The American Revolution From Colonies to Liberty

Tensions Build between Colonies and Britain. 1763- End of French and Indian War England needs $, keeps troops in colonies, and wants more control over colonial governments 1764- Sugar Act taxes sugar and molasses England harasses traders to catch smugglers

“No Taxation without Representation” Committees of Correspondence gather to oppose new taxes Traders boycott taxed goods Stamp Act 1765- all documents, newspapers, pamphlets, and books are taxed Sons of Liberty organize to fight the new tax- protest, boycott, violence 1766 stamp act repealed Angered, Parliament passes Declaratory Acts and Townshend Acts 1767

Tensions Rise The Boston Massacre 1770 Boston Tea Party 1773 A fight turns into an angry mob- British soldiers fire into the crowd 5 people die (Crispus Attucks) Sam Adams uses event to ignite hatred against British, John Adams defends the soldiers in court Boston Tea Party 1773 Sons of Liberty dump English tea into the harbor in protest of taxes Intolerable Acts 1774 Close Boston Harbor Cancel Colony charter governments Force colonists to house British soldiers

1st Continental Congress October 1774, Colonial delegates from all colonies (except Georgia) meet to discuss tensions Met at Carpenters Hall, Philadelphia Write “Declaration of Rights” to King George III in hopes of peace Told militia’s to prepare for war if needed

“The Shot Heard Round the World.” April 18th, 1775 General Gage sends British troops to recover colonist weapons at Concord Paul Revere, Dawes, and Prescott warn the towns “The Redcoats are Coming!” April 19th minutemen are waiting for British at Lexington 8 colonists killed, 10 wounded More colonists are waiting at Concord- force British to retreat

2nd Continental Congress May 1775 meet again in Philadelphia Appoint George Washington Commander of Continental Army Sign “Olive Branch Petition” as one last chance for peace Paine’s Common Sense rallies the people for independence. July 4th 1776, after much debate the Declaration of Independence is signed!

Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights… life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to abolish it…” These words do not include women, natives, or slaves.

Early Battles Bunker Hill, June 1775 Dorchester Heights, March 1776 Colonial Army digs in on Breed’s Hill Kill many redcoats but run out of ammo- retreat Moral victory Dorchester Heights, March 1776 Washington uses cannons to force British to retreat from Boston

Comparing British Vs. Colonial Army English Strengths Well trained, very disciplined Better equipped The worlds best Navy Weaknesses Have to cross Atlantic Ocean Do not know landscape Hire Mercenaries Colonial Army Strengths Believe in their cause Eventually receive help from France and Spain Know the landscape Weaknesses Untrained Poorly equipped Small navy

Important Battles New York, June 1776 Trenton, December 25, 1776 General Howe arrives with 32,000 troops Washington barely escapes to New Jersey Trenton, December 25, 1776 Washington and 2,400 troops surprise and take 900 Hessians prisoner January 2, 1777 Washington sneaks behind Cornwallis and forced British out of Princeton Saratoga October, 1777 Stop British attack from Canada- force Gen. Burgoyne to surrender

Tough Winter at Valley Forge Washington’s 12,000 men settle for the winter Lack food, warm shelter, basic supplies 2000 died Receive basic training from Baron Von Steuben Meanwhile, the British are living in luxury in Philadelphia

A Little Help From Our Friends Marquis de Lafayette Sails from France with his own $ and soldiers to fight the British Baron Friedrich Von Steuben Prussian soldier; trains colonial army in basic military commands Women (Molly Pitcher) and some free Africans join the fight for independence. France joins the fight May 1778 Bring troops and Navy Spain joins 1779

A Traitor and loyalists Benedict Arnold One of the Continental Armies greatest generals Became angry with Congress- felt disrespected Planned to overturn West Point to the British Fled to England, lived rest of life in disgrace Loyalists (Tories) Not all colonists wanted independence, many wanted to stay British subjects

Later Battles Fighting in the South Yorktown 1781 England has more loyalists and offers slaves freedom if they fight the colonists Colonial army loses battles in Georgia, South Carolina Marion’s Brigade uses Guerilla tactics against the British Yorktown 1781 Cornwallis is surrounded by Washington and French forces- forced to surrender

The Treaty of Paris 1783 America, France, Spain, and England agree to peace terms Britain recognizes our independence. We have our Liberty… Now What?