for the colonies.

In 1767 British finance minister Charles Townshend introduced a new set of regulations and taxes known as the Townshend Acts. • One of these acts, the Revenue Act of 1767, placed new customs duties on glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea imported into the colonies. The Sons of Liberty encouraged colonists to support the boycott of British goods. On March 5, 1770, British troops fired into a crowd of colonists in Boston –known now as the Boston Massacre.

What acts did Parliament pass to raise money to pay for the government’s expenses in America? To raise more money to pay for the war, Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765. Stamps were required on most printed materials. The Quartering Act, passed by Parliament in 1765, forced the colonists to pay more for their own defense by providing places to stay for British troops in the colonies.

How did colonists react to the Townshend Acts? The Townshend Acts angered colonists. John Dickinson published a series of essays called Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer, which stressed that only assemblies elected by colonists had the right to tax them. Merchants signed nonimportation agreements promising not to import any goods from Britain. Americans stopped drinking British tea. The Daughters of Liberty began spinning their own cloth instead of buying from Britain. The Sons of Liberty encouraged colonists to support the boycott of British goods.

Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left. __ 1. the loss of value of money __ 2. a tax on imports and exports __ 3. a pledge by merchants not to buy imported goods from a particular source customs duty inflation nonimportation agreement

Section 2 Massachusetts defies Britain In the spring of 1772, the British government introduced several new policies that angered American colonists. • Thomas Jefferson suggests each colony create a committee of correspondence to communicate with other colonies about British activities. • This helped unify the colonies and coordinate plans for British resistance.

The British East India Company was almost bankrupt. • Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773, which made East India’s tea cheaper than smuggled Dutch tea. • American merchants feared it was the first step by the British to force them out of business. December 1773 – Boston Tea Party Tea ships from the East India Company arrived in Boston Harbor. Colonists boarded the ship and dumped the tea into the harbor.

For King George – the Tea Party was the straw that broke the camel’s back – • Coercive Acts – 4 new laws • closed Boston Harbor until the destroyed tea was paid for • all Massachusetts government officials appointed by the King • trial of all British soldiers moved to England • required locals to provide lodging for British soldiers • These 4 laws combined with the Quebec Act(look it up!) became known as the Intolerable Acts among the colonists.

First Continental Congress • September 5, 1774 – Philadelphia • composed the Declaration of Rights and Grievances • expressed loyalty to the king (??!) • condemned the Coercive Acts

Revolution Begins • Loyalists and Patriots • Loyalists = Tories = Americans who backed Britain • Patriots = Whigs = Americans who believed the British had become tyrants • Lexington and Concord • British government attempts to seize • Massachusetts supply depot at Concord • Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Dr. • Samuel Prescott sound the alarm • at Lexington – British patrol order American minutemen to disperse – a shot is fired, and the Revolution has begun

Decision for Independence • January 1776 – Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense • incited the colonists against the King, not just Parliament • July 4, 1776 – John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson present the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress

Section 3 – The War for Independence Opposing Sides

British Commander – General William Howe • two-part strategy • military – intimidation, capture major cities • diplomatic – invited delegates from Continental Congress to a peace conference British capture New York (their headquarters for the war) Also capture American spy – Nathan Hale “I regret I have but one life to give for my country.”

French Marquis de Lafayette arrives to train/improve moral among American troops • At Saratoga, NY – British and Iroquois troops were held off and driven back by General Benedict Arnold and American forces • turning point – improved morale and convinced France to send troops • American delegates • sign their first treaty • to ally with France in • Feb 1778

Notable American war heroes: • George Rogers Clark – successfully fought the British in the westernmost areas (not the West) • John Paul Jones – naval officer whose ship attacked a British warship and was nearly sunk – when called upon to surrender, responded “I have not yet begun to fight!” (British end up surrendering to him!) Jones’ ship – Bonnehomme Richard at battle with the British warship Seraphis

British troops eventually surrender at Yorktown • March 1782 – Parliament begins peace negotiations • (Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams for the US) • The Treaty of Paris • Sept. 3, 1783 – • Britain recognizes the US as a new • nation • Britain gives Florida back to Spain • France receives colonies in Africa • and the Caribbean • Revolutionary War is over.

Why were the French reluctant at first to sign an alliance with the colonies? How has the artist portrayed the condition of Washington’s army the painting here? The March to Valley Forge – William BT Trego

Bet You Didn’t Know – Revolutionary War - history.com video http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#bet-you-didnt-know-revolutionary-war Running time - 2:38

Section 4 • The War Changes American Society • New Political Ideas • Republic: a form of government where power is held by the citizens – elected representatives • * What’s the conflict here? • The rich still thought of themselves as “better” than the poor – and therefore had trouble with equal rights under the law – not to mention slavery! Image shows George Mason, author of Virginia’s Declaration of Rights – their state Constitution

Changes in American Society – • emancipation of slaves became a discussion – Northern states took steps to free their slaves… the South…? Not so much. • as part of this: manumission – the voluntary freeing of slaves (in Virginia only) – was encouraged • Loyalists fled • American culture • art – artists like • John Trumbull and • Charles Willson Peale • education – American leaders believed the only way to be successful was with an educated public The Peale Family – Charles Willson Peale What aspects of American daily life are portrayed here?

Constant conflict between and France in Europe spreads to the new colonies