Road to the American Revolution

1. Road to the American Revolution

2. French and Indian War • 1756-1763 • Colonists fought against the French and Native Americans along the frontier (Appalachian Mountains) • George Washington led a group of militia into battle – had difficulties defeating the French • British Army (Redcoats) arrive to help defeat the French and Native Americans

3. Results of the French and Indian War: • England now controlled all lands between the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean. • England was deeply in debt. • King George III expected the colonists to pay off the debt – began a series of taxes and laws in the colonies to control them and increase British revenue. • Tensions mount between the colonists and the British. • George Washington gains respect for his leadership during the war.

4. Proclamation of 1763 • Established a boundary for the colonies along the Appalachian Mountains. • Colonists were not allowed to settle or cross the mountains. • Colonists resented the King for limiting their movement and for the most part, ignored the boundary line.

5. Sugar Act • 1764 • To increase revenues, England expanded the list of items to be taxed: sugar, molasses, wines, coffee, fabric, etc… • England hoped to raise enough money to pay the cost of the troops in the colonies. • Colonists viewed this as an infringement upon their free trade rights

6. Currency Act • 1764 • This act prohibited the colonies from issuing paper money. • British currency was in short supply so it was difficult to conduct trade. • Colonial currency had no standard value. • It also established a naval court to prosecute smugglers. • Colonists argued the currency shortage increased trade deficit with England hurt colonial trade.

7. Stamp Act • 1764 • Required special stamps be placed on various printed materials and documents. • Papers included wills, contracts, newspapers, books, dice, legal documents, etc… • Colonists latched onto the phrase “taxation without representation”. • Sons of Liberty, led by Patrick Henry, began to organize against British regulations and taxes.

8. Taxation Without Representation • Expression used by colonists who insisted Parliament could not represent the citizens of the colonies without members of the colonies having their voices and seats in Parliament. • Parliament’s position was that all British subjects enjoyed “virtual representation” and that members of Parliament represented British citizens everywhere • Cause of major hostility between the colonists and King George III and Parliament

9. Quartering Act • 1765 • Quartering Act required colonists to house British soldiers. • This meant to provide provisions to the soldiers such as bedding, food, drink, salt, etc… • Colonists viewed this as an invasion of their homes, property, and privacy

10. Declaratory Act • 1766 • The Declaratory Act reaffirmed Parliament’s right to legislate (make laws for) the colonies. • This act helped draw the colonies closer together.

11. Townshend Revenue Act • 1767 • Placed new taxes on glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, etc… • This tax only applied to exports • Colonists refused to comply with this act and began boycotting British goods.

12. Boston Massacre • March 5, 1770 • Colonists protesting in the streets of Boston and 8 British soldiers clashed in the Boston Massacre. • British soldiers killed 5 unarmed colonists by the end of the event. • Paul Revere’s etching of the event spread throughout the colonies and drew colonies closer together.

13. Tea Act • 1773 • Parliament passed the Tea Act to help save the East India Company. • This act passed a tax that lowered the price of tea and gave the East India Company a monopoly on sale of tea in the colonies. • The colonists opposed any tax, even if it lowered the prices…colonists refused to accept tea shipments from the East India Company.

14. Boston Tea Party • December 16, 1773 • While the East India Company’s tea sat in the Boston Harbor, members of the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Native Americans, boarded the ships and dumped crates of tea into the harbor.

15. Intolerable/Coercive Acts • After the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed 5 acts known as the Coercive Acts to punish Boston and other colonies. • Colonists labeled these acts as the “Intolerable Acts” • These acts included: • A new Quartering Act • Quebec Act • Massachusetts Government Act • Administration of Justice Act • Boston Port Act

16. First Continental Congress • 1774 – met in Philadelphia, Pa. • 12 of 13 colonies sent delegates (only Georgia did not) • Suspended all economic activity with England until Coercive Acts repealed • Committees of Correspondence formed to monitor boycotts of English goods and inform colonies of British activities. • Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech to promote independence.

17. Battles of Lexington and Concord • April 19, 1775 • British soldiers moved toward Concord, Massachusetts to seize (take control of) guns and gunpowder that the colonists have been stockpiling. • In Lexington, soldiers were met by colonists – British soldiers defeated them and moved toward Concord • The war began with the “shot heard ‘round the world” • In Concord, they were met by more colonists who successfully forced them away. • As the British soldiers were leaving, colonists hidden in the woods shot at and harassing them all of the way.

18. Second Continental Congress • Met in 1775 in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. • John Hancock served as the President • They would serve as the legislature for the colonies during the Revolutionary War. • From 1775-1781, the Continental Congress • Made George Washington head of army • Established a Navy • Adopted and signed the Declaration of Independence • Sought economic and military aid and support from other countries • Wrote the Articles of Confederation to govern the new nation