The 3 Documents that created the United States of America Declaration of Independence

Americans, not British Distance – 3000 miles, 6 weeks travel time - Americans had to be self-sufficient – help too far away Time – Colonial Period lasted 168 years ( ) Some families had been in America for 7 generations Diversity- Many other peoples than just English in America Result – A whole different culture - American, not British

England and its American colonies vs France and its Indian allies

North America in 1750

* By 1761, Spain had become an ally of France  The Tide Turns for England England wins!

North America in 1763

1. It united all 13 colonies against a common enemy for the first time. 2. It created a socializing experience for all the colonials who participated. 3. It created bitter feelings towards the British that would only intensify. Effects of the War on the American Colonials (the French) They were arrogant jerks (the officers, anyway) Puritans hangin’ with Cavaliers

1. It increased her colonial empire in the Americas. 2. It greatly enlarged England’s debt It greatly greatly enlarged enlarged England’s England’s debt. 3. Britain’s contempt for the colonials created bitter feelings. Therefore, England felt that a major reorganization of her American Empire was necessary! Effects of the War on Britain?

1763  Pontiac’s Rebellion The Aftermath: Tensions Along the Frontier English speaking settlers start moving west Indians don’t like it…

British  Proclamation Line of BACKLASH!BACKLASH! No settlement west of the Proclamation line! ? No settlement west of the Proclamation line! ? What the …?

1. Sugar Act Currency Act Stamp Act 4. Stamp Act Quartering Act George Grenville’s Program, Pay for this War!

paying for a war in which they got…? Q-> What had they hoped to gain from the French and Indian War? Protection from French Canada? OR Lands in the Ohio River Valley? OR Lands in the Ohio River Valley? Q-> Who was their real enemy? -The French (who are now gone)? -The British (who won’t let them settle AND are now taxing them)? -The Indians the British are now protecting? So Americans Are…

Sons of Liberty – began in NYC: Samuel Adams Stamp Act Congress – 1765 * Stamp Act Resolves Stamp Act Crisis – don’t buy English stuff!

The Boston Massacre March 5,1770

Tar and Feathering (of a British customs collector)

Committees of Correspondence Purpose - warn neighboring colonies about incidents with British - broaden the resistance movement. (like Internet bloggers, only they had to use paper, ink and snail mail) And Americans set up… And colonial America happened to have the BEST snail mail system around!

Tea Act (1773) 8 British 8 British East India Company: § Monopoly § Monopoly on British tea imports. § Many § Many members of Parliament held shares. § Permitted § Permitted the Company to sell tea directly to colonists without colonist middlemen (cheaper tea!) 8 British 8 British Parliament expected the colonists to eagerly choose the cheaper tea. § But § But Americans are angry because this law favors rich British dudes over hardworking American businessmen

Boston Tea Party (1773)

The Intolerable Acts (1774) Lord North 1. Port Bill – closed Boston Harbor! 2. Government Act 4. Administration of Justice Act – accused will be sent to England for trial 3. New Quartering Act

First Continental Congress (1774) 55 delegates from 12 colonies Agenda  How to respond to the Intolerable Acts & the Quebec Act? 1 vote per colony represented Agree to boycott British goods

Meanwhile, back in Massachusetts… Patriots begin to prepare for conflictPatriots begin to prepare for conflict They stockpile guns and ammunitionThey stockpile guns and ammunition John Hancock and Sam Adams flee Boston for LexingtonJohn Hancock and Sam Adams flee Boston for Lexington Patriots begin to prepare for conflictPatriots begin to prepare for conflict They stockpile guns and ammunitionThey stockpile guns and ammunition John Hancock and Sam Adams flee Boston for LexingtonJohn Hancock and Sam Adams flee Boston for Lexington

The British Are Coming... Paul Revere & William Dawes make their midnight ride to warn the Minutemen of approaching British soldiers. Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Shot Heard ’ Round the World ! Battle of Lexington & Concord – April 19,1775 By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled; Here once the to April's breeze unfurled; Here once the embattled farmers stood; And fired the shot embattled farmers stood; And fired the shot heard round the world. heard round the world. By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled; Here once the to April's breeze unfurled; Here once the embattled farmers stood; And fired the shot embattled farmers stood; And fired the shot heard round the world. heard round the world. The Concord Hymn Ralph Waldo Emerson (1837) First Battle of the American Revolution!

The Second Continental Congress (1775) Olive Branch Petition Trying to make peace - Let bygones be bygones And the King says… No frickin’ way! – Game On! – Game On!

Thomas Paine : Common Sense It’s common sense that declaring independence is the only action to take now

Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

New National Symbols

Introduction Basic Principles of government Complaints against the King Actual declaring of independence

The reason Americans have government All people are born equal All people have fundamental (unalienable) rights (like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness) People create governments to protect their rights If the government fails to protect people’s rights, people have the right to change or abolish the government and replace it with a government they think will do a better job of protecting their rights

Military Strategies Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line]. Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down until they get so frustrated they quit] Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies. The AmericansThe British Break the colonies in half by getting between the North & the South Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally. “Divide and Conquer”  use the Loyalists.

British Plan to Crush the Rebellion: Cut off New England, capture the major American cities

Battle of Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War? Battle of Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War? You Bet! France joins American side! No French help – No USA! Ruins the British master plan to end the war

Plan B: The Southern Strategy [ ]

Britain’s “Southern Strategy” Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South. Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving. The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside [similar to U. S. difficulties in Vietnam and now Afghanistan] Good US General Nathaniel Greene Francis Marion: the “Swamp Fox” (this character was modeled after him) A Quaker?!

The Battle of Yorktown (1781) Lord Cornwallis Admiral De Grasse

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown: Painted by John Trumbull, 1797 “The World Turned Upside Down!”

Long Supply Lines French help Americans wouldn’t quit War cost more than British could gain

North America After the Treaty of Paris, 1783