The Conflict Begins

1. The Conflict Begins King George & Parliament vs. The Colonies

2. The Debt • Parliament will begin to pay for the debt from the war with the Sugar Act. • This was a tax on molasses and sugar. These were everyday items. • Colonist were angered by the tax because they had no voice in the Parliament back in England. • The slogan “No taxation without representation” is born.

3. Boycotts begin • Boycott – This a refusal to buy or support specific goods. • The aim of the boycotts was to hurt the British economy and draw attention to the colonists frustration.

4. Stamp Act 1765 • This act required colonists to pay for an official stamp, or seal, when they bought paper items. • This was a direct tax on the people. • Protests began immediately. • The Sons of Liberty are born in Boston. • Colonists began saying that this was a violation of their rights and liberties. Mr. Duvall

5. THE BIG MISTAKE • Parliament repealed the Stamp Act under pressure from London merchants that were suffering the boycotts. • This was the Parliaments biggest mistake. • By repealing the Stamp Act, they gave the colonists a sense of empowerment or control over themselves. • Parliament would never get their full authority back again. • Parliament realized this because they immediately passed the Declaratory Acts. • The Declaratory Acts basically said Parliament had the right to make laws for the colonies.

6. The Townshend Acts 1767 • This is another tax on the colonists that gives raise to the Daughters of Liberty. • It further angers the colonies.

7. The Boston Massacre • This event is important because of its uses by the Sons of Liberty as a piece of propaganda. • Propaganda – The spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring a cause. • Paul Revere picture ignites the colonists against the British (England)

8. The Boston Tea Party • This event is caused by the Tea Act. (1773) • This allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonists. This gave them an unfair advantage over colony merchants. • The Sons of Liberty will dump 340 chests of tea into Boston Harbor (December 1773) in protest. • This leads to the Intolerable Acts.

9. Intolerable Acts • They closed Boston Harbor • Massachusetts's legislature is limited (Government) • Royal officials guaranteed friendly judge and jury. • Quartering Act is imposed (House soldiers) • Colony of Quebec received large piece of land.

10. First Continental Congress • This was a gathering of colonial leaders who were troubled with the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain (England). • They will send King George III of England a Declaration of Rights. • They did not want to separate from England at this time.

11. “Patriot” • In time, individuals like Patrick Henry, would begin to refer to themselves as Patriots. • Patriot – A colonist who chooses to fight for independence from Great Britain.

12. Lexington and ConcordApril 1775 • “The Shot heard round the World” • Paul Revere and others set out to warn the rebels that the British Army was on the move. • Minutemen will meet the army just outside the town of Lexington. Shots were fired! • The Redcoats (British soldiers) marched on to Concord to find no guns or ammunitions.

13. “Common Sense • This was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. • He argued that citizens should make the laws not kings and queens. (This is crazy talk at this time in history.) • He also made an argument about the benefits of staying a colony with England. The question he poised was there any benefit to stay with England. • He supported economic freedom.

14. Declaration of Independence • Written by Thomas Jefferson • The document was broken into four parts. • The first part discusses that people have unalienable rights. (Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness) • The second part discusses the grievances against the king. (What he did wrong) • The third part covers the right of people to break away from governments that suppress its people. • Finally, it states that we are a free people and formally break away from England.

15. Second Continental Congress • They meet again in May of 1775. • They form the Continental Army (An army to fight the British). • They named George Washington as its leader of the army.

16. The Battle Bunker Hill • This fight took place outside of Boston on Breed’s Hill. • The Continental Army was low on supplies and ammunition. The rebel commander would give the order “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” • It would take three attempts by the British to take the hill before success. (700 men dead) • ** Bunker Hill was a moral victory for the Continental Army. It gave them the idea that they could fight with the British Army and with the proper equipment even beat them.**

17. Battle of New York • General Howe of the British Army destroyed the Patriot Army led by Washington at New York sending the Continental Army fleeing. (1776)

18. Battle of Trenton (1776) • General Washington of the Continental Army was in need of a victory for his army. It was in danger of falling apart. • He decided to attack a portion of the British Army that was lead by Hessians the day after Christmas. • He crossed the Delaware River at night and surprised the sleeping army in the morning.

19. Battle of Princeton (1777) • General Cornwallis of the British Army was angry with Washington’s tactics rushed to catch Washington after Trenton. • Washington tricked Cornwallis and defeated him at Princeton. • These two victories gave the needed boost of energy the Continental Army needed.

20. Battle of Saratoga • This battle is considered the turning point in the war. • It was the turning point for several reasons. • First: One of the largest armies in the north surrendered to the Continental Army. • Second: King Louis XVI of France signed a treaty with the colonists. He agreed to send troops and a navy. (Spain also joins the colonists side.) • Third: Morale soars and leads to the army increasing in size.

21. Valley Forge • Washington camped here for the winter of 1777. • Valley Forge was a winter of suffering for the Continental Army. Over 2000 soldiers would die that winter (starvation and sickness). • It symbolized the colonist’s resolve for freedom.

22. War in the South • General Cornwallis of the British Army made a major mistake after several battles with General Nathanael Green of the Continental Army. • He moved his army to Yorktown for supplies and to make contact with the British Navy. • General George Washington took the opportunity and moved several armies to surround Cornwallis at Yorktown. • Cornwallis hoped to escape by sea but the French Navy trapped his army and cut off the sea. • He was forced to surrender the largest army in America to General Washington.

23. The Treaty of Paris • Great Britain had to recognize the independence of the United States. • Establish the border to the United States ending at the Mississippi River. • Spain got Florida back from England.